Blackmore's Night - 'Play Minstrel Play' (Paris, Sep 20, 2006)

Underneath the harvest moon
Where the ancient shadows will play and hide...
With a ghostly tune and the devil's pride...
"Stranger" whispered all the town
Has he come to save us from Satan's hand?
Leading them away to a foreign land...

Play for me, minstrel, play
And take away our sorrows...
Play for me, minstrel, play
And we'll follow...

Hear, listen, can you hear,
The haunting melody surrounding you,
Weaving a magic spell all around you...
Weaving a magic spell all around you...
Danger hidden in his eyes,

We should have seen it from far away,
Wearing such a thin disguise in the light of day...
He held the answer to our prayers,
Yet it was too good to be...
Proof before our eyes, yet we could not see...

Play for me, minstrel, play
And take away our sorrows...
Play for me, minstrel, play
And we'll follow...

Hear, listen, can you hear,
The haunting melody surrounding you,
Weaving a magic spell all around you...
Weaving a magic spell all around you...

Στις αρχές του καλοκαιριού του 1997 ο Ritchie Blackmore σοκάρει τους φίλους της μουσικής του (και τους ακροατές του) κυκλοφορώντας το ντεμπούτο των Blackmore's Night υπό τον τίτλο "Shadow Of The Moon".

Ο Ritchie αφήνοντας στην άκρη (όχι τελείως πάντως) τον ηλεκτρισμό των Deep Purple και των Rainbow μας παρουσιάζει ένα (ημι)ακουστικό σχήμα μεσαιωνικού / αναγεννησιακού folk κατά βάση, απόλυτα εναρμονισμένο με το προσωπικό του μουσικό όραμα.

Υπό μία έννοια οι Blackmore's Night αποτελούν μία άλλη πτυχή της ίδιας μήτρας που γέννησε και τους Rainbow. Στις αρχές της άνοιξης (10 Μαρτίου 2023) θα κυκλοφορήσει η "25th Anniversary Edition" του ντεμπούτου των Blackmore's Night.

Παρακολουθούμε το μουσικό βίντεο με την "ζωντανή" απόδοση του (υπέροχου) τραγουδιού "Play Minstrel Play" (το οποίο είναι βασισμένο σε παραδοσιακό τραγούδι), από την εμφάνιση των Blackmore's Night τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2006 στο Παρίσι. Το εν λόγω βίντεο εποτελεί μέρος του DVD "Paris Moon" που "βγήκε" την επόμενη χρονιά (2007)...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Blackmore’s Night were founded in 1997 by legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and award-winning lyricist and singer Candice Night to stage and explore their love for traditional Medieval and Folk-Rock music. Together, they created a band that like very few others is a prime example of truthfulness and creative integrity.

The band’s debut album “Shadow Of The Moon” (1997) was not only Blackmore’s deliberate radical cut from his previous life as celebrated rockstar in Deep Purple and Rainbow; it was a ground-breaking statement of his artistic ideals: mainly acoustic music, influenced by the songs of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance with a touch of genius that made them sound contemporary.

“Shadow Of The Moon” was a milestone album. It encompasses everything that Blackmore’s Night stand for to this day: beautiful melodies and warm atmospheres that are able to reach the soul as well as joyful songs to dance to and to celebrate. The 25th Anniversary Edition of “Shadow Of The Moon” was converted in HD audio from the original recording, and it has been fully remixed, allowing the original performance to shine in its original glory.

The original iconic artwork has been refreshed and reworked to celebrate the anniversary. Two previously unreleased acoustic recordings will be part of this reissue: “Spirit Of The Sea” and “Shadow Of The Moon”, both recorded in an intimate home session by Candice and Ritchie in 2022. All physical first print editions will also carry an exclusive “Shadow Of The Moon” documentary on DVD as bonus.»

Band: Blackmore's Night
video: "Play Minstrel Play" (live)
Album: "Shadow Of The Moon" (25th Anniversary Edition)
Type: Full length (Reissue)
Release Date: March 10th, 2023

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Track listing

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CD:
01. Shadow Of The Moon (25th Anniversary New Mix)
02. The Clock Ticks On (25th Anniversary New Mix)
03. Be Mine Tonight (25th Anniversary New Mix)
04. Play Minstrel Play (25th Anniversary New Mix)
05. Ocean Gypsy (25th Anniversary New Mix)
06. Minstrel Hall (25th Anniversary New Mix)
07. Magical World (25th Anniversary New Mix)
08. Writing On The Wall (25th Anniversary New Mix)
09. Renaissance Faire (25th Anniversary New Mix)
10. Memmingen (25th Anniversary New Mix)
11. No Second Chance (25th Anniversary New Mix)
12. Mond Tanz (25th Anniversary New Mix)
13. Spirit Of The Sea (25th Anniversary New Mix)
14. Greensleeves (25th Anniversary New Mix)
15. Wish You Were Here (25th Anniversary New Mix)
16. Shadow Of The Moon (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session)
17. Spirit Of The Sea (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session)

Bonus-DVD:
- Documentary: The story of “Shadow Of The Moon” (30 min)
- Music Video Clips, “Shadow Of The Moon”, “No Second Chance”, “Renaissance Faire” (with optional audio commentary by Candice Night & Ritchie Blackmore)