Fires at Midnight

1	Written in the Stars 4:49
2	The Times They Are A-Changin' 3:33
3	I Still Remember 5:42
4	Home Again 5:27
5	Crowning of the King 4:31
6	Fayre Thee Well 2:08
7	Fires at Midnight 7:36
8	Hanging Tree 3:46
9	The Storm 6:11
10	Mid Winter's Night 4:30
11	All Because of You 3:36
12	Waiting Just for You 3:16
13	Praetorius (Courante) 1:57
14	Benzai-Ten 3:51
15	Village on the Sand 5:04
16	Again Someday 1:39

Barnes & Noble

On their third album, Blackmore's Night -- the Celtic rock ensemble led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow) and vocalist Candice Night -- fuse acoustic medieval and Renaissance sounds to a modern rock-'n'-roll framework. The results suggest a universe of kings, troubadours, and fairy tales -- imagine Songs from the Wood-era Jethro Tull fronted by singers Loreena McKennitt and Enya. The album often leans toward the softer sounds of classical-inspired new age than toward rock or folk, but Night's sweet voice, reminiscent of Annie Haslam of Renaissance or Mike Oldfield collaborator Maggie Reilly, adds an airy, delicate touch to songs like "Crowning of the King" and "The Storm." Blackmore plays graceful acoustic guitar more often than he does searing electric, although he picks up the pace on relative rockers such as "Written in the Stars" and "The Storm," lending the album a welcome sense of balance. Fires at Midnight may not be a landmark release like Deep Purple's Machine Head or Rainbow's Rainbow Rising, but it clearly finds Blackmore reveling in his passion for the music -- and that's a welcome treat, indeed. Eric Lowenhar

All Music Guide

One of hard rock's most influential guitarists has opted for the cultural upheaval and regality of the Renaissance era, as Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night spearhead a band who abides by a hearty cross-pollination of English folk, 16th century melodies, and progressive rock. Here, Blackmore injects tasteful electric lead lines into a mix consisting of buoyantly executed rhythmic structures and Ms. Knight's whispery, and at times, satiny vocalizations. Thus, Blackmore's Night proclaims a festive atmosphere throughout these 16 pieces, while the band's charming rendition of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a Changin'" might represent the lone deviation from the grand scheme of things to coincide with this ensemble's altogether cheery demeanor and novel approach. Moreover, for those expecting to hear Blackmore ravage his electric with his now-infamous high-octane, blues-drenched power chords and doomsday chops, forget it. With this release, subtly, finesse, and nuance reign supreme amid a series of persuasive works that cover quite a bit of fertile terrain. Glenn Astarita