Blackmore's Night Fires at Midnight"

Blackmore's Night -'Fires At Midnight'
Released on SPV Records in 2001

THE BAND:
Ritchie Blackmore-electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, hurdy gurdy, tambourine, renaissance drum
Candice Night-vocals, backing vocals, shawm, harp, recorder, pennywhistle, electric bagpipes
Sir Robert of Normandie-bass, backing vocals
Carmine Ciglio-keyboards
Pat Regan-keyboards
Chris Devine-violin, viola, recorder, flute
Mike Sorrentino-drums
Albert Damnemann-bagpipes on "All Because of you"
Richard Weisderman-trumpet
John Passanante-trombone
Ruby's Choir (live on "Home Again") Michelle, Anita, John, Cathy, Ken, Robert, Mike, Trish, Scott, Sue, Carmine, Mary, and Pete

TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Written in the Stars" - This track kicks off with a very soothing vocal intro along with a few Blackmore lead scales. The drums kick the musical intro in with an Indian sounding drum pattern on the toms. Through the verse you can really tell Candice has a very powerful voice. Blackmore plays real simple but effective lead scales through the track. The song has a strange mixture of drum power, with relaxing guitar scales.
2.) "Times they are a Changing" - A very strange twist to the Bob Dylan song.
3.) "I still remember" - This track kicks off with a hudy gurdy intro. Not many bands have used this great sounding instrument much. Lyrically I could not get enough off this ballad. Through the chorus Blackmore plays this very ancient sounding lead scale. The drum pattern was done in a very John Bonham style, and sounds great. The bridge is done with vocal stacks.
4.) " Home Again" - This track kick off with a huge renaissance sounding acoustic scale. When listening to this track you can imagine Blackmore as a bard playing for his King. The speed of the verse begins real slow then builds with power up through the chorus. Blackmore plays the mandolin on this one which would have been the only choice.
5.) "Crowning of the King" - This track also has a very renaissance sound to it. The flute in the background of the verse really brings Candice's voice out. The vocal arrangement is very catchy. The main instruments on this one is the horn section, the guitars are really just used as fill ins.
6.) "Fayre thee Well" - This instrument is very reminiscent of classical musicians such a Bach and Mozart.
7.) " Fires at Midnight" - This ballad opens with acoustic guitars and strings. Once again Candice's shows the subtleties of her voice when the vocals kick it. The song has a very
Irish Hymn sound to it. The track picks up after the second chorus with drums, but still keeps a ballad feel to it.
8.) "Hanging Tree" - This is another excellent ballad that really shows Candice's vocal talent. There are several real small Blackmore acoustic guitar scales that really sound great. There is a twin guitar/violin solo. The band use general handclaps to fill in some of the dead spots within the music.
9.) "Storm" - This track kicks off with a long acoustic Blackmore intro. After the chorus the song really picks up with, guitar, strings, and bass. During the second verse they add drums to the track. Because of the lyrics this would have been a great duet song with someone like Joe Lynn Turner.
10) "Mid Winter's Night" - The guitar pattern of this track has almost a Bluegrass feel to it. The verse of this Carol is sung in Provincial French then followed by English.
11.) "All because of you " - This track is one of the few that has a modern pop sound to it. Blacmore plays an electric on this track and really makes it sing. Candice's vocals are overdubbed and have a duet effect.
12.) "Waiting just for you" - This track kicks off with acoustic guitar and vocals. This also is one of the very few songs Blackmore's Night has done that has a more modern sound to it.
13.) "Praetorius (Courante)" - Instrumental
14.) "Benzai-Ten" - This track has a very Japanese sound to it musically. Blackmore uses an amplified mandolin, which has a nice effect.
15.) "Village of the Sand" - This track kicks off with a hurdy gurdy. The track musically has a cross between Japan and Arabic influence. Musically it also reminded me a little of Juthro Tull. The electric solo sounded a lot like Richie's Rainbow days.
16.) "Again Someday" - This intro opens with acoustic guitar. The main guitar pattern is a real simple laid back picking pattern. The track in whole has a lullaby feel to it.
17.) "Times they are a Changing" - Cd extra video track.

Richie Blackmore during a live performance has always reminded me of Merlin the Magician, with his stage presence. So Blackmore's Night is Ritche at his finest. And what about Candice Night, I have not heard vocals so pure since Stevie Nicks.
This release is unlike anything rock or metal fans get in to. But it is a great release from start to finish nonetheless. So buy a copy set back and enjoy, a trip back in time.