 "Flax Happy" was released in 2008 (NZ) and 2009 (UK) to critical acclaim in both territories.Journalist Graham Reid described Abel as, “A refined writer whose lyrics have a bone-bare quality – the sound of someone writing and singing from a place where there is no guile, just hard truth and clear eyes.”

Having moved to live in Geneva in 2008, and encouraged by fellow musician Delaney Davidson, Abel entered and won "The Saddest Song in the World Competition" in Berlin in May 2009.He played at the CMJ music festival in New York later that year, and in November began recording his third album "Luck/Hope" with Jolie Holland, Shahzad Ismaily and Grey Gersten at Manhattan's Rivington 66 Studio.