CHANDELIER

CHANDELIER are a German Neo-Prog band and "Pure" is their debut from 1990. I've already reviewed the follow-up "Facing Gravity" and to be honest it would be hard to pick one over the other. Barely 3 stars for both.

"Steller Attraction" opens with faint sounds then it kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes and vocals follow. Catchy stuff and the bass is prominant too. "After The Day" is uptempo but the vocals are fairly laid back. I like this one the most because the vocals aren't as annoying as they sometimes are. "Stay" really reminds me of a band that I can't put my finger on during the chorus. It opens with a music box then a smash as the gentle music comes in. It does kick in fuller after a minute on the chorus before settling back. "Jericha" has reserved vocals after a minute.The guitar soars after 2 1/2 minutes then the drums pound. It then lightens before picking back up.

"Pure" opens with what sounds like harpsichord as reserved vocals join in. Not a fan at all. "Winterpause" is an instrumental. I like the guitar to start and also the bass that eventually follows. "Cat's Worst Grave" opens with acoustic guitar as fragile vocals join in. It's fuller around 3 minutes.The guitar leads 5 1/2 minutes in. "Dictator" is uptempo with synths.Vocals too and it's quite catchy. "The Ultimate Song" is similar to the previous track really. Uptempo with synths,drums and vocals standing out. "Call For Life" is mellow with almost spoken words. It's really ballad-like. A guitar solo late when the vocals stop. My edition has some live bonus tracks simply added at the end of this tune after a short period of silence, turning this five minute track into an over 29 minute song including a GENSIS cover.

Tough to recommend this one. I've got so many other Neo-Prog albums that blow this one away.

Good German melodic progressive rock band,who earned some fame during the 90's.Formed in the 80's CHANDELIER released a cassette in 1988 called ''Fragments'',followed by another one under the name ''Call for life'' on May of the next year,when keyboardist Tobias Budnowski enters the scene in the place of Stefan Listier.Two more line-up changes would follow with Stephan Scholz (bass) and Tom Jarzina (drums) replacing Christoph Rombach and Heribert Rubarth respectively.With this line-up CHANDELIER recorded and released their debut ''Pure'' in 1990 on Sisyphus Records (re-released in 1997 by Inside-out with three extra tracks).

''Pure'' presents the very familiar sound of accesible Neo Progressive Rock with melodic keyboards around,strong lyrical content and generally an emotional atmosphere.Comparisons and echoes of the album brings bands like JADIS,TWELFTH NIGHT and even IQ in mind.This is a release with much a song-based orientation with Martin Eden sounding like a German imitator of Peter Nicholls of IQ or even FISH,of course with a slight accent.The keyboard work in here is carefully balanced,far from any trace of virtuosity,while guitars are also very distinctive,creating fine melodies and presenting some rocking grooves from time to time.Even for a neo prog album,''Pure'' is quite calm and relaxing,but definitely it is a very well-crafted effort with every note being worked very well.Recommended, especially to fans of easy-listening prog rock based more on atmosphere than complexity.

To explain the cover art which pictures a bee and the title "Facing Gravity" i'll quote the liner notes. "The principles of aerodynamics show that it is impossible for a wing area of 0.7cm squared to support, in flight, a gross weight of 1.2 g. The humble-bee, blissfully ignoring of this fact, simply flies". CHANDELIER are a Neo-Prog band from Germany who sound to me more like IQ than they do MARILLION. Regardless this album really did little for me even though i'm a big IQ and Neo-Prog fan. Hard to put a finger on it but the fact is I didn't enjoy this that much.

"Start It" opens with drums and keyboards standing out. Guitar then vocals follow. It's the synths and keyboard show 3 /2 minutes in. Good song. "Cuckoo" is mellow with reserved vocals to start but it does get fuller 3 minutes in. "Itai" is interesting to start with that gong followed by percussion and guitar. Spoken words come in then vocals after a minute. It kicks in before 4 1/2 minutes with drums out in front. "Safe" is really a ballad.

"Glimpse Of Home" opens with keys and fragile vocals. It picks up 1 1/2 minutes in then picks up even more before 4 minutes. It settles with reserved vocals and piano after 5 minutes. Guitar is prominant 7 1/2 minutes in. A change a minute later as synths,bass and drums take over. "All My Ways" is uptempo with some good guitar. It settles when the vocals arrive. Nice bass after 2 minutes. Synths come and go. "This Circling World" features lots of synths, vocals and drums. I like it. "Wash & Go" is mellow with reserved vocals. It licks in before 1 1/2 minutes. Contrasts continue. "Autumn Song" is mostly acoustic guitar and laid back vocals.

So a pretty good album but one I haven't taken to. Barely 3 stars.

Third album named Time code of this unknown neo prog band from Germany. Hmm, this time Chandelier needs 5 years to come with another album, this one and is not as good as the predecesor for sure. Quite enough time to come with something great or at least good, but this time Chandelier proves that they are running out of ideas. While the album is not bad, has some good moments in places some very strong ones but the overall atmosphere and the tempo of the album is rather dull and without that passion of Facing gravity. With Time code they enter in the same league with the mediocre bands from this genre, same arrangements , same vocal parts, same tempo of the pieces to much mid tempo without bursting out at leats on one or two pieces. Martin Eden the vocalist , who I realy like him on previous work this time sound tired and with not a lot of passion, only on some 3-4 traks is good, on the rest is nothing realy something worth intrest. Now the main man behind this album isthe guitar player Udo Lang, he did all the hard work here and is clear that is a good guitarist and a great songwritter, on some pieces is realy good like on Half Empty, Half Fool, the beggining of the piece is offered by 3 min of instrumntal music and truly shies there, excellent , another highlight is the last track called Mountain High, the reat of the pieces are from mediocre to little good. For ex Have a break beggins like I'm listning some Queen Hot space era, the drums sound horrible, typical '80's. As a whole now the band sounds more towards AOR combined with neo prog, not far from Saga or Asia fame, the keys are rather in background and only sustained the atmosphere , no more that special moments from Facing gravity. I don't quite understand how was possible to release such a mediocre album when you had 5 years for rehersal composing and other arrangements, and is far from previous album, they are now a tired band with no more vein to play, no wonder is their last album, soon after Time code in 1998 they disbanded. Sad, because was a promising band from german lands who offered at least one great album from the three of their career. I will give to Time code 2 stars, well rounded up to 2.5 , a weak album but not realy a disaster.

Chandelier is an obscure german neo prog band from the '90's with 3 albums under the belt. This is their second release from 1992 named Facing gravity. Despite the fact that the cover art is a little strange for the band musical vision, the album in my opinion is excellent, to tell the truth is one of the best I've ever heared from this sub genre. Clearly influnced by bands like IQ, Marillion or even Peter Gabriel, Chandelier manage to create somthing worthing investigated. What I like most is the voice of Martin Eden, he fits like a glove here, realy, I think is the cherry on the cake, very good voice with many great passages, doesn't matter if he's likeGabriel or Fish, he is very good in what is doing, is his range , his voice and I don't think must avoid a voice only because happend to be close to those well known musicians. Another shinig star here is the guitar of Udo Lang , he has some truly amazing moments here like on opening track Start It - one of the best neo prog pieces I ever heared , damn catchy riff and excellent musical lines, the voice again is brilliant and on longest track from here Glimpse Of Home anearly 15 min of great and full of intristing arranhements, on the middle of the piece the guitar take lead and is realy great, the keys aswell have an important role. Another two gtrea tunes from this album are Itai - intristing intro words providing by Masaru Kikawa, great piece full of unexpected smoothness and brilliant and discrete instrumantal passages and Safe, the rest of the pieces are great not a weak moment here for sure. This band was never popular in prog circles, it's a shame because at least this one from the three albums they released is very good and for sure can beat most of the albums from neo prog who are miles away better known. I will give 4 stars easy for Facing gravity one of the releases who needs a wider recognition for sure and can stay without problem near Iq, Pallas, Arena, Marillion or other important bands from this field.

Five years were necessary for "Chandelier" to release this album after "Facing Gravity". But it seems that time had no influence. Same stuff, but less interesting.

For sure, one has to be deeply rooted in the neo-prog genre to acclaim this band. I must agree that I am no alien to this genre, but sub-par clones of clones are too much at times. And this album might well be the one too much.

I could find them decent with "Pure" or "Facing Gravity", rating both works with three stars. Because each of these album did hold a couple of great songs. Unfortunately, I can't find such one here. Basic and third tier neo-prog.

Extremely long album as well: over seventy minutes! I wish I could have experienced such a length with my beloved "Genesis", "Tull", "Led Zep", "Purple", "Floyd" etc. But in those remote times, the format was not as such even if "Selling." clocked at over fifty minutes. But this was a masterpiece.

One has to recognize that "Half Empty, Half Fool" sounds pretty good. Heavy keys and fine vocals (which is not frequent for a German band). I have already mentioned Martin's capabilities in terms of lead singer. Of course, he sounds exactly as Nicholls (who sounds as .), but emotion and feeling are on the rendezvous. And I like this. Udo Lang's guitar work is truly good. THE highlight.

And even if the words "Nursery Rimes" appear on "Child Of Hopes", there is nothing great to expect form this song (even if Udo is offering a quite decent guitar break again).

Overlong compositions, dull and uninspired music are mostly what you can expect while listening to "Timecode". Major problem being song writing, because musicianship is rather OK (Udo being really above average). But to listen to a long complaint like "Living In The Human Race" is such a pain!

I'm afraid I can't share the same enthusiasm as other reviewers (without written text to defend their point of view). This album has little to offer even if "Ferengi Lover" doesn't sound too bad after all.

Udo Lang is really the one who holds this album on his shoulders. But he can't do no wonders and "Have A Break" is just a disaster. It combines the poorest that neo-prog can offer. Almost plagiarism from whom you might know.

The secong good song here, is Mountain High. It features real passion, which means a lot to me. Needless to say, two good songs are a little short to make a good album. Two stars is the rating. Nothing brilliant, just average music. Average rating is just what this album deserves.

Same old story you know. "IQ" did a very good job at this and there is no real need any longer for me to get one of their clone on my CD player.

"Start It" or "Cuckoo" sounds as déjà vu a thousand times. Being the music or the vocals. Both are decent, but what's the use to listen to the 164th sub-par Gabriel?

Having said this, songs from "Facing Gravity" aren't bad; but lack in personality.

The most original moment is "Itai". Some Japanese words from the guest Masaru Kikawa during the intro, a fine melody, discreet backing band. A true "Chandelier" song! One of my fave from this album. The ballad "Safe" is not bad either. Martin Eden (the lead singer) even attempting to sound as Bowie now!

The epic "Glimpse Of Home" (almost fifteen minutes) starts very poorly and one might think: gosh, shall I bear this for a quarter of an hour? Well, things quickly get better and Udo Lang on the guitar play is really worth a listen, the melody is fine and Nicholls rather convincing (sorry, it's Martin). Passionate guitar really.

Some bombastic (if not pompous) keys are taking the role for a while. But not for long. The listener is brought back again into quiet and enjoyable moods. At the end of the day, this long piece also belongs to the good moments from this album.

The next good number (at least to my ears), is "Wash & Go". Even if, again, Martin sounds as a carbon copy of Nicholls. The song is harmonious, strongly keyboards oriented (hi Martin- Orford). Another good neo-prog song for sure with a poignant finale.

This work is pretty long. It would have been wise to shorten it a bit ("All My Ways" and "This Circling World" aren't that necessary). Three stars.

It is not often that the lead singer of a German band sounds convincing. So, let's pay tribute to this, although Martin Eden sounds probably too close to Peter Nicholls to be somewhat original.

And the music that goes along is not the most trendy one you could imagine. Average neo-prog, with everything that this concept can hold. Regressive, cloned, borrowed stuff and so on.

Not easy to find a highlight here but this album doesn't sound too bad either. Even if little memorable. Some fine melodies ("Stay"), but most of the songs do have an air of déjà vu, and I wonder if an "IQ" clone was really necessary.

The most related "IQ" song and one of the best from "Pure" might well be "Jericha". Mostly thanks to the passion that Martin is putting in his vocal parts. But again, this can hardly be called a masterpiece even if it is my fave from their debut album. Rhythm changes, good guitar break and fine keys are additional ingredients which make this song the highlight here.

Another good piece is "Cat's Worst Grave". A bit pathetic (probably due to the extremely Nicholls oriented vocals, again) but harmonious and catchy. Unfortunately, it is immediately followed by the extremely poor "Dictator". Some sort of sub-par Genesis from the eighties (just imagine!). Neo-prog in all its "splendor". Press next of course.

The last couple of songs are good; especially the closing "Call For Life" which features a melancholic vocal part (but this is no surprise) as well as an excellent guitar solo.

A good album, but only for neo-prog fans. Others might get irritated while listening to this type of music.

When I bought this album 15 years ago I was a great fan of Pendragon and since this was also neo-prog I hoped this was a lot like it. But comparing them to Pendragon, you're in for a big disappointment. The vocals are far less, the compositions are shorter and by far not as impressive and also the other musicians are not in the same league as the Pendragonmembers. Maybe the comparison is not quite fair because Pendragon is one of the best neo progbands around but on the other hand: it can be one's standard and if this band is far less, you know if it's good enough for you.

It's not to me anyway, so I can only give it 2 stars.

Not that "pure"

CHANDELIER hails from Germany.They play IQ-like Neo and this album is said to bt their highlight. Well, then I wonder what's their doomiest hour?..There are two nice and enjoyable tracks - the opener "Stellar Attraction" and "Jericha", both 7-min long mini- epics. Other songs are cheesy ballads ("Pure", "Stay") or AOR-like hard-rock stuff (from horrible "Dictator" to bearable "Winterpause"). Not recommended as a whole, but if you happen to like Neo-pop-Prog (like ARAGON or ABEL GANZ), you may give CHANDELIER a try - but they're certainly not the best representative from the genre.