Album Assessment: The Candle Thieves ~ All's Well That Ends Well (an open letter to the band)

Dear Candle Thieves,

"And now, the end is near - and so I face the final curtain..."

Hello! How are you both? I'm good, thank you for asking (which I am assuming you did - if not, RUDE), although I do have a bit of an early autumnal cold. I've been taking orange juice with echinacea. Oh sure it smells a bit funny but it certainly is clearing my chest right up. Also perking me right up is listening to a rather splendid new body of musical genius called All's Well That Ends Well. As you well know it is sung by your fair selves and a right bobby dazzler of an album it is too.

It's rather sad to be writing about new music from a band who have called it a day. Particularly when it's a band who have provided me with so many joyous musical moments, so many wistful, contemplative tunes over the past several years. No, I'm not talking about end of JLS but of course you, my very lovely Candle Thieves chaps :P It seems ages ago that I first fell in love with The Sunshine Song & My Love Will Clap It's Hands For You - and in the ensuing period you've never let me down once with some simply gorgeous songs that have enriched my days and soothed my restless nights (including one of my very fave albums of 2012, Balloons). I am very sad at the state of the music industry that you are unable to continue - I confess, I thought of tying you both up & forcing you to record more new music but a) this might be considered a crime and b) I'm not very strong, so I gave up on the idea :D

At least we (and by we I don't mean me and my many personalities :P I of course mean the collective "we" as in fans of good music) have this final album to keep us going. And it's certainly an album that keeps on giving long after the first listen. I've already described the lead single, Ocean of Storms, as "a heartwarming song about the trials and tribulations of life, but how somehow love (in it's myriad of forms) can make the darkest moments seem shining once again" and I think I was spot on ;) There is so much to love about the album though - I mean, that joyously buoyant opening track (Tomorrow Is Another Day) is so vibrant & delicious with those heavenly jangling tambourines & lovely harmonies (not to mention that incessantly addictive chorus) that it would make the Lightning Seeds weep with envy. Your deconstruction of a relationship on the lovely Sophie Galpin (do say hello for me) duet Try Again is so achingly real that I found myself rooting for reconciliation and a happy outcome. Sophie's voice rises and falls, bringing mellifluous magic to the track. Oh and don't get me started on The Little Engine That Could - you guys sound so amazing in a more folksy-country vibe that it's not even funny.

That's not even skimming the surface of how great you know this album is. I hope lots of people go out and buy it. But as Celine herself once said "goodbye's the saddest word" and it really is. So I'm not going to drag this out. I'm just going to say ta-ta, wish you all the very best in your future endeavours and quote Abba at you. Thank you for the music. Really.

Love,
Myfizzypop :)