little death….by steve abel…
the new zealand herald gave it four stars….the dominion post gave it four stars…and the reviewer for pavement magazine called it a “melancholic masterpieceâ€Â…
this is just some of the praised heaped upon this ten-track release from auckland singer/ songwriter steve abel…
backing abel is a contemporary new zealand super-group of sorts…
two members of goldenhorse feature…geoff maddock and kirsten morrell ….
morell duets with steve abel on two tracks..and provides back-up support elsewhere..
maddock also lends his pipes…and plays guitar..
milan borich from pluto drums on all but one track…and then there’s ….and…and….
the music has lots of space in it….and moods develop…and build…and different songs unfold on you after successive playings….
the ‘grabbers’ are the duets..’lonely i be’..(and my favourite title).. ‘hospice for destitute lovers’..( words positively dripping with almost gothic imagry..) ….
but ‘the ghost of god ‘ is now resolutely making it’s way to the front of the pack…with others also nudging it along…(the ‘white folks do gospel’ hallelujah chorus at the end of ‘ghost’is particularly potent..)
as well as writing great tunes abel is no mean lyricist ..
“this is not an ode to monks or drunkards,
beggars or buggers,
wolfmen martyred or jesus
it is to lovers
destitute..â€Â
you can get this little beauty from record stores…or you could go to www.abelsong.com…. and buy direct from the author…
and tonight..friday the fifth of may 2006 you can catch steve abel..(and the band)..at the dogs’ bollix in newton….
whoar.co.nz will have to agree with the herald..and the dom..and pavement….
a four star ‘melancholic masterpiece..’ it is..this ‘little death’ by steve abel…and friends…
update……the gig was very good…..the band knitted together well..and abel performed with passion….
(the velvets’ cover in the encore was also well received..)
and there was a celebrity sighting..(however brief..)
i was in the back alley..(inbetween opener and headliner…as you do..)..when nancy cartwright (the voice of bart simpson) and entourage passed by…
she was in standard “celeb out amongst the great unwashed mode”…hat pulled down..eyes down..head slightly tilted down….but it was definitly her..
they went inside..stood by the bar..and did a quick look around at what is the somewhat unedifying sight of the dogs’ bollix between acts..and all headed for the front door..
as she passed me by i managed to get in a quick “thank you very much..”..(y’know..for the many happy hours of ‘barting’ that have been had by me and the boy…
(without gushing) i thought it was the least i could do….
and i will keep you posted when as to when steve abel is next performing…
you should reallly drag yourself off the couch for it..eh..?…(it will be worth it..)
