BLACKMORE'S NIGHT „Secret Voyage”

Music: Medieval Folk Rock
Website: http://www.blackmoresnight.com
Country: UK/USA
Cool songs: Locked within the Crystal Ball, Prince Waldeck’s Galliard

Ritchie Blackmore is a person who does not need any introduction, the same goes for Candice Night. If everybody had such rich biographies the world would be filled with sacked-stars, because bigwigs would be fired day after day to get a newer one or even better. BLACKMORE’S NIGHT is a project in which those two musicians and partners joined their musical talents. It all started in 1997 and the battle rages on, as this was the first time when Candice’s voice appeared together with Ritchie’s guitars.

‘Secret Voyage’ is their seventh full concept studio album and it seems that they are still in good shape. Ritchie plays the guitar and other guitar-like stuff (mandolin) like no one else and Candice’s sweet chants make the heart grow fonder. The album starts with a real ‘blockbuster’ which is ‘Locked within the Crystal Ball’, an outrageous folklore composition, full of authentic power and celebration, bringing in to mind the best years of BLACKMORE’S NIGHT. Fantastic dynamics, cool guitars, excellent solos (bravo, Ritchie) and perfect vocals. Those are the elements which form the strength of the album and the group. It is simply impossible to miss this tune. Full of harmony, gentle romanticism, eccentric joy and wild enthusiasm. Going further the album seems to be quite incoherent. While the beginning is a real smack in the face towards the end we get more dazed and confused. The compositions are very romantic, the motifs change all the time and that folk character and climate build a fantastic medieval atmosphere. But we’ve all heard it before. It is not an album which could compete with their previous hits, like the first ‘Shadow of the Moon’, but still brings so much joy into the heart that you want to run straight into a meadow and hug all the sweet bunnies you can catch. The truth is that some will hate this album and some will love it and worship till the end of their lives. It is mainly because of the fact that it is quite mixed, it does not keep the right level, once it goes at the heights to immediately land onto the lower fields. It is not a ‘no-no’, it is audible that the musicians are playing with the music, but sometimes they treat it too seriously. And this is the main drawback of the album – being sometimes a bit pretentious. The rest is just as deep and intriguing as Black Night.

Summing it up, ‘Secret Voyage’ is a very interesting album. First of all it is an instrumental feast which will interest almost everyone. Those fantastic tunes stay in mind for hours. Not to mention the always-sweet and mesmerizing Candice’s voice. If you are looking for a joyful piece of folk music this is it. You will find here catchy melodies and the atmosphere of happiness will fill you inside and out. But if you want something more unique and maybe a bit crazy, forget about it. Ritchie’s guitars are cool but today… well, it seems to be some kind of a tune for grandmas.

note: 7.5/10

Tracklist

1. God Save the Keg
2. Locked within the Crystal Ball
3. Gilded Cage
4. Toast to Tomorrow
5. Prince Waldeck’s Galliard
6. Rainbow Eyes
7. The Circle
8. Sister Gypsy
9. Can’t Help Falling in Love
10. Peasant’s Promise
11. Far Far Away
12. Empty Words

Total playing time 50:42

Line-up

Ritchie Blackmore – guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, tambourine
Candice Night – chant
Pat Regan – keyboard
Baron St. James – bass