Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage
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Free Music Notes for Secret Voyage
Free Music Review: Take an Amazing Secret Voyage with Blackmore's Night
Hit: 5 Stars
Secret Voyage is the latest from "Renaissance Rockers" Ritchie Blackmore and his lovely wife Candice Night, who lead the merry band otherwise known as Blackmore's Night. For those unfamiliar with this band, Blackmore's Night dons medieval garb, picks up a wide range of instruments from the last thousand years or so, and then proceeds to knock our socks (hose?) off, with their historically-inspired music.
For over ten years, BN has been wildly popular with New Agers and Renaissance Faire Enthusiasts, in the Americas, Japan, and in Europe. I have no doubt that Secret Voyage will make inroads for new BN listeners, and can satisfy BN's long-time fans, like myself.
Secret Voyage does not disappoint in its musical quest, a voyage through time and space, alluded to by the iconic ship on the cover. Some great musical escapism is at work here. The first track, God Save The Keg, is a stately overture, formally inviting us along on this voyage. It is echoed later on the CD in the haunting song, Empty Words. Locked Within the Crystal Ball reminds us that "No one can stop us, we're one with the stars". And so it goes; the melodies of Secret Voyage draw inspiration from east and west, old and new, the joyful and the melancholy. Rainbow Eyes, the sixth track, features a Blackmore guitar solo that will stand up to any performance from his vast earlier repertoire with Deep Purple and Rainbow.
Line-up changes for this disc have not dampened any of BN's earlier musical fire. The fiddler Gypsy Rose has integrated seamlessly into this fine assembly. Likewise, Earl Grey of Chamay brings his talent as a backing player of multiple stringed instruments, and sounds like he's been here a jolly long time.
A bonus video, The Village Lanterne, is included on the disc (it was the title track on BN's 2006 album of the same name). Candice is a lovely Lady of the Lake in the video, calling to mind tales of King Arthur; her unequalled vocals, along with Ritchie's masterful guitar riffs, are not to be missed.
Not too surprisingly, I give Secret Voyage five stars. I believe this CD can proudly claim its place with the rest of BN's fine earlier works. I invite you to take this Secret Voyage to far-away places and times... your uplifted spirits will thank you for it.
Free Music Review: One of 2008's Best CDs
Hit: 5 Stars
While Ritchie Blackmore is a rock legend (the opening riff to Smoke on the Water alone is enough to qualify for that), he has always been underrated as an overall guitarist; generally not thought of in the same light as people like Steve Howe and Robert Fripp. In Blackmore's Night he has greatly expanded his stylistic repertoire to show that is abilities shine on either acoustic or electric guitar (and he plays a fine hurdy-gurdy to boot).
Secret Voyage is an excellent addition to the BN library, showing far more range than is possible in the more limited genre of heavy metal. The hard rocking "Locked Within A Crystal Ball" is as ambitious as anything Blackmore has done in his career. The rest of the album shows a nice variety of styles, almost all with the medieval/renaissance era BN feel.
"The Circle", and "Empty Words" also stand out, as does the cover of "Rainbow Eyes". The cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love With You", has raised some groans in the Amazon.com comments, but it is straightforward hard rock that while not fitting 100% with the rest of the album, is hardly offensive (and the bridge actually works quite well).
Candice Night is in good voice (as usual) and has written some solid lyrics. Overall, this is an excellent CD, which, sadly, probably will not get BN the attention they deserve.
Free Music Review: Review from NewAgeMusicWorld.Com / NewAgeMusic.nu
Hit: 5 Stars
Blackmore's Night album Secret Voyage is a recent achievement for Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night. This album made a debut at #1 on the Billboard New Age Chart where it remained for four consecutive weeks. In addition Secret Voyage continued to remain on Billboard's Top 10 Chart for a remarkable 72 weeks. Secret Voyage is another great album with a more mystical feel. The song Rainbow Eyes, which is one of my all-time favorites, is an excellent version of an earlier cover song from the band Rainbow.
The international success for Blackmore's Night, and the exclusive musical focus they have engraved for themselves has resulted in an enormous following in North America, South America, Europe and Japan. Their melodies have gained crossover prosperity by the enchanting lyrical vocals and fascinating instrumental music that often contains metrical structures dating back to the seventeenth century.
Charting on Billboard with their Secret Voyage album is a good way to measure the accomplishments of any group, but what makes Blackmore's Night a true winner is their consistent ability to create transcending music which varies with every album they produce. This renaissance inspired band which transports progressive music into contemporary times is a model for success. Past, present and future.
Free Music Review: This Is Some Sweet Stuff
Hit: 5 Stars
There's no 'tweener when it comes to New Age; it's either right on the money or absolutely horrific. And when it comes to Blackmore's Night I hear cash registers going off, particularly with this band's wonderful CD SECRET VOYAGE. I mean, come on: How can you go wrong with a CD beginning with a rousing instrumental entitled "God Save the Keg"?
Blackmore's Night is so enigmatic, which makes its sound so appealing. The music is all at once beautiful, inspiring, haunting, engaging--with a beat that has you tapping your toes. Deep Purple veteran Ritchie Blackmore furnishes just enough bad boy guitar to give the band's sound a decided edge, while vocalist Candice Night supplies a fresh voice as clear and sweet as a bell. (Plus is she ever easy on the eyes.) This is all good stuff, but I especially liked "Locked Within the Crystal Ball", an inspiring "The Circle", the stately instrumental "Prince Waldecks Galliard", and a version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" that the King himself would envy. New Age is inherently hit or miss; Blackmore's Night SECRET VOYAGE is most definitely the former. Get this CD.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
Free Music Review: Another winner from Blackmore's Night
Hit: 5 Stars
I was so excited to learn that BN had a new CD out, and upon listening, I wasn't disappointed. It seems to me that this album is a little more rocking than some of the others, but that's OK. There are still the beautiful instrumentals and ethereal vocals and medieval instruments that I love.
It took me a while to figure out where I had heard the first track, "God Save the Keg", before. If you've seen the movie Henry V, near the end when Henry is carrying a body across the battlefield - you know, that long tracking shot. (And I think it's the body of the cute little English teenager played by an obscure actor named Christian Bale. It's been a while since I've seen it though.)
I love their cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love". Yep, it's the Elvis song, but it's not the slow song we're used to. I'm glad they didn't try to emulate the original. That's perfect the way it is, but this version is really good, too.
So far, my other favorites are "Locked Within the Crystal Ball" and "Toast to Tomorrow", but all of them are good.