GHOST OF A ROSE

On Ghost of a Rose, Blackmore and Night try to more fully integrate electronic sounds into their medieval folk style, with mixed results. The drum machine doesn't add a whole lot to their cover of Diamonds and Rust, but on the whole that cover feels misjudged to me - it doesn't feel like it hits anything not covered either by the Joan Baez original or the Judas Priest update. On the other hand, the synthesisers are used to good effect on the opening Way to Mandalay - but that's the best bit about the song, which is otherwise a smooth, poppy number that is slightly too Ren Faire to actually be pop but is a little too pop to scratch the medieval folk itch, leaving me wondering just who, exactly, this album is supposed to please.