25-10-2020, 20:34
ABEL GANZ ~ The Life Of the Honey Bee and Other Moments Of Clarity
![[Image: R-15659971-1595423525-6255.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/zc40kcVQBV-jRqYHu4EIHzFhSAc=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-15659971-1595423525-6255.jpeg.jpg)
This album was released back in July so is not exactly brand new. New to me though, as is the band. Abel Ganz calls themselves "a Scottish Progressive Rock band with a penchant for long songs". The Glaswegian neo prog outfit was formed in 1980, fizzled out ignominiously in the 90's and resurfaced, revitalised, in the noughties. They're not perfect but they are able - pun fully intended!
They seem to have a little something going on here - nice instruments, some sensitivity, decent lyrics, lilting melodies - I have heard a lot worse. Again, the voice is not stellar and influences are clear, but there does seem to be a hint of magic and some originality and colour - not all formulaic. I likey - will have to investigate further back ...
Some outside personnel were enlisted for this album too - Frank van Essen is credited with strings on this lovely track - he is also the drummer for Iona ... a drummer/violinist - not that usual! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtykq7GvDo
Some cutting loose on this one which is the album's rocker ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZKQWV7uAo
And one Emily Smith lending harmony vocals to "One Small Soul" ...
This album was released back in July so is not exactly brand new. New to me though, as is the band. Abel Ganz calls themselves "a Scottish Progressive Rock band with a penchant for long songs". The Glaswegian neo prog outfit was formed in 1980, fizzled out ignominiously in the 90's and resurfaced, revitalised, in the noughties. They're not perfect but they are able - pun fully intended!
They seem to have a little something going on here - nice instruments, some sensitivity, decent lyrics, lilting melodies - I have heard a lot worse. Again, the voice is not stellar and influences are clear, but there does seem to be a hint of magic and some originality and colour - not all formulaic. I likey - will have to investigate further back ...
Some outside personnel were enlisted for this album too - Frank van Essen is credited with strings on this lovely track - he is also the drummer for Iona ... a drummer/violinist - not that usual! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtykq7GvDo
Some cutting loose on this one which is the album's rocker ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZKQWV7uAo
And one Emily Smith lending harmony vocals to "One Small Soul" ...
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson