01	Shadow Of The Moon						05:07
	02	The Clock Ticks On						05:16
	03	Be Mine Tonight						02:51
	04	Play Minstrel Play						03:59
	05	Ocean Gipsy						06:06
	06	Minstrel Hall						02:37
	07	Magical World						04:01
	08	Writing On The Wall						04:37
	09	Renaissance Faire						04:17
	10	Memmingen						01:06
	11	No Second Chance						05:40
	12	Mond Tanz						03:35
	13	Spirit Of The Sea						04:51
	14	Greensleeves						03:48
	15	Wish You Were Here						05:02

Richie Blackmore: electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin, drum, tambourine.
Candice Night: lead vocals, backing vocals.
Pat Regan: keyboards.
special guest - Ian Anderson: flute on "Play, minstrel, play".


Blackmore's Night - Shadow Of The Moon, Under A Violet Moon and Fires At Midnight

Released: SOTM: 1997/1998/2002,
UAVM: 1999/2001/2002,
and FAM: 2001/2002
Label: SPV/Steamhammer (reissue label)
Cat. No.: SOTM: 7240, UAVM: 7241, FAM: 7243 (SPV #s)
Total Time: 62:38 / 57:00 / 65:17


Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, February 2003
I was introduced recently to Ritchie Blackmore's latest stroke of musical genius called Blackmore's Night. Their live album titled Past Times With Good Company is a 2 CD set that highlights all three of their studio albums. After hearing this fantastic and magical display of medieval rock-world music, I was destined to be under their spell. Of course, now I wanted hear all of the studio recordings! I put that out there in the universe and like a wish come true; I received all of the CDs in the mail. I felt it appropriate that I talk about all of these albums in one review, as I could not stop listening to this mesmerizing enchantment. With undeniable pleasure, I listened to all three albums in succession.

Although slight, there are some differences in each recording. The basic premise is to build upon a foundation that stems from a minstrel's point of view in a medieval setting that is set firmly within the music's makeup. Blackmore's guitar work is something special, but do not expect the super charged blues-rock guitar hero fireworks that you have been accustomed to hearing. An occasional flourish from the old Ritchie comes through to serve as a reminder of the old days when he was with Deep Purple and Rainbow, but don't get used to it. Get ready to become bewitched like you never have before by the multi-talented Candice Night with her silky smooth delivery (reminiscent of Stevie Nicks minus the hoarseness) whilst their band of merry men and women sing and dance with their instruments to make it a renaissance faire of musical delights. It is no wonder Ritchie fell in love with this woman, she is beautiful and talented with a voice that will make you melt like butter.

This music really does something special to me. It takes me back to another day giving me exhilaration and fond pleasures all in one single song. It is truly a magical thing that is beyond what words could possibly describe. Since I love all of this music without exception I am not going to discuss any particular song, I would like to talk about the music in its entirety. This is something that is an entity unto itself, more than musical. It is like a functioning unit that lives, breathes and grows inside itself, a self-perpetuating experience. This music is worthy of that type of description. All the elements of the genres that are present in these CDs blossom within this musical flower and it comes at you in different paces. Fast and highly energetic rollicking tunes or reflective passionate compositions that show a gentle and deep thoughtfulness and spirituality that is a rarity in today's commercialized music instantaneously bring you into a real world that once was. Think of medieval, world, rock, new age, middle-eastern, and a touch of the blues lingering around the edges and you have what this band's sound encompasses. For the band and their longtime fans the meaning of this music is a way of life, for the newly initiated like me it is a revelation to find such beauty and connection with music.

This is the most complex progressive music that Blackmore has ever played. It is an outstanding mixture of traditional folklore, rhythms and song with a modern infusion of guitar wizardry. Only someone of Blackmore's caliber would be able to handle such diversity and intricacy in a composition. If you look closely, the credits for each album will show you names that you may be familiar with and others that you are not, but soon will be. I want to bring your attention to the many talents of Mr. Blackmore and his lovely fiancee Candice. Candice plays harp, penny whistle, shawm, and electric bagpipes while providing lead and background vocals. Ritchie plays acoustic and electric guitar, bass, mandolin, drums, and has a critical role as an arranger and producer of each album. This does not take into account all of the equally important additional talent that the wondrous couple has so intelligently put in place for support.

I highly recommend this music to all music fans and particularly to lovers of progressive rock. Take heed and listen to this music my friends, it is amazingly different and original.

Rating: 5/5 (each)

More about Shadow Of The Moon, Under A Violet Moon and Fires At Midnight:

Track Listing: SOTM: Shadow of the Moon (5:06) / The Clock Ticks On (5:15) / Be Mine Tonight (2:50) / Play Minstrel Play (performed by Blackmore / Ian Anderson) (3:59) / Ocean Gypsy (6:06) / Minstrel Hall [instrumental] (2:35) / Magical World (4:01) / Writing on the Wall (4:34) / Renaissance Faire (4:16) / Memmingen [instrumental] (1:05) / No Second Chance (5:38) / Mond Tannz [instrumental] (3:33) / Spirit Of The Sea (4:50) / Greensleeves (Traditional) (3:46) / Wish You Were Here (5:02) / Possum's Last Dance [*/instrumental] (2:42)

UAVM: Under A Violet Moon (4:23) / Castles And Dreams (3:33) / Past Times With Good Company (Henry VIII/Traditional) (3:24) / Morning Star (4:40) / Avalon (Traditional) (3:02) / Possum Goes To Prague (1:13) / Wind In The Willows (4:12) / Gone With The Wind (Traditional) (5:23) / Beyond The Sunset (3:44) / March The Heroes Home (4:39) / Spanish Nights (I Remember It Well) (Traditional) (5:22) / Catherine Howard's Fate (2:34) / Fool's Gold (3:31) / Durch Den Wald Zum Bach Haus (2:31) / Now and Then (3:11) / Self Portrait (3:18)

FAM: Written In The Stars (4:49) / The Times They Are A Changing (3:33) / I Still Remember (5:42) / Home Again (5:27) / Crowning Of The King (4:31) / Fayre Thee Well (2:08) / Fires At Midnight (7:36) / Hanging Tree (3:46) / The Storm (6:11) / Mid Winter's Night (Traditional) (4:30) / All Because Of You (3:36) / Waiting Just For You (3:16) / Praetorius (Courante) (Praetorius/Traditional) (1:57) / Benzai-Ten (3:51) / Village On The Sand (5:04) / Again Someday (1:39)

Musicians:

SOTM:

Ian Anderson - Flute
Ritchie Blackmore - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Mandolin, Arranger, Drums, Guitar (Electric), Tambourine, Producer, Drums (Snare)
Tom Brown - Cello
Gerald Flashmen - Trumpet, French Horn, Recorder
Lady Green - Violin, Viola
Scott Hazell - Vocals (bckgr)
Candice Night - Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)

UAVM:

Ritchie Blackmore - Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Arranger, Drums, Tambourine, Producer
John Ford - Bass, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Jeff Glixman - Keyboards, Producer, Engineer
Joe James - String Arrangements, Pre-Production
Jens Johansson - Keyboards
Roy McDonald - Keyboards, Producer
Mark Pender - Trumpet
Kevin Dunne - Drums
Jost Pogrzeba - Percussion
Thomas Roth - Bagpipes, Vocals
John Gould - Vocals (bckgr)
Miri Ben-Ari - Violin
Mike "Metal" Goldberg - Drums, Engineer
Scott Hazell - Vocals (bckgr)
Candice Night - Vocals, Penny Whistle
Mick Cervino - Bass
Jason Chapman - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Peter Rooth - Bass, Engineer, Drum Programming
Des Geyer Schwarzer Haufen - Bagpipes, Vocals
Christof Heus - Trumpet
Mrs. Heller - Hurdygurdy
Mr. Heller - Hurdygurdy

FAM:

Ritchie Blackmore - Guitar (Acoustic), Mandolin, Arranger, Guitar (Electric), Tambourine, Producer, Hurdygurdy, Musician
Carmine - Choir, Chorus
Pat Regan - Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Sue - Choir, Chorus
Candice Night - Harp, Recorder, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Penny Whistle, Shawm, Electric Bagpipes
Anita - Choir, Chorus

Contact:

Website: www.blackmoresnight.com
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Discography

Shadow Of The Moon (1998)
Under A Violet Moon (1999)
Minstrels & Ballads (2001)
Fires At Midnight (2001)
Past Times With Good Company (2002/2003)