Week of November 30, 2008
Personnel:
Frank Boylan - Bass
William Murray - Drums
Clodagh Simonds - Vocals, Keyboards
Alison Williams - Vocals
David Williams - Guitar, Vocals
Album:
Swaddling Songs (Deram SDL 7) 1972, (Zen ZN 001) - Italy
CD: See For Miles SEECD 404, 1994.
45s:
Feeling High/Tea With The Sun (SNB 55-3645) 1968
Dan The Wing/Silversong (Deram DM 357) 1972
From Dublin, Ireland, Mellow Candle specialised in imaginative
psychedelic folk, with two excellent female singers. At the time they recorded
their first 45, Clodagh Simonds was just 15, and "Feeling High",
despite being distributed by CBS failed to create much impact. The SNB label
disappeared soon afterwards, and it wasn't until the 18th April 1971 that they
signed to Decca's Deram label with a new bassist Frank Boylan from the Dublin
beat group The Creatures and Glaswegian drummer William Murray also added
to give a more solid rock sound.
Relocating to London, "Swaddling Songs" was recorded at Decca's
studios in Tollington Park and the band then settled in Hampstead, making only
occasional trips back to Ireland.
The sheer quality of their performance on "Swaddling Songs" makes
it perplexing that the band did't get more recognition at the time. Originals
now command a price from GBP350 upwards and it is the most expensive album on
Deram. Less fragile than Trees and more mystical than Fairport,
the sound is full of surprises and the songs are strong. Lyrically much revolves
around loneliness, not in a self-pitying way, but rather accepted as one of the
facts of life. Consolation is exclusively found in nature and in the presumption
that something 'beyond' must be existing:
Lonely man living all alone
dreads the day whose dawn will find him cold
lonely man doesn't see the millions
waiting for their answer from the sky
(from "Lonely Man")
A single from the album, "Dan The Wing", sold equally poorly, despite
getting a favourable press reaction and airplay on Radio Luxembourg and Manx
Radio. Despite largely favourable reviews their album and second single made
little impact. They gigged with
Lindisfarne and
Steeleye Span, but they left Deram and Ted Carroll's management and shortly
after Frank Boylan left the band to be replaced by Steve Borrill (ex-Spirogyra).
They then changed their name to Grace Before Space and tours of Holland
were planned, but they split up in the Summer of 1973 before this came to
fruition.
David and Alison Williams headed for South Africa to play the folk circuit and
also played on a South African album by Flibbertigibbet entitled "Whistling
Jigs To The Moon"; this was issued privately in 1978, and has been reissued
on CD (Kissing Spell KSCD 9510-F) 1995. David Williams became head of light
music with the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Capetown and also works
as a record producer. Alison Williams currently lives in Brussels and under the
name Alison O'Donnell performs "contemporary and traditional music" mostly in an
Irish style with her band Eishtlinn.
After Mellow Candle split, Clodagh Simons worked with Mike Oldfield
and Jade Warrior before relocating to New York where she studied
music. She later returned to Ireland and also sang on
Thin Lizzy's "Shades
Of A Blue Orphanage" album. William Murray went on to play with Richard
and Linda Thompson's Sour Grapes band and also toured with
Sandy Denny. He, too, then headed for the States, where he formed The
Same with Clodagh Simonds, performing on a Thursday night residency at New
York's famous CBGB's club. Murray sadly died in Dublin on 30th August 1998.
Compilation appearances have included: "Dan The Wing" on "Progressive
Pop Inside The Seventies" (CD); "Sheep Season" on "The
History Of U.K. Underground Folk Rock 1968-1978 Vol.1" (CD); "Silver
Song" on "The History Of U.K. Underground Folk Rock 1968-1978
Vol.2" (CD); "Heaven Heath" on "Legends Of Ireland"
(Rhino Records).
Fans of the band will also be interested in "The Virgin Prophet"
(Erewhon KSCD 9520) 1995, which contains early unreleased songs and songs which
were later re-recorded for "Swaddling Songs" and "My Lagan Love"
(CD) which includes further rare and live performances. "Virgin Prophet"
has also been issued on LP (Kissing Spell KSF 004).
(Marcel Koopman / Vernon Joynson)
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1