Candice Night met Ritchie Blackmore when she was a background singer. That chance meeting has evolved into a 15-year musical and romantic relationship. Now Blackmore’s wife, she has fronted the renaissance/rock group, Blackmore’s Night, as its lead singer since 1997. She has now stepped out of the band’s shadow to release the solo album, Reflections.
This is first and foremost a Candice Night project. She set the direction of the release, in addition to writing the lyrics and the music.
The album began with a number of lyrics she had written but had yet set to music. Ritchie Blackmore was busy with a project of his own, so she decided to write the music herself. With her husband unavailable, it left Night free to explore territory of her choosing. While her Blackmore’s Night roots remain firmly in place, and at times influence some of the songs, she does branch out toward the pop/rock mainstream on this release.
She has one of those voices that is a gift from God and it is on display here. In a group setting, that voice always shares the stage with Blackmore’s guitar play, but now it occupies the center position without any constraints.
Night has always been an excellent lyricist. Her visions, sometimes mystical and surreal, are now prominent, her ethereal vocals bringing them to life.
The music on Reflections travels in a number of directions: from country, to contemporary pop, to rock ‘n’ roll. There is the catchy melody of the pop-oriented “Gone Gone Gone,” the electronically driven dance track “Dangerous Smile,” the gentleness of “Wind Is Calling (Hush The Wind),“ not to mention the introspective “Alone With Fate” and “In Time.” My only complaint is the constant use of keyboards, which make the use of strings on “Alone With Fate” a welcome relief.
Candice Night has made it quite clear that Blackmore’s Night will remain her priority. Still, it’s good to see her take a chance and stretch out a bit. Reflections is a nice look into the creative spirit and soul of Candice Night. It should please her old fans and gain her some new ones as well.