Candleland

Candleland is the debut solo album by the English musician Ian McCulloch.^[1] It was released 17 September 1989. The album marked McCulloch's departure from Echo & the Bunnymen, in 1989. It features a guest appearance by the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser on the title song. The producer, and McCulloch's main musical collaborator on the album, was the producer, programmer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist Ray Shulman, bassist and main co-writer for 1970s progressive rock group Gentle Giant.^[2] The album reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart and number 179 on the Billboard 200.^[3][4]

Candleland
Studio album by Ian McCulloch
Released	17 September 1989
Recorded	Early 1989
Studio	The Church, Orinoco and Tower Bridge Studios, London; The Grande Armée, Paris
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	41:45
Label	Warner Bros. Sire
Producer	Ray Shulman
Ian McCulloch chronology
Candleland (1989) Mysterio (1992)
Singles from Candleland
"Proud to Fall" Released: 21 August 1989 "Faith and Healing" Released: 6 November 1989 "Candleland (The Second Coming)" Released: 30 April 1990

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Chicago Tribune	[6]

The Chicago Tribune noted that "the new material is even more brooding and self-reflective than usual".^[6]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ian McCulloch.

1. "The Flickering Wall" – 3:35
2. "The White Hotel" – 3:15
3. "Proud to Fall" – 3:57
4. "The Cape" – 4:09
5. "Candleland" – 3:18
6. "Horse's Head" – 4:47
7. "Faith and Healing" – 4:36
8. "I Know You Well" – 4:06
9. "In Bloom" – 5:02
10. "Start Again" – 5:00

Personnel

• Ian McCulloch – vocals, guitar
• Ray Shulman – bass, keyboards, producer, programming
• Boris Williams – drums on "The White Hotel" and "Proud to Fall"
• Mike Jobson – bass on "The Flickering Wall" and "The White Hotel"
• Elizabeth Fraser – backing vocals on "Candleland"
• Dave Bascombe – remix on "Candleland"
• Billy McGee – string arrangement on "Horse's Head"
• Olle Romo – programming on "Horse's Head" and "Start Again"
• Henry Priestman – string arrangement on "I Know You Well"

References

1. Mico, Ted (23 September 1989). "Albums: Edge of Darkness". Melody Maker. Vol. 65, no. 38. p. 33.
2. "Ian McCulloch". Trouser Press.
3. Roberts, David, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). HIT Entertainment. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. "Ian McCulloch". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
5. AllMusic review
6. Kot, Greg (21 December 1989). "Ian McCulloch Candleland". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 13.