Something More by Mikayel Abazyan
"Something More" is my second solo album which comes as a natural continuation of my previous major work - a tribute to the music of Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator called "Something Deep Inside Me" (2016). That album appeared in the process of making recordings for yet another pH/VdGG tribute, and it helped me to reveal something that was hidden deep inside me for years. Both "Something..." titles come from the song lyrics - Hammill's and mine, respectively. The songs were written in different periods of my life, the oldest being a 25-year old grown-up, and the youngest baby has silently celebrated its first anniversary during this Spring. Nevertheless, they found their places on this album and are ready to tell you about Questions in Time.
(from liner notes)
At some point in time, we come to this world, and our timers start.
Very soon we begin asking questions, the answers to which do not always come immediately, if they come at all. Questions accumulate, but the answers are in no hurry to appear. Because of this, we begin to feel the weight of life, we begin to sag, sometimes we break down...
The situation might seem hopeless, but life is not as cruel as it may seem. We will certainly be offered chances to find something more, something valuable, something that we would love and carry with us like a lantern, and in its yellow light the outlines of the answers to the tormenting questions will suddenly begin to develop in the darkness that surrounds us.
“What? Why? When? What for?” – questions as old as life itself. There should be answers to all these questions! There should be something more for each of us that will lead us out of the “still-lifeness” of waiting for the moment when eventually the timer of our life is destined to stop. So let’s be what we are!
Tracklist
| 1. | Shortcut | 4:48 |
| 2. | When? | 6:01 |
| 3. | Pitfalls | 8:50 |
| 4. | What You Are | 8:07 |
| 5. | The Crack in the Ceiling | 7:36 |
| 6. | Lake of Gusts | 5:19 |
| 7. | 15 Minutes Will Do | 4:32 |
| 8. | One More | 11:25 |
| 9. | Castles of Clouds (in sleep paralysis) | 7:11 |
Credits
Mikayel Abazyan - vocals, keyboards, grand piano, guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, harmonica
Levon Hakhverdyan - drums, percussion, SFX, hand clapping
Rima Mirzoyan - violins (6, 8, 9)
Rafael Tatencyan - trumpet (5)
All songs written and arranged by Mikayel Abazyan, except where noted.
Recorded (between March 2017 and May 2018) and mixed (between January and June 2018) at Brevis Recording Studios in Yerevan, Armenia.
Recording, mixing and mastering by Levon Hakhverdyan.
MIDI tracks recorded at home by Mikayel Abazyan.
Produced by Mikayel Abazyan.
Original photographs and graphic artworks by Aram Hakhumyan, to whom I would like to extend exclusive thanks for enriching my work with his vision and artistic touch.
Extracts from TEDx talk courtesy of Kelley Lynn.
License
All rights reserved.
Born on July 9, 1971.
Self-trained playing piano, guitar and later - bass, which allowed me playing and making a few recordings with various bands in Yerevan.
In 2014, joined a special project dedicated to the music of Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator, which brought me back to studio work. Having released yet another successful solo tribute, started producing my own music.
And I like it!