Sunday, October 23, 2011

CD Review – Reflections, by Candice Night

The Blackmore’s Night vocalist takes a break from medieval-inspired music and steps out on her own with a spritely collection of ten ballads and rockers that deserves to be on the top of the pop charts.

Candice Night is in the league of great female vocalists such as Karen Carpenter, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Alanis Morissette, and Susan Boyle, and she is easily the best female singer-songwriter of the last decade.

My favorite songs are the slower tempo ones that really bring out the subtle beauty of Night’s voice, including “Wind Is Calling (Hush the Wind),” “Black Roses,” “Now and Then,” “For You,” “Call It Love,” and “Robin Red Breast.”

“Wind Is Calling (Hush the Wind)” is an engaging, infectious pop-rock single. “Now and Then” has a great pop ballad middle section, with a very New Age, almost hymn-like opening and closing, especially with the quiet crescendo of voices at the end. “Robin Red Breast” is a stunningly beautiful song with a striking, resonant melody.

If you’re looking for a solid collection of pop-rock songs with a great female voice to back them up, this should be on the top of your list.

--Raj Manoharan

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