Bio - Steve Abel & Little Death

"Abel is an extraordinarily good songwriter"
- Alternatui Awards which named Little Death 2006 Album of the Year

"Lovely tunes abound"
- NZ Herald which named Little Death in its Best Sounds of 2006

"Arrant musical hypnosis…a treasure"
- William Dart of Radio New Zealand's Concert FM

"A melancholic masterpiece"
- Pavement Magazine

"Will capture your heart"
- Dominion Post

"Beautifully crafted"
- Southland Express

"Richly poetic lyrics create a mood that is sometimes dark, sometimes mystical and bordering on the avant-garde."
- NZ Musician Magazine

        Steve Abel (born in Auckland New Zealand) began playing guitar and composing songs in his mid teens.  After living in London for 2 years and playing in local indie band Corradi Kid circa 1993 he returned to New Zealand via Nepal and India in late 1994 to form Abel's Grave Band with Gabriel White of Spacesuit.  Whilst active in the successful protest movement against the logging of ancient rainforest in New Zealand, he recorded his first unreleased album Forgiven by the Moon with White and the enigmatic Edmund McWilliams (aka Ed Cake) in 1998.

Abel's debut release Little Death gestated since then.  Launched in February 2006 and described as "arrant musical hypnosis," and, "a hidden treasure in the New Zealand music scene," it attracted glowing reviews and was achieved through a collaboration of some of New Zealand's finest musicians including Kirsten Morrell of Goldenhorse who sings on the cult status Duet (Lonely I Be).

The core songs of Little Death, were captured, mixed & produced by London-based engineer Nick Abbott.  The band, described by the NZ Herald as a "Kiwi supergroup," and anointed The Chrysalids in 2008  are: Gareth Thomas (Goodshirt) accordion; Geoff Maddock, (Bressa Creeting Cake, Goldenhorse) electric guitar; Milan Borich (Pluto, Bic Runga band) drums; Mike Hall (Brunettes, Dimmer, Pluto) double bass.

Following an impressive two day, 13 song session with Dunedin engineer Dale Cotton in early July 2007 at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios in Auckland Steve Abel & The Chrysalids' new album FLAX HAPPY was released 22 May 2008.  The album, including the Alt radio 95 Bfm number one song: Cinders of the Sun featuring the Texan chanteuse Jolie Holland, has won universal acclaim.

Steve Abel solo, and with the band, has performed over 100 gigs in the last three years and shared the stage with Kristen Hersh, The Haints of Dean Hall, Micah P Hinson, Jolie Holland, The Vietnam War, Richard Buckner, Hayden, Goldenhorse, Age Pryor and Paul McLaney, among many others.

As well as playing the voice of the hero Gert in the cult gothic fairytale feature film Woodenhead made by Florian Habicht in 2003, Abel penned and performed the films closing song Hospice for Destitute Lovers.