Search - Abney Park :: Lost Horizons

Music from a world that never was

Sean Gallagher | 09/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Abney Park finds their niche and their footing.



In the last few years, Abney Park has transformed their sound and their band from Gothic-Darkworld-Industrial experiment into something that is more interesting, more tuneful and more sophisticated.



Group leader Robert Brown calls the reformulated Abney Park a "Steampunk" band, but that literary term really doesn't adequately describe the feat that Abney Park has pulled off.



Just as Steampunk literature allows authors to create a melange of Victorian aesthetics and contemporary situations and values, Abney Park is helping to define Steampunk music as a harmonious blending of Victorian aesthetics and instrumentation with contemporary musical styles and technology. And while they're at it, they're helping to define a visual Steampunk style as well, through their costuming, stage-craft and story telling.



In Lost Horizons, Abney Park blends acoustic instrumentation, electronics and haunting vocals to create a sound that is evocative of P.T. Barnum - if P.T. Barnum had a time-traveling steam-powered Air-ship with a crew of rogue musicians from a world that never was.



Try it. You'll like it."

Caressing the Aetherwaves

Brad T. Gilson | Liberty, Mo | 05/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Abney Park is awesome. Their music is a blend of many genres but it has a distinctive and well polished sound. The only band that writes music fitting of the sci-fi genre of steampunk. No that does not mean they are a "punk" band."

GET THOSE BRASS GOGGLES OUT . . .

EMAN NEP | 12/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Are you open-minded?

Do you wonder what the world would be like if the Hindenburg disaster wasn't blown out of proportion?

Do you like movies like SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW or games like BIOSHOCK?

Was the airship your favorite method of transportation in the FINAL FANTASY series?

Does the word STEAMPUNK ring a bell?



If you answered yes to any of those questions above then you should seriously give this album a try. The music is very steampunk-influenced. For example, there are songs about airship pirates, dolls and crazy doctors.



A few of my favorites . . .



AIRSHIP PIRATE--The album gets off to a good start with this song about Airship Pirates that are (to paraphrase) more a danger to themselves than to others. Starts and ends with the buzzing sound of engines to put you in that flying mood. Has a very catchy chorus.



THE EMPORER'S WIVES--Hmmmm, this one is hard to explain, but it creates a soft atmosphere. The lyrics are a bit hard to hear but tell an interesting story. Lots of drums and electronic sounds.



SLEEP ISABELLA--My favorite track on the whole CD. Starts with a pleasing drum and string intro before going into male vocals with occasional female vocals in the background. Has loud and clear lullaby lyrics with a foot-tapping beat.



SHE--Starts off very mysterious-sounding, like you're walking into a dusty attic that hasn't had a visitor for the past 100 years. Very good lyrics.



THIS DARK AND TWISTY ROAD--The acoustic background on this song is really good. The song is slightly faster-paced and more upbeat than the songs before it. All of these tracks I've mentioned so far are really good to chill out to.



So there are 5 out of 11 songs on this CD that I liked. Not all the songs are slow and dreamy, but those are the types of songs that attracted me the most. There are some tracks that rely more on the electronic/industrial sound.

If you get a chance there are some awesome Youtube videos of this band playing live. They all dress up as if they were really airship pirates, too.

The CD comes with a booklet, but no lyrics at all. It always disappoints me when a band has good lyrics but never bothers to put them in a booklet.

While not the same type of music, you should definitely try the somewhat similar ROMANOVS who do a Neo-Victorian sort of music. In fact, if ABNEY PARK could somehow get Morgan Kibby to sing for them, I think the band would be the better for it."