Winter Carols 2017 edition

Review

Winter Carols" is a two-disc set of 24 Christmas carols performed in the Medieval and Renaissance-era styles Blackmore’s Night has become known for over the past 20 years. (There are actually a few more than 24 songs since a few of the tracks are medleys.)

Originally released as a 12-song album in 2006, the recordings have been digitally remastered and three new songs were added to Disc 1. Disc 2 features live versions of five of the songs from the 2006 version and four different versions of the 2013 single, “Christmas Eve.”

Candice Night’s soaring voice leads the group on a colorful and spirited journey through holiday music that has come down to us through the ages. Most of the lyrics are very familiar, but Night’s singing voice is clear, earthy and very easy to understand in the carols that are not so commonly-known.

The whole Blackmore’s Night group consists of Ritchie Blackmore on guitars; Night on vocals, recorder and shawm (a conical bore, double-reed woodwind instrument made in Europe from the 12th century to the present); Earl Grey on rhythm guitar and bass, Bard David on keyboards and Scarlet Fiddler on violin.

For those who are sick of rocking around their Christmas trees, their blue Christmases, and the annual twelve days of hosting family and friends, this album is an escape from all of that.