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ballrooms and begowned duchesses spinning with their suitors spring to mind. One of the jewels of the album is Play Minstrel Play, Jethro Tulls Ian Anderson providing some majestic flute playing that transforms the slow medieval piece into a fast paced whirling dervish of a number.

The album is really about showcasing the talents of Blackmore and Night and therefore is reliant on the guitar playing and the vocals, the later sounding at its best on the slower numbers such as Ocean Gypsy and Spirit of the Sea. The guitar also gets its chance to shine, as if anyone ever had any doubts about Blackmores abilities his weapon of choice. There are three instrumental numbers all very different, listen to them and you know that you are listening to a master. Also to be found amongst the original tracks are a couple of reworked familiar numbers, Writing on The Wall is rocked up Tchaikovsky and a modern reworking of Greensleeves is also present in all its glory. One of the more contemporary songs Wish You Were Here is worthy of note, Candice Nights voice dripping with longing for a missing lover and Blackmore playing electric guitar for a change. The only detraction here for me is the lyrics that Candice Night brings to the songs. Yes, she has a fantastic voice but the themes are often a bit twee, a bit starry eyed school girl poetry, but there is enough going on around her to make this a small issue.

Shadow of The Moon will not be everyone's cup of tea, and those buying it for a chance to hear Blackmore revisit those rock and roll days of Deep Purple will be disappointed, but if you listed to it with no preconceptions then there is a wealth of fantastic music to be appreciated. Spanish guitar mingles with medieval recorders, flutes and modern keyboard washes. Its not rock and roll but neither is it a medieval master class. What it conjures up is a romantic fantasy medieval world that never really existed, all moon washed courtyards, fair damsels, chivalric codes and a carefree life. It gives a hint at past musical sounds and styles but is put together with modern instruments for the main.

If you appreciate great guitar playing, intricate song compositions and a tapestry of beautiful sounds then you will love this album, just don't pay too much attention to the lyrics.

Learn more about this author, Dave Franklin.
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