RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW BLAND, NO HOPE OR GLORY ON NEW RECORDINGS
1st June 2017

ronnie soo
Words: Ronnie Soo



rainbow

When Ritchie Blackmore announced that the first new recordings under the Rainbow name would be a reworking of the band's biggest UK hit, 'I Surrender', accompanied by his own take on 'Land Of Hope And Glory', the traditional prelude to a Rainbow gig, I can't have been the only long-time fan to temper my expectations.

Even so, listening to these new tracks was still a disappointing experience.

The new version of 'I Surrender' sounds flat, lacklustre - as though Blackmore is playing over a drum machine. It turns out that this is indeed the case.

rainbow

Drummer David Keith has confirmed in a comment posted on YouTube that it was just Blackmore and current singer Ronnie Romero who appear on this track. The programmed drums sound like they could have come from a phone app.

Even touring bass player Rob Curiano distanced himself from these recordings by declaring on his Facebook page:

"Just want to clear up any confusion... I did NOT play on the new 'Rainbow' recordings..."

Blackmore does himself no favours here. He still has a deft touch on the Strat but without a real rhythm section to drive it along, the whole thing sounds so weak.

At least Romero is making an effort, but 'I Surrender' is not suited to his voice. His vocal delivery lacks the smooth touch Joe Lynn Turner gave the original, and he would have been better served had he been given a Dio-era track such as 'Kill The King' to tackle.

The instrumental 'Land Of Hope And Glory' is only slightly better; starting off with strings playing the melody, that unmistakable guitar tone kicks in after about a minute. That still does not save it; that terrible programmed backing makes this track sound equally lumpen.

It actually sounds like a rejected Blackmore's Night demo and you get the impression had he done this under the BN name he'd have at least put some effort into it.

In a recent interview Blackmore claimed that music is serious and not about having fun. He must have been on one of his wind-ups since he has not taken this release seriously at all, and on listening to it I can only conclude he's having fun at his fans' expense.

A complete disappointment from one of rock's true greats.

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