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Progfan97402 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Burning Candle for Symphonic
    Posted: September 28 2015 at 21:54
I want to suggest this German band called Burning Candle for Symphonic, who released only one album, a self-entitled album in 1981. This trio is very much in the German symphonic vein, like Novalis and Ramses, perhaps a bit of Eloy or mid to late '70s Jane. Some of the organ work is in the vein of ELP or Triumvirat. The music has a surprisingly '70s feel to it, likely due to a lot of the material the band was working on dates from the '70s, but never got the chance to record this stuff until '81. The keyboards are straight out of the '70s: Hammond organ, Moog, string synths, electric piano without much of the way of '80s sounding keyboards (some of the organ sounds more modern, the only real giveaway). The vocals have that typical accented English, typical of German bands like Eloy or Ramses (it took me a while to figure out who the vocalist reminds me of, he reminded me of Stephen Kaske of Mythos). "Stranger" is the opening cut and it shows what the band is made of and there a nice short fusion passage there but no doubt the symphonic element is still dominant. It's a rather short piece. "Eternal Faith" is an unaccompanied piano piece. "The Appearance of the Ghost", which is back to full band interaction (without a doubt my favorite). "Mosella" is an unaccompanied acoustic guitar piece but much shorter than the piano piece, sort of like "Mood for a Day", and back to full band on the lengthiest cut, "Expedition to the Sun". So three full-band pieces, one piano and one acoustic guitar piece makes up this album. I believe the only reason Burning Candle is not in Prog Archives is the obscurity. The album had never been reissued at all, so you can only get the original LP on the Steyrer Disco label (this is the same label that originally released Rousseau's Flower in Asphalt, a band that is obviously in Prog Archives). Here's how the album is like:



The songs are:

1. Stranger (0:00)
2. Eternal Faith (3:02)
3. The Appearance Of The Ghost (8:06)
4. Mosella (17:18)
5. Expedition To The Sun (19:41)

Perhaps what really surprises me about this album is the complete lack of commercialism, give how so many bands in 1981 had to bend to the times, it's obvious Burning Candle didn't. Listening to this, you might forget this was the same year Genesis gave us Abacab. But then the German prog scene always surprised me, especially the staying power, as you could still find prog gems from that country even into the early '80s. Even Eloy still made great albums as late as 1982's Time to Turn. Anyways, listen to the posting of the Burning Candle album, and let us know if this deserves to be in Prog Archives (I believe it does).


Edited by Progfan97402 - October 01 2015 at 01:55
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2015 at 00:14
This is a rarity

I say YES, but the team has to vote

The problem will be the bio, the photo and telling people they won't be able to get the album. Confused

Iván

PS: Just in case, found a photo of the members availlable

Klaus Schmidt-Drempetic

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German bassist
Sites:
In Groups:
Variations:
Viewing All | Klaus Schmidt-Drempetic

http://www.discogs.com/artist/3045873-Klaus-Schmidt-Drempetic

Hans Peter Neuber

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In Groups:
Variations:
Viewing All | Hans Peter Neuber

http://www.discogs.com/artist/1917631-Hans-Peter-Neuber




Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - October 01 2015 at 00:38
            
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2015 at 00:32
Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

This is a rarity

I say YES, but the team has to vote

The problem will be the bio, the photo and telling people they won't be able to get the album. Confused


Presumably the band's keyboardist Hans Peter might be able to provide some information.

The bassist of Burning Candle is a second option, presumably he can be reached through this band.


Edited by Windhawk - October 01 2015 at 00:45
Websites I work with:

http://www.progressor.net
http://www.houseofprog.com

My profile on Mixcloud:
https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2015 at 00:51
Originally posted by Windhawk Windhawk wrote:

Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

This is a rarity

I say YES, but the team has to vote

The problem will be the bio, the photo and telling people they won't be able to get the album. Confused


Presumably the band's keyboardist Hans Peter might be able to provide some information.

The bassist of Burning Candle is a second option, presumably he can be reached through this band.

Thanks Olav

But first has to be approved...Seems like obvious but let's wait
            
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2015 at 01:07
Yes, people are able to buy the Burning Candle album, just they can't get a brand new copy. It's obviously rare, but it was officially released. It simply was never reissued. It was released on the Steyrer Disco label, just like Rousseau's Flower in Asphalt. I know you can get a used copy over at Discogs.com. But I can tell you right away this is the perfect album for Musea or Garden of Delights to reissue.


Edited by Progfan97402 - October 01 2015 at 01:43
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 06 2015 at 07:41
If someone have contacts at Garden of Delights they should probably sound this one out with them then, as Musea is not planning on doing something with this one in the forseeable future.
Websites I work with:

http://www.progressor.net
http://www.houseofprog.com

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 07 2015 at 14:36
I just bought me a copy of the Burning Candle LP and on the back cover is a bio on the band in German. It reads:

Rock Klassisch
„Burning Candle“ war wieder in Fürth.

Nach der Gründung im Jahr 1974 machten sie bald von sich reden. Der Name „Burning Candle“ wurde in Fürth und Umgebung zu einem Begriff. Mangelnder Proberaum und Zeitnot zwangen Hans Peter Neuber, Klaus Schmidt und Anselm Gagler (zeitweise durch Sängerin Liane Reichel ergänzt) 1978 zur Auflösung, Nach dreijähriger Abstinenz von der Bühne bewiesen sie jetzt im Lindenhain, daß sie nichts verlernt haben.

Neubers Keyboards (Orgel, Clavicord, Rhodes Piano, String Sythesizer) bestimmen nach wie vor das Klangbild der Gruppe. Der Medizinstudent, der eine klassiche Ausbildung genossen hat (was auch bemerkbar ist), webteinen dichten, wabernden Sound-Vorhang, wirft das Publikum in ein Wechselbad von klassischen Sphärenklängen, jazzigen bis a-tonischen Improvisationen und tragenden Psychedelic-Mustern (Reminiszenzen an Pink Floyd und ihre Platten Ende der sechziger Jahre?)

Klaus Schmidt setzt mit sauberen Baßläufen Akzente, greift auch hin und wieder zur halbakustischen Gitarre und übernimmt die Rolle des Sängers. Mit monoton dunkler Stimme oder agressiver Intonierung bildet er das notwendige Pendant zu Neubers eindringlichen Tastaturenspiel. Und auch wenn er auf der Konzertgitarre klassisch angehauchte Improvistionen zupft, ist die Diszipliniertheit und der Ernst zu Spüren, mit dem das Trio musiziert.

Der Dritte im Bunde, Anselm Gagler hinter dem Schlagzeug, treibt die Stücke durch intelligent getrommelte Akzentuierung vorwärts, setzt gekonnte Breaks und überraschende Rhythmuswechsel.

Überhaupt läßt die Musik von „Burning Candle“ sich in keine Schablone einpassen. Jazzige Passagen wechsein mit eindeutig klassich beeinflußten Partien im  Stil von Ekseption, Beggars Opera oder Kansas, rockige Stücke werden von schleppenden, vom Synthesizer getrangenen Assoziationsmustern abgelöst. Auch die Solo-Parts der drei Fürther überzeugen, lassen aber erahnen, daß sich hier Musiker mit unterschiedlichen Stilrichtungen misammengeschlossen haben.

Neben neu komponierten Songs fehlten auch bekannte Stücke aus der alten zeit wie „Strangers“ oder „Appearance of the Ghost“ nicht. Und als dem Trio nach der ersten Zugabe das Material ausging, begeisterte es die Zuhörer kurzerhand mit einer frei improvisierten Jazz-Passage. Bleibt nur zu hoffen, daß „Burning Candle“ nicht weitere drei Jahre auf den nächsten Auftritt warten läßt. Keine Musik bei Kerzenlicht...

The approximate English translation reads (via Google Translate):

Classic rock
"Burning Candle" was back in Fürth.

After its founding in 1974, they soon made a talking point. The name "Burning Candle" has been in and around Fürth a household name. Lack of rehearsal space and time constraints forced Hanspeter Neuber, Klaus Schmidt and Anselm Gagler (temporarily by singer Liane Reichel adds) (I believe this translates as "temporarily by the addition of singer Liane Reichel") 1978 resolution, after three years of absence from the stage, they proved now in Lindenhain that you have not forgotten anything.

Neubers keyboards (organ, clavichord, Rhodes piano, string synthesizer) determined to be the sound of the group. The medical student who has enjoyed a classical training (which is also noticeable is), weaves a dense, swirling sound curtain, throws the audience into a rollercoaster of classic spheres sounds, jazzy until a-tonic improvisations and bearing psychedelic patterns (reminiscent of Pink Floyd and their records in the late sixties?)

Klaus Schmidt sets with clean Baßläufen accents, attacks now and then to semi-acoustic guitar and plays the role of the singer. With monotone deep voice or voicing aggressive it forms the necessary counterpart to Neubers haunting keyboard performance. And even if he plucks classically inspired Improvistionen on the classical guitar, is the discipline and serious feel, with the trio making music.

The third in the league, Anselm Gagler behind the drums, the pieces by intelligent drives tumbled accentuation forward is skillful breaks and surprising rhythm changes.

Ever can be fit into any pattern the music of "Burning Candle". Jazzy passages wechsein with clearly classically influenced games in the style of Ekseption, Beggars Opera or Kansas, rocking pieces are detached from sluggish, getrangenen from Synthesizer association patterns. Convince Even the solo parts of the three Fürth, but give an idea that here have misammengeschlossen with different styles of music.

In addition to newly composed songs as well-known pieces from the old days as "Strangers" and "Appearance of the Ghost" is not missing. And when the trio after the first addition ran out of material, it thrilled the audience summarily with a freely improvised jazz Passage. One can only hope that "Burning Candle" can not wait another three years for the next gig. No music by candlelight ...



I would have never thought they'd be compared to the likes of Beggars Opera, Ekseption or Kansas. The music seems more typical of the mid to late '70s German prog scene was what I was thinking of. I can understand the classical influences, but the classical prog style seemed more ELP or Triumvirat at times than those groups.

If any of you know German, perhaps you can make a better translation as I don't know much German, can hardly speak it, and used Google Translate. For example Google Translate couldn't make out the word "Baßläufen", for example. Much of the rest of the translation does make sense. I had typed some of the words wrong and caught them, so I had to edit this post, so I now got it to the best of my ability. Pardon any mistakes I made typing German.

Of course the bio on the back cover only refers to the band up to 1981 when this album was released. They made very little on the backgrounds of members (no mentions of previous bands), aside from the instruments they play, and one of the members appeared to be a medical student.


Edited by Progfan97402 - October 07 2015 at 14:53
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 11 2015 at 12:13
Just been approved
            
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 02 2015 at 16:35
Burning Candle Added to Symphonic

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=9595
            
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