Blackmore's Night - 'Wind In The Willows' (Castles & Dreams DVD, 2005)

As I went a walking
One morning in spring
I met with some travelers
On an old country lane
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said

"With the wind in the willows
The birds in the sky
There's a bright sun to warm us wherever we lie...
We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
To share on our journey with all of mankind".

So I asked them to tell me their name and their race
So I could remember each smile on their face
"Our name, they mean nothing...
They change throughout time
So come sit beside us and share in our wine"

So I sat down beside them
With flowers all around
We et from a mantle
Spread out on the ground
They told me of prophets
And peoples and kings
And all of the one god that knows everything
"We're traveling to Glaston
Over England's gren lanes
To hear of men's troubles
To hear of their pains
We travel the wide world
Over land and the sea
To tell all the people
How they can be free..."

So sadly I left them
On that old country lane
For I knew that I'd never see them again
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said...

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. Προ τετραμήνου (10 Μαρτίου 2023) κυκλοφόρησε η "25th Anniversary Edition" του ντεμπούτου των Blackmore's Night.

Παρακολουθούμε το μουσικό βίντεο με την "ζωντανή" απόδοση του τραγουδιού "Wind In The Willows", από την εμφάνιση των Blackmore's Night το 2004 στο Burg Veldenstein της Γερμανίας. Το εν λόγω βίντεο εποτελεί μέρος του DVD "Castles & Dreams" που "βγήκε" την επόμενη χρονιά (2005)...

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: "Village On The Sand" (Castles & Dreams DVD, 2005)
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)