In the midst of a whirlwind era, Blackmore’s Night have released their 11th album Nature’s Light. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night lead their band of merry minstrels on this, the band’s first new album in six years.
We start with a mid-tempo jaunty “Once Upon December,” with Blackmore noodling along on acoustic and Night’s intoxicating voice bubbling the brew. “Feather-In-The-Wind” really rocks, giving us our first brush of electric guitar.
It’s when Earl Grey of Chimay starts with his low, thick bass on the instrumental “Darker Shade Of Black,” that things take a decidedly more epic turn. While perfectly placed, the sad string solo from Scarlet Fiddler and the high flying “oohs and ahhs” don’t prepare one for Blackmore’s wailing off the main melody at the tail end of the tune. I dare you not to suffer gooseflesh on this one!
Out of all the Blackmore Night albums, I’d say Nature’s Light gives the listener a great many turns of Blackmore’s extraordinary fretwork. Horns and over-the-top orchestration sweeps the title track along, and we are into funky rockin’ blues, organ and electric pushing us into the Deep Purple-sound alike instrumental, “Der Letzte Musketier.” The whole heady concoction ends with the most accessible tune of all, a foot-tapping, brushing-snare high-spirited “Second Element.”
Blackmore’s Night have earned several gold records, played sold-out shows across the globe, and created a unique niche for themselves in their two decades. And really, if you’re into classic woodwinds, mandolas, electric and acoustic guitars, and a liberal use of hurdy gurdy, you can’t do better right now than plugging in and turning on Nature’s Light.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
