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Under a Violet Moon Blackmore's Night Platinum Entertainment   Led and produced by ex-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, Under a Violet Moon is a quantum leap forward from Blackmore's Night's uneven debut CD, Shadows of the Moon. While both albums aim to create a fusion between renaissance and contemporary musical traditions, in Under a Violet Moon, Blackmore's Night creates a powerful musical statement which captures a renaissance mood without losing the power and drive of lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's heavy metal roots. Perhaps the most interesting of the CD's 15 tracks is "Past Time with Good Company," one of the best of Henry VIII's songs, sung with sensitivity and insight by vocalist and co-songwriter Candace Night. The original songs are supported by strong harmonies and a uniformly high standard of musicianship. While the CD has its flaws (the final track "Self Portrait" being an anticlimax), it never fails to entertain or want for drive or inspiration. Some of the lyrics tend to be poetically unsatisfying and the lyric sheet difficult to read, but the performances are always strong and down to earth. Flaws aside, Under a Violent Moon is one of the most successful fusion CDs of the year, one that captures a renaissance feel to provide a genuinely worthwhile musical experience. It is certainly not a CD for either rock or Early Music purists, but for the open-minded, Under a Violent Moon is a CD to be recommended and enjoyed accordingly.

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