The Necks

Posted by: Andy Devon on 09 May 2005

I am a bit slow catching on sometimes and I have just discovered this Australian band who specialise in very long (often 60 minute) tracks in a jazz/rock/ambient kind of style. I find their stuff totally hypnotic and very gripping even though not a lot seems to be going on at first.
I see they are sold out at the Brighton Jazz Festival later this month. Is anyone going - I'd love to read reviews of their performance.

Incidentally long audio clips of their music can be heard on the [URL=www.rermegacorp.com]ReRmegacorp website

Andy

Posted on: 09 May 2005 by Squonk

Andy,

Welcome to the Forum. I got into the Necks about a year ago when I moved down to Sydney. I saw them live a few weeks ago and it was a very interesting and hypnotic experience. They improvised on a theme and that theme went on for an hour. Took the wife and although not her favourite she thought it was pretty good.

I have bought all their CD's but have yet to get all my way through them as it does take a while - sitting down for an hour at a tme to concentrate on the music.

Anyway, my favourite so far is "Drive By". It is very atmospheric with a good hook. Think it also won an Australian Aria for best jazz album (although I might be wrong on that one).

Stefan - this might be a new avenue of pleasure for you to explore.

Adrian

Posted on: 10 May 2005 by Shauns

Yes great stuff. They also do a lot of film scores as well as session work for other artists. Very talented artists. Similar work with a rougher edge is done by another Australian outfit called The Dirty Three-also worth having a listen to. Cheers, Shaun

Posted on: 10 May 2005 by Squonk

Shauns - not heard of dirty three - will have to take a look.

Adrian

Posted on: 10 May 2005 by Andy Devon

Expat in Oz

Thanks for the welcome I have actually been a bit of a lurker and a Naim owner for some time. I actually decided to start posting because I'm keen to share opinions with some like minded folk about music that is not exactly mainstream.

I have only heard two of The Necks albums - Drive By and Hanging Gardens. I love them both but actually the Hanging Gardens album made the the biggest impact on me.

I know what you mean about finding an hour to listen to one track. I started listening to Hanging Gradens for the first time not really knowing what to expect one Sunday afternoon and found myself totally captivated - not a lot got done that day!

Incidentally, my wife is equally enthusuastic which is just as well as I will certainly be getting all their albums.

Andy