GHOST OF A ROSE

What shall we call it? How about Dark Age music? No, It isn't dark at all! How about Medieval music? that's closer but not close enough. How about Renaissance music? No, thats to classy sounding. How about Minstrel music? That's very close, wait, I got it (Robin and his) 'Merry Men Music', thats fits great, and beautiful Cadence Night could be the Maid Marion.

Who is Blackmore's Night

Many of you already know and love these ultra talented people known as Blackmore's Night. 'Blackmore' is Ritchie Blackmore, the heralded guitar player and composer whom you may remember from Deep Purple or Blackmore's Rainbow and 'Night' is Ritchie's equally talented fiancee, (they may be married by now, I don't know) Candice Night and boy is she H_O_T! I could fall in love with this girl. If I wasn't already in love, sorry honey.

Now Blackmore, who was born and raised in jolly ole England, though a highly successful rock musician, apparently had alway been interested in the music of his ancestors. The catalyst that convinced Blackmore to change his musical preference is two-fold.

Firstly, Blackmore accidently met the lovely Miss Night in 1989(lucky guy) and after finding out they shared an interest in Medieval folk music among other things, they became an item. Secondly, reception to his last two albums were disappointing, thus leading Blackmore to start tinkering with his "Merry Men" music. Candice fit right in contributing lyrics and as the lead singer.

Blackmore's Night finally released their first album Shadow of the Moon in 1998. They have since released four more albums including one double disc live album, Past Times with Good Company. Ghost of a Rose is the most recent album, released just last month.

"Way to Mandalay"

"I wandered down the pathway, through the misty moor Like I knew he did a thousand times before Voices seem to echo "Come talk with me a while Just around the corner, just another mile...""

"Way to Mandalay, 6:25, Here I tell you about the "Merry Men" music and the first song is more contemporary, however it is a very pleasant song, which features Candice and a steel guitar and drums

"3 Black Crows"

"3 black crows were sitting on a fence Watching the world pass them by Laughing at humanity and its pretense Wondering where next to fly..."

"3 Black Crows", 3:43, That's more like it, again Candice in a nursery rhyme like song, which also features some sort of harmonica/horn type instrument.

"Diamonds and Rust" 4:54, is a nice rendition of the old Joan Baez tune. "Cartouche", 3:48, is a change of pace, with an almost reggae beat Candice and a cello as the featured instrument.

"Queen For A Day, Part I"

"A featherbed to rest my head On roses would I lay A full moon would glow every night And summer would be every day We'd dance and sing all afternoon And rain would wash troubles away Every wish would be granted for me If I could be Queen for a Day..."

"Queen for a Day", 3:05, is a slow melodious number featuring Miss Night, a flute and an acoustic Guitar

"Queen for a Day, Part II", 1:36, "Queen for a Day" continues with an instrumental hoedown .

"Ivory Tower", 4:24, is a ballad but with a heavy bass beat and some backing male chanting.

"Nur Eine Minute", 1:07, a short instrumental interlude.

"Ghost of a Rose"

"The valley green was so serene In the middle ran a stream so blue... A maiden fair, in despair, once had met her true love there and she told him... She would say... "Promise me , when you see, a white rose you'll think of me I love you so, Never let go, I will be your ghost of a rose...""

"Ghost of a Rose", 5:45, very nice, a very pretty melodious ballad with a full orchestra backing the incomparable Candice.

"Mrs. Peagram's Morris and Sword", 2:01, a third short Instrumental.

"Loreley", 3:36, a somewhat uptempo song with Candice and strong flutework, handclapping and a couple other, probably, medieval instruments.

"Where Are We Going From Here", 4:04, Candice sings this maudlin ballad with Ritchie's accompanying acoustic guitar.

"Rainbow Blues", 4:30, fifteenth century meets Twenty-first century in this, tongue in cheek, rock number. Ritchie picked back up his fender for this one.

"All For One"

"We'll drink together And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone! We'll drink together And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone! All For One, and One For All! We'll drink together And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone! All For One, and One For All! We'll drink together And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone!"

"All for One", 5:36, if you can picture a medieval anthem, this is it. Ritchie keeps his fender for this one. you'll be humming this one for weeks.

"Dandelion Wine"

"Where has the time gone...it seems to fly so fast One moment you're having fun, the next its come to pass Days turn into yesteryear, old friends find their own way Until the moment you leave...I wish that you would stay..."

"Dandelion Wine", 5:41, a pretty ballad, reminicing old times. Features acoustic and flute.

Conclusion

If you've happened to have read any of my previous reviews, then you may know that I'm partial to the Ladies, including singers. I have written reviews on groups that have heavenly and powerful voices, like Sharon den Adel, Vibeke Stene and Annie Haslam, from Within Temptation, Tristania and Renaissance, respectively and Candice's voice is not like theirs. Candice's voice is mellow and charming. It fits their type of music perfectly. I like Sharon den Adel's voice for Within Temptation's music and I like Candice's voice just fine for the "Merry Men" music

In all honesty, although many of the songs are wonderful, it's not their most consistent and by extension, not their best album. It is definitely, still a five star album though

Similar Groups or Artists:

Hagalaz Runedance, Loreena McKennit, Enya, Rhea's Obsession

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