Hamilton singer/songwriter Stefan Gnyś' Horizoning album resurfaces

Stefan Gnyś pressed up only 12 acetate copies of his Horizoning album in 1969 which will finally be getting wider circulation on Nov 15. 

Here's the scoop from We Are Busy Bodies' Eric Warner...

This release project is anything but linear. 

After quitting my job at MySpace and backpacking around Europe, I began a post-graduate degree at Humber College where I met Stefan Gnys daughter. You’d potentially think this is where the story automatically turns into where the album comes together, but for that add another 14 or so years. I learned about Stefan’s music through music editor and all around knowledgeable person Tim Perlich several years ago. Originally destined for reissue on another label, this incredibly rare album recorded in 1969 is set for re-release on November 15. I’m not sure if I can officially call this a reissue because it was never released in the first place. 

Stefan Gnyś – Horizoning (LP/Digital - out November 15)

Stefan Gnyś (pronounced G’neesh) recorded what would have been his first album Horizoning, at Heidebrecht Recording Services in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada on April 21st 1969. Ten tracks were cut in a day-long session that Stefan had perfected over the previous 12 months, with the songs Horizoning and English Oaks having been inspired by a trip to the UK and Europe during the eventful summer of 1968. Twelve acetate copies were ordered, of which Stefan kept two, the rest given to family or sold at gigs. Subsequently, 300 copies of a self-financed vinyl 45 pairing Horizoning and Evangeline were pressed by RCA Custom Record Division and duly sent to radio and sold at concerts, which went down extremely well and led to more live dates. Needless to say the 45 soon sold out but this was as far as his recorded legacy went, as in 1970 Stefan went to university, then got married and started a family while he embarked on a life-long career as a teacher. Music however remained a constant in his life.

Remembers Stefan...

"On the recording of these 10 songs in 1969, there were only two players: myself and a good friend, David Van Duzen. I did the vocals and rhythm guitar, but with a personally developed picking style that was distinctive and apart from straight strumming. 

"By the time David was in his early 20s in 1969, he was already an accomplished musician—a guitarist extraordinaire! He played lead and was a vocalist in rock groups playing the popular hits of the time. When it came to his amazing solos, he could play his electric guitar behind his back, behind his head and even play the strings with his teeth! Dave was also a talented bass player who added a wonderful lower register to my songs. He also sang harmony in the chorus of ‘Evangeline’. 

"We recorded in a small, well-equipped studio called Heidebrecht Recording Service in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The recording engineer was also the owner. All ten songs were laid down in one day (April 21, 1969) with David adding his guitar licks and bass runs on separate tracks."

This release should really be regarded as a ‘found’ sound recording as it is only because Stefan retained two personal acetate copies that it exists at all. Those two copies were used as the audio sources for this release. The album comes with the largest format vinyl insert the label has ever produced painstakingly detailing every aspect of the album and its inspiration. 

You can pre-order the long overdue proper release of the Horizoning album by Stefan Gnyś via Bandcamp right here.  Listen to a few tracks below.