UNDER A VIOLET MOON

The second efford by ex Deep Purple founder member and guitar genius Ritchie Blackmore and his wife, the lovely Candice Night, is not really par to their startling debut, Shadow Of The Moon. I see it as even a step backwards for much of it resembles the weakest parts of SOTM. Not that Under A Violet Moon (see teh connection?) does not has its merits. Some songs are really good, like the title track, the hauting Spanish Nights, the instrumental Possum Goes To Prague and the wonderful acoustic treatment they gave to the obscure Rainbow track, Self Portrait. Gone With The Wind is also nice, although quite different from their renaissenacentist trademark sound.

The rest is nice, ok, but does not add much to anything Blackmore has done before and since. While their first album was full of novelties and energy, this one is simply too straight and pretty. In other words, nothing new or exciting here. It almost feel like it was made of leftovers from the Shadow of The Moon. Fortunatly the duo would go on to make some better and more focused works in the folowing years.

Overall a decent CD, saved in part by Blackmore's beautiful guitar lines and Night's pleasant voice. 2,5 stars (good, but non-essential),