Blackmore’s Night, Nature’s light

Blackmore’s Night is the first band I introduced my son to. He’s one. And I don’t mean to imply it’s a childish band, simply that it’s lovely. Sweet, calm, cheerful, pleasant… what I want him to experience life like. And that’s exactly what Nature’s light and Blackmore’s Night inspire me to feel. Just joy of living and enthusiasm.

Candice’s voice is, as always, like warm butter, carrying each merry tune with grace and delicacy. And Ritchie’s guitar is… well, only the guitar of one of the greatest guitarists of all time. No big deal. But even though it may have been comfortable to do so, he doesn’t limit to it and instead employs all sorts of stringed instruments, both modern and medieval. The exponent of this instrumental variety is Darker shade of black, which is absolutely beautiful, with violins, tambourines, the mandola and ‘the’ guitar in a long emotional solo, topped off by Candice’s soft vocalising. It might just be the most ambitious and touching melody they’ve done together.

But let’s go back to the beginning and quickly touch each moment. Once upon December, Four winds and Feather in the wind are lighthearted and bouncy, typical Renaissance-inspired music that’s encouraging me to dance and smile. Cute and lively, without feeling shallow. After the skirt-twirling opening, the pace settles down with the aforementioned Darker shade of black and The twisted oak, which swaying and gentle, and slightly more meditative than the general jolly feel of the record.

Sadly, much like in their previous release, Nature’s light loses some steam after the first half. The title track is quite grating in its simplicity and repetitiveness, and Going to the faire is similarly dull and lacking in nuance. Wish you were here was never one of my favourites and I definitely could’ve done without a rendition of it, even if it’s softer and warmer than the 1997 one. And finally, Der Letzte Musketier tries to break the monotony with a playful guitar solo, but unfortunately overstays its welcome a bit.

The album closes with Second element, a soft-rock ballad not characteristic for Blackmore’s Night, but pretty nonetheless, as it has an endearing candor and gives a pleasant calming vibe.

Like most of the duo’s music, Nature’s light is upbeat and full of life and just makes me think that these two are the happiest people on the planet. And their happiness and peacefulness are contagious, which is exactly what I needed in the middle of a hectic life that’s full of pressure. To dance in a meadow barefoot and with flowers in my hair, so to speak. It doesn’t get any more Blackmore’s Night than that 🙂