Blackmore’s Night – Dancer and the Moon
Frontiers Records
http://www.blackmoresnight.com/
Rating: C
Guitar God Ritchie Blackmore is still, in 2013, gallivanting around courtyards and castles with his sexy wife, Candice Night, and playing lutes, flutes and other musical instruments of yesteryear. The pair has released another album in the same genre but this time it comes with a kick, as Ritchie not only pulls out some rock and roll tunes, he even plays the most electric guitar he has played in over a decade.
There are a few tasty solos and electric moments, however, they are nothing near what he has done in the past. Still, hearing Blackmore on electric guitar does make one hold hope that perhaps the seed has been planted and that maybe, just maybe, it will blossom.
In the meantime, we have this album with the Rainbow tune “The Temple of the King” as well as covers of Randy Newman’s, “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” and Uriah Heep’s “Lady in Black,” which is easily the coolest and slickest remake the band has ever pulled off.
Suffice it to say that fans of hard rock and Ritchie’s past musical life will still be scratching their heads when it comes to the musical direction he has taken with his life. In all fairness, he does seem to have taken to it and with Candice by his side it is easy to see why he may just be sticking around, as she is easy on the eyes.
We can have hope that one day he will talk her into making a rock and roll album, or at least let him get out of the castle for a while, lose the tights and jam out with the boys…just for a while. Until then, we have this, which, ain't to bad of an album. While one can't say it rocks, one must admit the musicians on this sucker really do know what they are doing.
Songs / Tracks Listing
01. I Think It's Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman Cover)
02. Troika
03. The Last Leaf
04. Lady In Black (Uriah Heep Cover)
05. Minstrels In The Hall
06. The Temple Of The King (Rainbow Cover)
07. Dancer And The Moon
08. Galliard
09. The Ashgrove
10. Somewhere Over The Sea (The Moon Is Shining)
11. The Moon Is Shining (Somewhere Over The Sea)
12. The Spinner's Tale
13. Carry On... Jon
By Jeb Wright