Review DON AIREY “Pushed to the Edge”

There is a lot of side activity going on in the Deep Purple camp. Simon McBride‘s new album is out and now keyboard virtuoso Don Airey is launching a new longplayer too.

“Pushed to the Edge” is the title of Don Airey’s new effort and let’s just shout it out. It is an electrifying classic rock album from start to finish. The great thing about “Pushed to the Edge” is that every song is keyboard-driven without compromising the song itself. Don Airey and friends manage to create an album that is an ode to excellently crafted and executed rock music – from harder sounds to soulful episodes.

One of the emotional highlights of the album is “Flame in the Water”. There are parts that remind me a bit of Rainbow times and at the same time the jazzy piano solo gives the song a completely different touch. “Flame in the Water” can be considered a ballad, but it is more than that. The song is touching without going down well-worn paths.

The beginning of the album shows the other aspect of this release. “Tell Me” is the title of the powerful opener. A hard working rhythm section and a great melody make the song a treat for all classic rock fans. No doubt there are some parallels to the iconic sound of Deep Purple. But Airey’s solo release has more to offer and exploring the twists and turns of “Tell Me” is a real joy.

Slower and still heavy is “They Keep on Running”. It takes a little while for the song to show its full beauty, but from the first moment you listen to it you will be impressed. However, “Pushed to the Edge” is more than just Don Airey. The keyboarder has some great musicians who joined him in recording the album. There is the already mentioned Simon McBride who plays guitar on the album, while the great rock voice of Carl Sentence (Nazareth) enriches songs like the stellar “Out of Focus”. The latter features a great keyboard and guitar dialog in the solo section, showing that this album is more than just a solo release by a veteran keyboardist. It is a holistic approach to rock music with roots in the 70s, translated into the sound of the 2020s.

In addition to Sentance, the album also features a second vocalist in Mitchell Emms. The Voice UK talent gives the dark and gloomy “Edge of Reality” a special feel and unveils his rock’n’roll spirit in songs like “Moon Rising”.

The instrumental “Girl from Highland Park” is focused on the sound of the piano. The song is calm and relaxed showing an exceptional keyboard player at work. It is the gentle sound of the piano that soothes the soul. The beginning of “Godz of War”, on the other hand, jolts you out of your daydreams. The dynamic rock song is another gem on an album that spreads the essence of rock.

“Pushed to the Edge” is a very well done rock album that showcases one of the best keyboarders at work. Each of these eleven songs is an ode to classic rock and shows the captivating fascination of a genre with roots in the 70s.