Flax Happy

Local folk / rock hero Steve Abel and his collective band The Chrysalids are excited to announce the release of their impassioned second album, 'Flax Happy', which follows their much heralded '06 debut effort, 'Little Death'.

Steve Abel and The Chrysalids regrouped to produce this stunning 13-track album, which was recorded over 2 days in a "dream session" with Dale Cotton (HDU, Dimmer) at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios in Auckland.

A "kiwi supergroup", Abel's band The Chrysalids brings together some of NZ's most renowned and talented musicians, including Geoff Maddock (Goldenhorse, Bressa Creeting Cake) on guitar, Mike Hall (Brunettes, Dimmer, Pluto) on double bass, Milan Borich (Pluto, Bic Runga band) on drums and Gareth Thomas (Goodshirt), with the accordion.

lax Happy also features the talents of Texan luminary Jolie Holland - a longtime fan of Abel - who lends her distinctive voice to Abel's own unique husky vocal on two songs; and acclaimed local songstress Anika Moa, who shares a hauntingly poignant bilingual duet with Abel.

With such sweet ballads presented alongside more rockin' gems which hark back to the impressive alt, folk, rock sound of Little Death, it would seem Abel has added another inspired offering to his increasingly remarkable catalogue.