Feb 14, 2009

MELLOW CANDLE - SWADDLING SONGS (DERAM 1972) Japan mastering cardboard sleeve




From Dublin, Ireland, MELLOW CANDLE specialised in imaginative psychedelic folk rock and early progressive rock, with the singing talents of two ladies (Alison WILLIAMS and Clodagh SIMONDS), in addition to bassist Frank BOYLAN, drummer William MURRAY and guitarist Dave WILLAIMS. They covered both ballad and rock domains equally well. The music displayed a prodigious degree of natural talent for songwriting, harmonizing, and arrangement. A folk-rock in the vein of FAIRPORT CONVENTION or FOTHERINGAY.
"Swaddling Songs" debut album is rich in varied and a true sonic marvel of beauty and simple melodies, and, most of all, a blending of two of the most beautiful voices in all of music. This is a fantastic album that deserves new discovery. A second album, "The Virgin Prophet", featuring unreleased and different versions of songs found on "Swaddling Songs", was released in the mid nineties.
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'Swaddling Songs' was released in April 1972 preceded by a double A side single 'Silversong'/ 'Dan The Wing'. Christened a 'Tax loss' by the NME, 'Swaddling Songs' was a glorious fusion of traditional and contemporary folk-rock, laced with Clodagh and Alison's soaring vocals and zigzag harmonies but bombed. Frank Boylan was replaced by ex Spirogyra bassist Steve Borrill and Mellow Candle changed their name to Grace Before Space but split up in 1973.
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....."Alison O'Donnell reclines on her living room couch in Brussels reflecting on her time with seminal Irish folk-rockers Mellow Candle. "It was an intensively creative period in my life. At the outset we were enthusiastic Dublin schoolgirls and were ready for anything!"....
Here

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a great and modern folk album.

18 RODAS said...

One of the best british folk rock albums

Anonymous said...

you might be interested in Alison's new single, featuring her interpretation of songs originally written by Nick Drake and Nico.

You can hear it now at www.myspace.com/fdmer

mscmichael said...

Excellent. Thanks...

Hajul Ellah said...

Many thanks for your generosity. One of the UK albums I can't live without.

Sam said...

Thanks Georgie, my version of Swaddling Songs wasn't very good.

Mellow Candle fans should also check out O'Donnell's recent duo collaboration with an artist from Manitoba called Mr Pine in the album "Rewilding", many beautiful duo songs like "Sleep of Ondine".

Anonymous said...

Thanx a lot!

Ozzy said...

Thank you very much, Sir!