Wednesday, February 22, 2012

YouTube Channel Profile Series: Candle Hour

It's the 22nd of the month, so it's time for our next monthly feature post at The Sault Metal Scene, that being our newest YouTube Channel Profile! As always, this series outlines and profiles up to three RANDOMLY SELECTED YouTube channels with at least a 50% concentration of local metal-relevant videos. For the 7th time in 8 months, we're looking at just one channel this time around, but there's a lot to see, so read on below! (Edited on October 16th, 2013)
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Candle Hour (http://www.youtube.com/user/candlehour)

Owner: Candle Hour mainman Hugh Stephens

Channel Timeline: Launched on September 17th, 2010; Videos posted between November 2010 and April 2012

Channel Summary: This is the official YouTube channel for Sault Ontario electronic/hard rock solo project Candle Hour. Since the channel's launch, Candle Hour mastermind Hugh Stephens has posted six music videos on their YouTube channel (one since deleted), with all pre-2012 videos featuring songs from their debut album "Parachute". The videos mostly use public domain or archive video footage set to the song in question, including Hugh's latest original songs "Azetta" and "Missing Moment", which are softer instrumental compositions.

Why Should You Watch: Because Candle Hour have some very interesting and original material with some hard rock flair, and the music videos to go along with these songs are well compiled and cool to watch! Hugh's music is definitely promising, and I recommend subscribing, but I should note that since his initial 2010 uploads, his latest videos have been credited to Hugh Stephens, "otherwise known as Candle Hour", and even if there's a change in style/intent, the project appears to be inactive at present. Also, Hugh's other YouTube channels are present on Candle Hour's pages, including channels with similar footage as used in Candle Hour music videos, and his SuperDaddyTV claymation cartoon studio, so keep tabs on those channels as well for Hugh's other new videos!

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out:

Candle Hour - Overture: With the unexplained deletion of their video for "March to the End" (though it's still available on other sites), I've replaced it here with their video for "Overture" from the "Parachute" album, and it's a creepy-feeling electronic song set to clips from the 1903 silent adaptation of Alice In Wonderland. It's an interesting mix that oddly works well to combine this worn silent film with music that suits the mood of the piece, and it's definitely worth checking out! Note that Hugh has posted more silent movie footage onto his other YouTube channel Silent Film House in recent years, and it's cool to see him support and love this material!



Without A Parachute - Candle Hour: The first uploaded Candle Hour music video is for their song "Without A Parachute", and it's also the video with the most local ties. With inverted colours and special video effects placed overtop, you see a spinning carnival ride first, before the video focuses on a sped up voyage through the roads of Sault Ste. Marie, and if you look quick, you can spot a number of familiar local buildings! The song itself is probably the most consistently heavy of the ones on YouTube, but with more of a constant driving feel in amongst the electronic atmosphere, and it suits this little voyage through Sault Ontario well!



Atmosmusic - Candle Hour: The most popular video currently on Candle Hour's channel is for their song "Atmosmusic", which is set to microscopic video footage of assorted microorganisms and bacteria. Notably, Hugh has uploaded similar videos onto his TinyScience YouTube channel as well in recent years. The footage itself is an interesting look at these microscopic organisms, but the song is probably the most techno-driven of the four Candle Hour songs on YouTube, though still retaining a darker edge that fits surprisingly well with the used video!


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I hope you guys enjoyed this month's profile, and maybe we made some new fans for Candle Hour in the process! So, next month, what YouTube channels are we giving focus to? Well, after a little change in qualifiable channels yesterday, I had to re-draw random numbers for next month, so now, we'll be profiling Swayze Train guitarist Scott Savoie's YouTube channel! Stay tuned for that profile between March 19th & 26th, and for more news & concert previews on the SMS shortly! Thanks everyone!

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