Thursday, 05 June 2008
Steve Abel and the Chrysalids - Flax Happy (Kin'sland)

Steve Abel was one of Greenpeace NZ's main men before he forsook activism to pursue his musical dreams. He specialises in what might be called Kiwi Gothic folk-rock, unleashed two years ago on his debut album, Little Death.

Abel has the look of a grizzled troubadour from colonial times, and sounds like one, while his band comprises some heavyweight talent in Geoff Maddock (Goldenhorse), Gareth Thomas (Goodshirt) and Pluto's Milan Borich and Mike Hall.

Flax Happy picks up where Little Death left off. Abel invokes blood, fire and sin, but also softer stuff like native flora and fauna on the "nature boy" tale Haven. Sad Girls actually celebrates the said ladies, while Gone is an excellent use of a familiar song title.

Abel duets with Anika Moa in te reo on Pin of Love (Ka Pinea Koe) but makes a better match with Jolie Holland on Cinders of the Sun and Heart of Misery. Deborah is a short, sweet, swinging love song.

Whether you'll like this depends on your tolerance for downbeat stuff about chewing on love's tough side. But the musicianship and lyrics are solid throughout, and Holland and Moa add extra texture to songs that are dark but full of vulnerability.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4573338a24698.html