Eden Burning were a popular Christian band from Cheltenham led by Paul Northup. They originally met as members of Charlton Kings Baptist church, and were active within the Christian music community between 1989 and 1996. The band's name refers to the Biblical tale of Garden of Eden burning down after Adam and Eve are banished. Cross Rhythms magazine described them as "pioneers in the evolution and creative development of British music carrying a spiritual message".
The band recorded three studio albums and two EP singles on CD as well as several audio cassette tapes and one video. There was also a live CD album, Smilingly Home, recorded in front of their home crowd at what is now the University of Gloucestershire. Subsequently, to celebrate 30 years of the Christian Greenbelt festival, they released a "Best of" album (The Hatchery 1990 – 1996).
Eden Burning toured extensively around Britain, particularly in the South and Midlands."The Caper" Issue 9 Autumn 1996 lists all the gigs. They appeared at the Cropredy Festival in August 1995.
From January 1994 until Autumn 1996 the band produced nine issues of their newsletter, The Caper, with pictures, interviews and discussions.The Caper – the Official Newsletter/Triflings of Eden Burning, various issues 1994–1996
All of Eden Burning's studio recordings were made at FFG studios in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with David Pickering Pick or, for Brink, Mark Turner.Eden Burning "The Hatchery 1990–1996" sleeve notes.
Northup later became general manager of Greenbelt Festivals Ltd. The other band members included Charlotte Ayrton, Mike Simpson, Neill Forrest (to 1992), Nive Hall (to 1995), Charlie Ingram (from 1992) and John "Mowf" Mowforth (from 1995).Eden Burning "The Hatchery 1990–1996" sleeve notesThe Caper, Issue 9, Autumn 1996.
Albums Thin Walls (1990) Cassette tape Track listing Help my Unbelief Thin Walls No Man's Land There was a Time Where did We Hide Him The Place I Live Do not be Afraid Things I Didn't Say Pictures Tell Lies Jericho Skies The Waiting
All songs by Eden Burning; Lyrics by Paul Northup except "The Waiting" by Neill Forrest.Eden Burning "Thin Walls" (nd) ffg FFG303C sleeve notes
Vinegar and Brown Paper (1992) CD Track listing My Senses Fly (PN) If I Go Up (NH) The Reel of Pickering Pick Speak Easy (NF) Different Drum The Weaver (David Adam) Feel the Rain (NF) Jubilee (PN) Simply Breathe (PN) Hold the Dream (NF) A Little More (PN)
All songs by Eden Burning; Lyrics by band members are by Paul Northup (PN), Neill Forrest (NF) or Nive Hall (NH).Eden Burning "Vinegar and Brown Paper" (1992) ffg FFG309CD sleeve notes Also available on cassette tape.Eden Burning "Vinegar and Brown Paper" (1992) ffg FFG309C sleeve notes The lyrics of "Different Drum" are based on words from Psalms 120–134.
Smilingly Home (1993) CD (live) Track listing There was a Time The Calling Much More Than Near Alec Murphy's Hold the Dream Medicine Bow Jigs and Hornpipe My Senses Fly Jubilee The Place I Live If I Go up The Reel of Pickering Pick Working Out Tomorrow Midnight Sun Feel the Rain
All songs by Eden Burning except "Medicine Bow" by the Waterboys.Eden Burning "Smilingly Home" (1992) ffg FFG404CD sleeve notesAlso available on cassette tape.Eden Burning "Smilingly Home" (1992) ffg FFG404C sleeve notes
Mirth and Matter (1994) CD Track listing Remember When (NH) The Joust (PN) Me Comfort Still (PN) Sunrise (East of London) (PN/NH) Six Months On (PN) Hey Diddle Diddle (PN) Dependence Day (PN) Forgive-Me-Not (PN) Song for an Unknown God (PN) Hem Me In (PN)
The Joust featured Brian Blessed. All songs by Eden Burning; Lyrics by band members are by Paul Northup (PN) and/or Nive Hall (NH).Eden Burning "Mirth and Matter" (1994) ffg FFG405CD sleeve notes
Brink (1996) CD Track listing Deep Blue Sea (3.06) Movers and Shakers (4.06) Stories (3.49) Almost Spent (4.05) Big Regret (2.53) Desire Lines (4.36) Another Country (4.13) With a Kiss (3.34) Wrap It Up (4.03) Western Eyes (4.30) Let Me Lose (7.26)
All songs by Eden Burning; all lyrics by Paul Northup.Eden Burning "Brink" (1995) ffg ALD082 sleeve notes
The Hatchery 1990–1996 (2003) Download-only release Track listing Deep Blue Sea Hem Me In Feel the Rain Stories My Senses Fly If I Go Up Let Me Lose Song For an Unknown God Much More Than Near There Was a Time Hold the Dream Desire Lines The Joust Jigs Movers and Shakers Six Months On Midnight Sun Never Could Play the Guitar Harvest Home
All of these tracks were released during Eden Burning's career, except "Never Could Play the Guitar" and "Harvest Home", both from 1996.
EP Singles Much More than Near (1991) Cassette tape Much More than Near Midnight Sun The Calling Everlasting Arms
All songs by Eden Burning; Lyrics by Neill Forrest except "The Everlasting Arms" by Paul Northup.Eden Burning "Much More than Near" (1991) ffg FFG306C sleeve notes
You Could Be the Meadow (1994) CD You Could Be the Meadow The Brontes, Alice and Me Forgive-Me-Not (live) Matty Groves (live)
All songs written and arranged by Northup/Eden Burning except Matty Groves Trad arr Eden Burning.Eden Burning "You Could be the Meadow: The Wonderland E.P.s 1" (1994) ffg CDFFG408 sleeve notes Also available on cassette tape.CAFFG408.
Be an Angel (1995) CD Be an Angel Like in Minds Song for an Unknown God (live) Hem Me In (ambient remix) (live)
All songs written and arranged by Northup/Eden Burning.Eden Burning "Be an Angel: The Wonderland E.P.s 2" (1995) ffg CDFFG409 sleeve notes Also available on cassette tape.CAFFG409.
Video Through the Looking Glass (1994) VHS Video tape Track listing The Joust Jigs Dependence Day Song for an Unknown God Jubilee Bones Hey Diddle Diddle Hem Me In
All songs written and arranged by Eden Burning except "Bones" by Luka Bloom.Eden Burning "Through the Looking Glass" (1994) ffg FFG407V sleeve notes
Other cassette tapes These are listed for completeness. They were generally available through the Caper newsletter.Eden Burning cassettes, various sleeve notes
Live at the Orange 19/6/94 (1995).FFG501C (This is the same gig as on the video but it includes more songs) Autumn 1995 (1995). Live in Session on BBC Radio Leeds (1996). Demos (nd). Live at Last (1996).
Other tracks (including ones on compilations) Eden Burning contributed one track to the Geoff Mann celebration CD Mannerisms in 1994, covering Mann's song "His Love". Other contributors include Pallas, IQ, Galahad, Pendragon, Jadis, and Twelfth Night.mannerisms: a celebration of the music of Geoff Mann SIMPly50/WOB2 sleeve notes Tracks were included on Cross Rhythms (CR) compilation tape cassettes as follows: Vol 1 (CR Issue 18) (1994) "There was a Time", Vol 3 (CR Issue 20) (1994) "Hey Diddle Diddle", and Vol 14 (CR Issue 31) (1996) "With a Kiss".Cross Rhythms magazines and cassette sleeve notes 1994–96. The track "Brontes, Alice and Me" was included on the Seahorse CD compilation.Seahorse (1995) MRMRCD012 sleeve notes.
References
External links Eden Burning Main site Eden Burning: Smilingly Home - Eden Burning includes an interview with Paul Northup where he discusses their recordings