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The Life Of The Honey Bee and Other Moments Of Clarity

by Abel Ganz

supported by
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs)
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) thumbnail
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) In its 36-year long history, "Abel Ganz" had a lot of lineup changes, with Hugh Carter and Hew Montgomery being the only ones who worked for a significant time in the band. While it's one of the more pleasant contemporary prog albums, I regret to say that both of the long tracks are the album's weak spots. Shorter songs like "One Small Soul", "Summerlong", and "The Light Shines Out" work much better. The latter might well have been found on a Peter Gabriel or "The Blue Nile" album. Favorite track: One Small Soul.
Tony Honour
Tony Honour thumbnail
Tony Honour We have had quite a wait since the last Abel Ganz album but boy was the wait worth it! This is up there with my other choices for album of the year. Thereโ€™s a wonderful balance of material on the record, the band should be extremely proud of what they have produced. And the record is a lovely honey colour too. I canโ€™t wait for the next one. Favorite track: The Life of the Honey Bee and Other Moments of Clarity.
Eleventh Earl of Blah
Eleventh Earl of Blah thumbnail
Eleventh Earl of Blah A majestic, beautiful album. I didn't think the sunny, summery feel of its predecessor could be surpassed, but this manages it. I defy anyone to listen to this and not feel uplifted by it.

Hard to pick a favourite when it is all so good, but Sepia And White is spectacular. Favorite track: Sepia and White.
sontupelo
sontupelo thumbnail
sontupelo Excellent, start to finish Favorite track: Sepia and White.
more...
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1.
I drink the dawn and smile upon opportune reminders of a life well spent what you represent we came to blows and so it goes not before you took me to a solid ground did I make you proud? they turned around, the roles we found your ever-changing burden diminishing, not quite finishing I'd like to say, if I may my head is full of scenes I wonโ€™t ignore cocooned in something pleasant something recountable a boat at sea, a Honeybee the burning sun still searing even now the same old threadbare jokes carving identity driving north to log fire nights a caravan preserved in timeless mist the unsuspecting hare brings on an autumn show mountain pool, black as night, what is it youโ€™re hiding and can we take a look through our dancing hook twisted boughs long gone now a childโ€™s evolution looking down upon things that were never wrong Iโ€™d like to say, if I may my head is full of scenes I canโ€™t ignore cocooned in something pleasant always recountable thereโ€™s a voice inside my head asking questions, asking questions within the well of perpetual faith you had no need to seek but I see pain and I see loss all around me, all around me no intervention to perceive no God behind the veil the ancients told their winterโ€™s tale purpose finding, purpose finding though not the first, and not the last to look for sacred ground you chose your path and walked it well when the weight pressed down the seconds tick, the seconds talk and we donโ€™t hear a sound asking questions, so many questions all around me is all that I see your conviction โ€“ such conviction! I canโ€™t hear a sound there was a child in an average home nothing unusual but unique Iโ€™ve heard them mention adventurous stories boys with a saw and a three-legged bed he went to school and he grew straight up apple of their eyes and he burned and he showed and he gave his hand but nobody chooses their preferential pain to run in to each day again, and again, and again because of clouds he fell further away falling like sand through an outstretched hand familiar hands touch recognition showing the man underneath is still here the Bee Garden hums with the music of life a symphony of wings fills the air outside his window the honeybee dances on the soundless waves of a life well spent.
2.
she's far from home and flying again thereโ€™s nothing to gain on the steps of regret determination! on a fast train out to the truth one small soul mother made her whole in a place made of parts it wasn't to last they hadn't the heart strength seeping away a future blown on the wind hope long gone father lost to grief industrial waste she's left with the blame and to deny those early years a pure heart love craving child ready to give all that she had led by a hand as cold as stone not much of a chance on to the stage centre left all is not what it seems she's barred by desire out of all her control but wait, what is this? thereโ€™s a glimmer, a shimmer a speck of a truth trying to grow unhindered by youth a realisation that all is not lost one small goal where did it go that simple dream lying in wait so it would seem those echoing words knocked the door of childhood and youth yearning to enter, protect and make sure to fashion a root from dormant seed love to make knocked at the door of childhood and youth yearning to enter, protect and make sure to fashion a root from dormant seed love to make its mark Love spoke her name and this time she heard above all the din and a landslide of words the touch of a hand a face, familiar yet strange a ghost from the hell of scar ridden days there in the shadows known and now seen One. Small. Soul.
3.
Arran Shores 02:40
4.
Summerlong 05:22
bells ring out in the half-light drunk, asleep by the shore a boat can get lost in a dark night leave a key by the door marooned I await for the low tide your chart to guide me home take my place by your side promise never to roam I can feel your wings beat I can hear your song gliding on the ocean breeze all summerlong shadows dance in the town square colour bleeds in the haze all dressed up for the Spring Fair like the good old days and I can feel your wings beat I can hear your song gliding on the ocean breeze all summerlong and I can feel your wings beat I can hear your song waiting by the railroad tracks all summerlong walk to the edge of the city reach out, touch a star shine, electric and pretty call, I wonโ€™t be far call, I wonโ€™t be far
5.
your footfall is constant remarkably strong the life by your side a good reason to stand tall carefree days, a distant haze still sometimes as close as the heat from the summer sun a grand recognition, awareness revealed reality that stares you in the face look whoโ€™s just posted superlative praise the love of your life twenty-five years too late and now thereโ€™s the children you make them laugh their favourite song the one you sang them yesterday your mother has left now your father reduced imprints marking every turn and curve I I remember you always too far off sepia and white I I remember you holes in my memory am I wrong, or right? I I remember you nineteen ninety-two sepia and white I I remember you always too far off is it black and white? I I remember you placed in history never wrong or right I I remember who we all used to be sepia and white cry, cry for your lifeline for all the times youโ€™ll never get back cry, cry from the mountain for all you have youโ€™ll never look back farewell is a marker along the way a place you canโ€™t stay I donโ€™t think youโ€™d want it it just wouldnโ€™t fit in plenty of ways
6.
itโ€™s nearly midnight the city is a beach the concrete turns to sand beneath my feet itโ€™s closing time for salesmen who are lost at sea the siren sings a song for nobodies backlit horizon headlights shine as stars rain, and dirt, and comets drive by Jupiter and Mars in the flat grey buzzing neon moon the light shines out illuminates the room the light shines out the light shines out vivid and bright and everythingโ€™s alright shutters down in the five and dime arcade no tickertape at the end of the parade awake but still dreaming in the empty all-night store radio waves breaking hearts upon the shore the light shines out the light shines out vivid and bright and everythingโ€™s alright when itโ€™s darkest and when you cannot see then hope will find a path for you and me through the black clouds of nicotine perfume the light shines out illuminates the room the light shines out the light shines out vivid and bright and everythingโ€™s alright oh the light shines out tonight the light shines out take down the night itโ€™s gonna be alright oh the light shines out oh the light shines out tonight itโ€™s gonna be alright
7.

about

=================

BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Progradar : album of the year 2020
FabricationsHQ : album of the year 2020
The Prog Mill radio: listeners album of the year 2020
The Ancient One radio: album of the year 2020
Epics for All Time radio: epic of the year 2020 (Sepia and White)
Music in Widescreen: song of the year 2020 (Sepia and White)

ROCKPOSER (UK)
"๐™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™–๐™ก๐™—๐™ช๐™ข ๐™ž๐™จ ๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™—๐™ž๐™ฉ ๐™–๐™จ ๐™œ๐™ค๐™ค๐™™ ๐™–๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™ฉ๐™๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ ๐™Ž๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ ๐™’๐™ž๐™ก๐™จ๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™๐™–๐™จ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™™๐™ช๐™˜๐™š๐™™ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™„ ๐™๐™ค๐™ฅ๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™—๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™œ๐™š๐™ฉ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ง๐™š๐™˜๐™ค๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š๐™ฎ ๐™จ๐™ค ๐™˜๐™ก๐™š๐™–๐™ง๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™™๐™š๐™จ๐™š๐™ง๐™ซ๐™šโ€ฆ. ๐™„ ๐™™๐™ค๐™ช๐™—๐™ฉ ๐™„ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™๐™š๐™–๐™ง ๐™– ๐™—๐™š๐™ฉ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง ๐™–๐™ก๐™—๐™ช๐™ข ๐™ฉ๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ฎ๐™š๐™–๐™ง!."

VELVET THUNDER (UK)
"๐™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜ผ๐™—๐™š๐™ก ๐™‚๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฏ ๐™๐™–๐™จ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™™๐™ช๐™˜๐™š๐™™ ๐™– ๐™ข๐™ค๐™™๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™œ ๐™ข๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™š๐™˜๐™š.l"

THE PROGRESSIVE ASPECT (UK)
"๐™๐™๐™š ๐™‡๐™ž๐™›๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™š๐™š ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™Š๐™ฉ๐™๐™š๐™ง ๐™ˆ๐™ค๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™จ ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™™๐™š๐™›๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™™๐™š๐™จ๐™š๐™ง๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™—๐™š ๐™ง๐™š๐™œ๐™–๐™ง๐™™๐™š๐™™ ๐™–๐™จ ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™—๐™š๐™จ๐™ฉ ๐™–๐™ก๐™—๐™ช๐™ข๐™จ ๐™ค๐™› 2020"

WHISKEY-SODA (Germany)
"๐˜ผ ๐™˜๐™ค๐™๐™š๐™ง๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ, ๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ก๐™ก-๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™™๐™š๐™™ ๐™ข๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™š๐™˜๐™š ๐™๐™š๐™ง๐™šโ€ฆโ€๐™๐™๐™š ๐™‡๐™ž๐™›๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™š๐™š ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ค๐™ฉ๐™๐™š๐™ง ๐™ˆ๐™ค๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™จ ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎโ€ ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™จ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™–๐™ ๐™จ ๐™›๐™ค๐™ง ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™จ๐™š๐™ก๐™›.!"

MLWZ (Poland)
"๐™๐™๐™š ๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ฃ๐™–๐™˜๐™ก๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐˜ผ๐™—๐™š๐™ก ๐™‚๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฏ ๐™œ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฅโ€™๐™จ ๐™–๐™˜๐™๐™ž๐™š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™จ"

PROGCRITIQUE (France)
"๐™„ ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™›๐™ž๐™ง๐™ข ๐™ฉ๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™๐™–๐™ซ๐™š ๐™๐™š๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ข๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™š๐™˜๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™Ž๐™˜๐™ค๐™ฉ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™จ๐™ ๐˜ผ๐™—๐™š๐™ก ๐™‚๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฏ . . . ๐˜ผ ๐™ข๐™ช๐™จ๐™ฉ ๐™๐™–๐™ซ๐™š!"


Produced by Denis Smith, mixed by the legendary Simon Vinestock [Texas, Blur, Robert Plant, Simple Minds] and mastered By Jacob Holm-Lupo [White Willow / Opium Cartel] the album also includes a beautiful performance from multi-award-winning former โ€˜Scots Singer of the Yearโ€™ and acclaimed solo artist Emily Smith.

Other notable contributions include:Snake Davis, string arrangements and performances by Frank Van Essen [Iona], Chromatic Harmonica by Alex Partlin, as well as regular virtuoso contributors Fiona Cuthill and Stephen Lawrence from the Scottish folk-music scene.

credits

released July 6, 2020

Recorded at: Ganz Mansions, Gorbals Sound Studios, Maybank Studios, Toy Town Studios.
Engineers: Denis Smith, David King, Matt Harvey, Gordon McNeil
Mixed by Simon Vinestock at Mixfarm Studio
Mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo at Dude Ranch Studio
Art direction and design by Stephen Donnelly, front cover painting by Vvidlr, internal illustrations by Katy Levin.
Produced by Denis Smith


All music written and arranged by Abel Ganz. ยฉ 2020 Abel Records.

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Abel Ganz Glasgow, UK

Scottish Progressive Rock band with a penchant for long songs

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