“2001 was the year that we incorporated more electric guitar into the songs alongside more organic instruments” – Blackmore’s Night, 2024
Never in the history of rock music has an established artist done such an almighty 180 as Ritchie Blackmore did when he packed away his famous white Fender Stratocaster and the stack of Marshalls in favour of a more gentle, stripped-back approach with Blackmore’s Night; the Renaissance music outfit that he formed in 1997 with his wife Candice Night.
After the success of 1997’s debut album ‘Shadow of the Moon’, and the 1999 sophomore album ‘Under a Violet Moon’, Blackmore’s Night added more electric guitars on studio album number three ‘Fires At Midnight’ which saw the band going down more of a folk rock route.
‘Fires At Midnight’ was immensely enjoyable (and not just because it was welcoming to hear Blackmore plug in again on moments such as opening track ‘Written In The Stars’, and his weeping, mournful solo on ‘I Still Remember’) and with advancements in studio technology moving at a fast pace, it is only fitting that such a strong album gets a new coat of paint for its 25th anniversary.
Fully remixed from the original multi-track masters, and available on vinyl for the first time, ‘Fires At Midnight (25th Anniversary New Mix)’ also comes with a few bonus tracks, and perhaps more importantly: two brand new versions with new vocal parts recorded by Candice Night in 2024 (‘Written In The Stars’ and the album’s title track). Add in a new interview with both Blackmore, and Night, and the value for money factor is significant.
Hearing Blackmore’s sweeping guitar work on ‘I Still Remember’ is a huge thrill, and here, decades later with a stunning new mix, it’s like The Man in Black is in the room with the listener. With Candice Night’s haunting vocals, it was a standout moment in 2001 and is even stronger now. Likewise, the good-time cover of Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin” hits the mark time after time.
The beer-hall foot-stomp of ‘Home Again’ greatly benefits from the new mix and it’s hard to listen to this one without the urge to raise a stein or two. The simple percussion works perfectly, as it also does on the majestical title track which highlights Candice Night’s ethereal vocals at their very best. And how about Blackmore’s lead guitar work on said title track? My God, it is spine-tingling hearing him let rip once again.
Need something lighter to offset the weight? Then feast on Blackmore’s sublime acoustic playing on ‘Storm’ which explodes out of the speakers mid-song along with pulsating bass licks. And somewhere out there, there is an EDM mix of ‘All Because of You’, because Night’s dreamy vocals are perfect for an Ibiza Summer banger that would result in a gazillion streams on Spotify and a dilemma for Blackmore’s Night in what to spend their $10 payment from Daniel Ek on.
The lucrative onset of anniversary editions often means that the end product seems rushed and tacked together by some nameless faceless record company executive; not so with ‘Fires At Midnight’. Lovingly curated with band involvement at each stage, it’s a fantastic bundle (the limited red/black marbled double-vinyl looks stunning) and a benchmark for future anniversary editions.
Available now via earMUSIC
Blackmore’s Night Social Media, HERE
Review – Dave