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Blackmore’s Night
Secret Voyage
(SPV/Steamhammer Records)
Ask anyone who truly knows me and they’ll almost assuredly tell you that, for better or for worse, my predominantly rural ‘…upbringing…’ has had an indescribably profound impact on my musical tastes. Seriously…ever meet a Metalhead who absolutely loves Johnny Horton, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Yes? Although this undoubtedly seems more than a little unusual--if not outright contrived--for an admittedly devout worshipper of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, my musical tendencies have obviously never been confined to a specific genre, at least not for very long. Fortunately for all parties involved, a prime examples of this electiveness (and, as a result, one of the many artists that so frequently enables it) lies within the highly-anticipated Secret Voyage, the latest high octane offering from the critically acclaimed Blackmore’s Night.
On the stellar Secret Voyage (2008), an expertly assembled twelve song collection of Neo-Medieval-infused ‘…Folk Rock…’, each track, beginning with the quasi-epic (if not outright exhaustive) “Locked Within The Crystal Ball”, and the Schloss Waldeck-inspired “Prince Waldeck’s Galliard”, immediately commands the rapt and undivided attention of all parties involved, myself most definitely included. Undoubtedly attempting to capitalize on the tidal wave of momentum initiated with the release of 2001’s Fires At Midnight and 2003’s Ghost Of A Rose, the group once again subtlety showcases their more than considerable (albeit already well-documented) talents, thus accentuating their distinctly unique sonic persona without engulfing the average listener--most notably you, the ever-faithful reader--amid a virtual avalanche of mind-numbing virtuousness.
Continuing with a thought-provoking rendition of the oft-overlooked Rainbow gem “Rainbow Eyes”, and the maddeningly infectious “Sister Gypsy”, the steadfast--to say the very least--combination of vocalist/lyricist Candice Night, ex-Deep Purple/Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Earl Grey Of Chamay, violinist Gypsy Rose, vocalist/keyboardist Bard David Of Larchmont, and drummer Squire Malcolm Of Lumley (Daintees, Toy Dolls, and the Reg Vardy Band) gently lilt ahead with what can only be described as a carefully calculated ease. Wisely intertwining each ‘…blissfully multidimensional…’ composition with a deftly executed barrage of mandolins, mandolas, and mandocellos, the group (i.e. Blackmore, Night and their Band Of Minstrels) drives home each key focal point with a truly unique sense of efficiency and purpose.
Produced by the acclaimed Pat Regan (Deep Purple, Kiss and Peter Frampton, to name only a few), other standouts, including a refreshingly imaginative take on the oft-covered Elvis Presley/UB40 staple “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, and the curiously abbreviated (yet delightfully emotion-laden) “Empty Words”, only add to the group’s already burgeoning reputation as a bona fide creative force not to be ignored. Fortified throughout by a Martin Mueller-directed bonus video for “Village Lanterne” (taken from the group’s equally ingenious 2006 effort The Village Lanterne), the end result of the duo’s undeniably painstaking efforts is a collection of material that, while not necessarily groundbreaking and certainly not revolutionary, is seemingly guaranteed to leave both the proverbial ‘…die-hard completists…’ and curious newcomers alike only wanting for more.
So what are you afraid of? You’re still pissed that Ritchie left Deep Purple? Seriously, dude…get a freakin’ grip! He’s gone and he ain’t comin’ back. An absolute must-have for any genuinely open-minded Metalhead, even if you somehow find yourself less than enthralled with the majority--if not all--of the decidedly Renaissance-fueled wares contained herein, one must, at the very least, sincerely admire Blackmore and Night’s already much-celebrated penchant for creating music that is both commercially relevant and artistically challenging. Consequently, if you’ve once again found yourself in dire need of a less than obvious musical detour that won’t leave you feeling ‘…coyote ugly guilty…’ the next morning just for enjoying it, do yourself an incredibly enormous favor and pick this bad boy up. Trust me, my friends, you won’t be disappointed.
Select Ritchie Blackmore Discography
Secret Voyage (2008) ***
Paris Moon (DVD) (2007) ***
Winter Carols (2006) ***
The Village Lanterne (2006) ***
Ghost Of A Rose (2003) ***
Past Times With Good Company (2002) ***
Fires At Midnight (2001) ***
Under A Violet Moon (1999) ***
Shadow Of The Moon (1997) ***
Stranger In Us All (1995) **
The Battle Rages On (1993) *
Slaves & Masters (1990) *
The House Of Blue Light (1987) *
Perfect Strangers (1984) *
Bent Out Of Shape (1983) **
Straight Between The Eyes (1982) **
Difficult To Cure (1981) **
Down To Earth (1979) **
Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978) **
Rising (1976) **
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975) **
Who Do We Think We Are? (1973) *
Machine Head (1973) *
Fireball (1971) *
In Rock (1970) *
Deep Purple (1969) *
The Book Of Taliesyn (1969) *
Shades Of Deep Purple (1968) *
* as a member of Deep Purple
** as a member of Rainbow
*** as a member of Blackmore’s Night