Blackmore's Night Secret Voyage - First studio album for years

If you like Blackmore's Night then you'll love Secret Voyage.

As they have done with previous works, Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night have used traditional melodies and blended them with contemporary music to produce a style of music best defined as Renaiisance Folk Rock.

As before, Blackmore's brilliant guitar is complemented by Night's lyrics and vocals.
Secret Voyage consists of twelve new tracks. Their latest offering has apprently been inspired by nature and incorporates both acoustic and electric guitars, strings, renaissance instruments.

History:

The band originated in 1990 when Candice Night was working at a New York radio station. She met Ritchie Blackmore at a soccer game in which he was playing. The two realised they shared an interest in the Renaissance and subsequently entered into a relationship.

Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1993 and two years later he recorded the album Stranger in Us All. Candice Night sang backing vocals and contributed to some of the lyrics.

It was at this point that Blackmore became interested in the idea of bringing Renaissance music to a contemporary audience. He decided that Night's personality and voice made her the natural choice as lead singer.
They launched their new band in 1997, with session musicians rounding out the line-up.

The first album, Shadow of the Moon, was a success. As the band continued, rock guitar became more and more influential although, paradoxically, Night contributed more in the way of Renaissance instruments.

The group performs at Renaissance events, as well as touring in their own right. They tend to favour castles as venues and their audience will typically dress in period costume. The success of the band has even spawned two tribute bands - Renaissance Night and Italian Morning Star.

Discography:

Shadow of the Moon (1997) Under a Violet Moon (1999) Fires at Midnight (2001) Ghost of a Rose (2003) Past Times with Good Company (2003) (Live) Beyond the Sunset: The Romantic Collection (2004) (Compilation) Castles and Dreams (2005) (DVD - Live) The Village Lanterne (2006) Winter Carols (2006) Paris Moon (2007) (DVD - Live) Paris Moon (2007) (Live) Secret Voyage (2008)

Current band members:

Ritchie Blackmore - guitars, mandolin, domra Candice Night - vocals, horn, flute Bard David of larchmont - keyboards Squire Malcolm of Lumley (Malcolm Dick) - drums Gypsy Rose - Violin Earl Grey of Chemey - Bass, mandolin and guitar
Former band members
Sisters of the Moon: Lady Madeline and Lady Nancy (Madeline and Nancy Posner) - backing vocals Lord Marnen of Wolfhurst (Marnen Laibow-Koser) - violin, flute, recorder Chris Devine - violin, flute, guitar Carmine Giglio - keyboards Mike Sorrentino - percussion Sir Robert of Normandie (Robert Curiano) - bass, guitars Tudor Rose (Tina Chancey) - violin, flute Mick Cervino - bassist Marci Geller Adam Forgione Alex Alexander Jessie Haynes - guitars and backing vocals Lady Rraine (Lorraine Ferro) - harmony vocals Baron St James

Marek Norvid (author) has been in the music business since he was the entertainment officer at Newcastle University back in the 80s. In the late 80's he set up RPM Music which is one of the few independent records stores still in existence in the UK. You can visit http://www.cdxpress.co.uk to check out the latest classic rock releases. Or visit http://www.cdxpress.co.uk/acatalog/Blackmores_Night_Secret_Voyage.html to find out more about the album.