Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (Deram 1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Filled with multi-layered harmonies and complex arrangements, this, unfortunately overlooked, album of beautiful, flowing, and wonderfully recorded Irish folk-rock (originally released in 1972) has been a favourite of record collectors for years. Luckily, the strength of the music holds up beyond its scarcity. Not merely electric updates of lost traditional numbers, the album works because it establishes a voice and a sound that is truly compelling. The arrangements range from the zigzagging light progressive bent of the opener, "Heaven Heath," to the more storming tempo changes of "Dan the Wing." Strewn across the record is some truly remarkable guitar work, with the blanks filled in with lush violin and piano fills. The high-toned, occasionally strained interplay of Alison Williams and Clodagh Simonds may not always reach the notes as they ought to be reached (this rings especially true on the bombastic "The Poet and the Witch," an otherwise fine song), but their voices have their own peaceful rewards. The vocals see most of their limitations during the more up-tempo numbers – which is fine, seeing that this record is able to soar on the quieter moments. On "Silversong" (the one track that was actually released as a single with "Dan the Wing" during Mellow Candle's short tenure at Decca's Deram Records offshoot), the band falls into a mid-paced ethereal haze, within which it finds its strongest points. Gliding guitars and equally haunted vocals wrap around each other in a fog of vaguely mystical lyrics. The crystal clear recording and the lack of reliance on overly fantastical lyrics make Swaddling Songs sound remarkably current. Anyone who is able to track down the CD or LP reissue will be more than pleased with this lost treasure. Jon Pruett AMG

Please note: this great sounding Acme white-label, test-pressing came without a cover. I have photographed the cover of a late 80s counterfeit copy also in my collection.

If you've enjoyed some of my previous postings, please give this a try. It's in my all time top ten albums and really is excellent!!

Tracklisting:

A1. Heaven Heath

A2. Sheep Season

A3. Silversong

A4. The Poet And The Witch

A5. Messenger Birds

A6. Dan The Wing

B1. Reverend Sisters

B2. Break Your Token

B3. Buy Or Beware

B4. Vile Excesses

B5. Lonely Man

B6. Boulders On My Grave

Clodagh Simonds: keyboards, vocals
David Williams: acoustic & electric guitars, vocals
Alison Williams: vocals
Frank Boylan: bass, vocals
William A. Murray: percussion
Produced by David Hitchcock