Customer Reviews

Village Lanterne

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Village Lanterne" the newest album from Blackmore's Night is another fine demonstration of their unique blend of pop/rock and renaissance music. Though I will admit, I find this album to be a bit darker than their earlier recordings. And when I say dark I do not mean shockingly so. But this album contains less carefree, uplifting music such as "Under a Violet Moon" and "Home Again" with the exception of a few tracks. It seems as though they have taken a more serious turn with their lyrics and music. The tracks are as follows:

25 Years: Blend of renaissance and rock as usual with a slight middle-eastern twist. The percussion on this song is lighter and reminds me almost of a Celtic bodhran sound.

Olde Village Lanterne: Similar to "March the Heroes Home" on "Under a Violet Moon" both in lyrics and in sound. Candice's voice is soft and lovely throughout the song, leading up to a renaissance fanfare near the end.

I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore: More rock than renaissance on this track. The lyrics are a bit darker and ethereal speaking of a late night encounter between a driver and a mysterious woman, could be describing a run of the mill urban legend in which a ghostly hitchhiker is picked up then vanishes into thin air. But a very good song all around.

The Messenger: I really can't give a fair critique on this song since I am not a fan of instrumentals of any kind. I know that is almost sacrilegious for a Blackmore's Night fan to say, though I am sure most will be pleased with Ritchie's masterful guitar work on this track.

World of Stone: Renaissance music mostly on this one. This song has a courageous feel to it and the chanting reminds me of "Ivory Tower" on "Ghost of a Rose". Again this track is a bit darker as Candice sings of "angels falling" and preparing for a fight though it is decidedly hopeful.

Faerie Queen: This track could be a sister track to "Queen for a Day Parts One and Two" on "Ghost of a Rose". The first part of the song is demure, Candice sings softly and gently of the Faerie Queen. As the track slows Ritchie picks up with a fast paced, danceable instrumental that sounds like a jig played in a medieval tavern. One of my favorites on this album.

St. Teresa: Good old rock song. Not much more to say.

Village Dance: Again an instrumental though fan's of "Minstrel Hall" and other Blackmore instrumentals will surely find this one pleasing.

Mond Tanz/Child in Time: Those of us who have seen Blackmore's Night in concert are no strangers to this song. They took "Mond Tanz" an upbeat renaissance instrumental (one that I enjoyed) from their first album "Shadow of the Moon" and gave it a face lift, throwing in another one of Ritchie's earlier songs "Child in Time". The Sisters of the Moon, Ladies Nancy and Madeline give a beautiful, operatic performance on this song.

Streets of London: I also heard this track live at a concert as a preview to their upcoming album and I didn't care for it. Slow, sad and reminiscent.

Just Call My Name (I'll Be There): Pop/Rock song from a single released earlier this year. Even though I prefer the more renaissance side of their music I enjoyed this song.

Olde Mill Inn: This song was also on the "Just Call My Name" single. A renaissance drinking song that is similar in some ways to "Home Again" but a bit more discordant as though the patrons of a tavern were bellowing along with it.

Windmills: A soft, gentle song. Not the best on this album in my opinion.

Street of Dreams: Another rock song which moves completely away from their unique take on renaissance music, though still enjoyable.

Once in a Garden: A completely Candice song. She wrote both the music and the lyrics on this one. And though I really do enjoy her voice and music, I found this song to be just too sweet. She sings of childhood memories and dreams, days spent at the beach and of course "in a garden".

Street of Dreams Bonus Track: Exact same as its predecessor with the exception of Joe Lynn Turner singing along with Candice. I prefer the duet version to the original track on the album.

Overall, a very good album. Blackmore's Night moved away a bit from the light renaissance music but still kept their trademark style on most tracks thus making it another lovely addition to any music collection.

This is the sixth studio album by the group and once again they've written some great tunes. I prefer the magical/mediaeval themes that they produce which means "Village Lanterne", "World of Stone", "Old Mill Inn" and "Windmills" are proving to be my favourites. Frankly, these songs deserve a health warning - they keep running through my brain and are keeping me awake at night! Each album has been eagerly awaited and snapped up as soon as it hits the store. The only one I haven't been that keen on is "Beyond the Sunset" and that is only because I'm not that keen on ballads as they tend to be the same rythym-wise and I find it a bit boring - but that's not to say that the songs, taken individually, aren't great.

I just wish that they'd think a little more of us older fans with regard to the covers themselves. I really like having the lyrics of the songs with the albums, but find it difficult to read some of the text against the picture backgrounds, yet it's great to have the pictures too. On "The Village Lanterne" it was a little bit easier as all the picture backgrounds are dark and the text is in white, but even then I need a magnifying glass to read the small descriptions given with each song - and that's when I'm wearing my reading glasses! I don't know what the answer is because I want the lyrics and the pictures, but perhaps someone will have a bright idea to solve the problem.

More music of the same, please, Blackmore's Night.

To me this album feels like an extension to the next level of the Castle & Dream DVD probably because of "Mond Tanz / Child In Time" done here again. Most of the songs are good and have a heavier feel to them with brilliant vocal and some good lead works. Street Of Dreams? Give it to me anytime.

I have just recently found Ritchie Blackmore again and with him his Candace Night. I have fallen so in love with this music that when I walk I usually don't listen to music, but could not bear to be away from this cd for that long! So now I listen to it while I am walking! I first got the dvd, Castles and Dreams which is fabulous, and I can't reccommend highly enough! Then I wanted their newest music and bought this one. I was not disappointed, it is a wonderful cd of rock and renaissance music. Ritchie says this music is in his blood and that he just HAD to do it and I have to agree, as it is in my blood too. I have been looking for this genre of music since I was a child but could not find anyone playing it until now. Finding this music has been a very happy moment in my life. This cd will make you get up and dance and sing, which is what it was intended to do. If you like happy music and great guitar work and a voice that will give you goosebumps this is the cd for you. Candy has the voice of an angel and I haven't heard a comparable voice since Loreena McKennitt. There are a few songs here that would be great played on the radio today. One of them is: Call My Name (I'll Be There) the other is, Street Of Dreams. All in all I highly reccommend this cd.

I would have to agree with the first review of this ,which stand out to me as it being "Darker"than the other Blackmores night cds,Ghost,fires at Midnight,under a violet moon,etc...Dark is ok,cos I like dark music..............but nothing really stands out that makes me really want to clap and get into it,like "Lorely",or "Diamonds and rust","all for one","The Storm"etc..There are some great cuts as usual "Guess it doesn`t matter",St.Teresa,Just call my name,and fairie queen.But the slower songs,and instrumentals just seem re-hashed or a little bit more boring,than say "BENZAI _TEN"<or "possum goes to prague">All in all good listening>just think riitchie and candice should take maybe a year and a half off or two to come up with some fresh ideas<they seem to be drying up a bit with all the cover tunes

I have finally given up on Blackmore's night. I had hoped the mix of Deep Purple (great!) and Fairport Convntion or Steeleye Span (both great!) would result in a magical mix.

Not so. This, again, is just too boring. A wate of money, as are their other albums.