At home
Originally released on Songs on the Eve of Dismissal (2017), now on Cubicle life
A voicemail cancelling on a friend, because there’s “lots of work to plough through tonight.” She tells herself home is where there’s “time and peace sublime,” but the job follows her through the door anyway. The horns and rhythm section lean harder into the funk here, turning her private evening into just another shift she can’t clock out of. [read more]
Honey Text Me Back
Originally released on Songs on the Eve of Dismissal (2017), now on Cubicle life
A friend, worried, texting into silence. The ballad slows to a walking pace, Thomsen’s bass clarinet standing in for the friend’s voice, low and commiserating, alto sax joining like a second person leaning in to help carry the weight. The one moment on the record where someone else notices before she says a word. [read more]
Offsite Weekend
Originally released on Songs on the Eve of Dismissal (2017), now on Cubicle life
The company picnic, in theory a break from all of it. Thomsen’s baritone sax keeps things light and swinging, the sound of trying to relax on command. But listen for the four-note descending figure tucked into the instrumental chorus, it gives away what the horns already know: she’s not really in the mood, she’s just performing being in the mood, same as everywhere else. [read more]
Nobody Told Me
Originally released on Songs on the Eve of Dismissal (2017), now on Cubicle life
The moment it clicks: nobody said it out loud, but she’s reading the signs correctly now. “I know that they know I am over and gone.” A baritone sax riff won’t let up, marching drums keep pace behind it, and the whole track moves like bad news arriving on schedule, because it is. [read more]
At home
I saw your message, please hold on
today I won’t have any time till I’m at home
My plate is packed
but I have plenty of time tonight, when I get home
At home there’s time and peace sublime
so much gets done at home
No cortisol, no conference call
no cheesy pranks at home
You’re right, it’s true, my budget’s due
I’m in a meeting but I’ll get it done at home
At home there’s time and peace sublime
so much gets done at home
No cortisol, no conference call
no boring chat at home
I have to skip the show tonight
I have to plough through lots of work, tonight at home
Do take a friend
I’ll be awake so call me up when you get home
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
‘A gospel for those consigned to cubicle life, Chris Abelen’s album captures the angst and ennui of the career office employee.’ – Band Camp Jazz Pick
Home: where work magically becomes peaceful, deadlines feel cozy, and social life gets politely postponed.
The lyrics paint home as a magical productivity paradise — no stress, no calls, no nonsense — just pure peace where everything finally gets done. Of course, the reality is that the singer is dodging social plans and dragging work back home, trading cheesy pranks in the office for late-night deadlines on the couch. Home is less a sanctuary than a second office, only with better lighting and no conference calls.
Vocals: Linda Ropa
Trumpet: Angelo Verploegen
Alto Saxophone: Floris van der Vlugt
Trombone: Chris Abelen
Baritone Saxophone: Tini Thomsen
Guitar: Thijs Huybens (solo)
Double Bass: Ulrich Wentzlaff-Eggebert
Drums: Yonga Sun
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
Recording: Wedgeview Studios, except vocals, trombone & baritone sax, recorded ‘at home’.
Music, editing, mixing, mastering & production: Chris Abelen
Cover photo: Interior Lens
Amsterdam/Netherlands
Honey will you text me back
Honey will you text me back
If you can find the time
Tell me please that you’re OK
that your men survived the day and that you held the line
Honey, I’m so proud of you
You’re doing what is right
Defending our liberty
our mortgage and the GDP
from the morning till late at night
Honey will you text me back
You left before I woke
Darwin rules in business life and I am sure you will survive
just don’t do too much coke
just don’t do too much coke
‘A gospel for those consigned to cubicle life, Chris Abelen’s album captures the angst and ennui of the career office employee.’
– Band Camp Jazz Pick
Vocals: Linda Ropa
Trumpet: Angelo Verploegen
Alto Saxophone: Floris van der Vlugt (solo)
Trombone: Chris Abelen
Bass Clarinet: Tini Thomsen
Guitar: Thijs Huybens
Double Bass: Ulrich Wentzlaff-Eggebert
Drums: Yonga Sun
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
Recording: Wedgeview Studios, except vocals, trombone & bass clarinet, recorded ‘at home’.
Music, editing, mixing, mastering & production: Chris Abelen
Cover photo: Interior Lens
Amsterdam/Netherlands
Offsite weekend
We’ve been working for so long never took a rest
Our innovative talent crew
has followed vital changes through
to keep up with the best
But once a year we break away
from the office murk
in an informal rendezvous,
with pep talks, games and barbecue
we contemplate our work
chorus 1:
Offsite weekend
our team dynamics need review
and dogmas disappear
Offsite weekend
we talk projected revenues
until it’s time for beer
chorus 2:
Offsite weekend
We look each other in the eye
we do that once a year
Offsite weekend
creative visions multiply
Until it’s time for beer!
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
‘A gospel for those consigned to cubicle life, Chris Abelen’s album captures the angst and ennui of the career office employee.’
– Band Camp Jazz Pick
Vocals: Linda Ropa
Trumpet: Angelo Verploegen
Alto Saxophone: Floris van der Vlugt
Trombone: Chris Abelen
Baritone Saxophone: Tini Thomsen (solo)
Guitar: Thijs Huybens
Double Bass: Ulrich Wentzlaff-Eggebert
Percussion: Yonga Sun
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
Recording: Wedgeview Studios, except vocals, trombone & baritone sax, recorded ‘at home’.
Music, editing, mixing, mastering & production: Chris Abelen
Cover photo: Interior Lens
Amsterdam/Netherlands
Nobody told me
Verse 1
I did not see it coming, I must have been blind
Amazing how clues just get blocked from your mind
When that meeting was cancelled, two weeks ago
appointments rescheduled twice in a row
and Martha came in without saying hello
But still I kept going, still I didn’t know
chorus
My company smart card bounced in the restaurant today
suddenly it all makes sense, they’re sending me away
My colleagues go on eating like nothing is wrong
But I know that they know I’m over and gone
A line is growing behind me and my tray
Maybe I’ll leave it here, just walk away
I finally get why Denise won’t call back
Why the beamer broke down while presenting to Jack And
why my proposal got ‘lost in the mail’
In hindsight it isn’t so hard to unveil
chorus
bridge
Nobody told me Everyone knew it’s over, I’m fired, I’m totally through
Nobody told me Everyone knew it’s over, I’m fired, I’m totally through
chorus
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
‘A gospel for those consigned to cubicle life, Chris Abelen’s album captures the angst and ennui of the career office employee.’
– Band Camp Jazz Pick
Vocals: Linda Ropa
Trumpet: Angelo Verploegen
Alto Saxophone: Floris van der Vlugt
Trombone: Chris Abelen
Baritone Saxophone: Tini Thomsen
Guitar: Thijs Huybens
Double Bass: Ulrich Wentzlaff-Eggebert
Drums: Yonga Sun (solo)
Lyrics: Bastiaan Geleijnse
Recording: Wedgeview Studios, except vocals, trombone & baritone sax, recorded ‘at home’.
Music, editing, mixing, mastering & production: Chris Abelen
Cover photo: Interior Lens
Amsterdam/Netherlands