The Necks

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The Necks
The Necks 2016.jpg
Background information
Origin Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Years active1987 (1987)–present
Labels
Members
Website thenecks.com

The Necks are an Australian avant-garde jazz trio formed in 1987 by founding mainstays Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass. They play improvisational pieces of up to an hour in length that explore the development and demise of repeating musical figures. Their double LP studio album Unfold was named by Rolling Stone as "one of the top 20 avant albums of 2017." [1]

Contents

In 2020, the Necks were listed at number 49 in Rolling Stone Australia's "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time" issue. [2]

History

The Necks were formed in 1987 in Sydney by Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass. [3] [4] In 1983 Abrahams (ex-Laughing Clowns) on keyboards and Swanton on bass guitar were founders of the Benders, a jazz group, with Dale Barlow and Jason Morphett on saxophones, and Louis Burdett on drums; which disbanded in 1985. [3] [4]

Abrahams had formed the Sparklers in 1985, a dance pop band, with Bill Bilson on drums (ex-Sunnyboys), Gerard Corben on guitar (ex-Lime Spiders), Ernie Finckh on guitar, Melanie Oxley on lead vocals (ex-Sweet Nothing), and her older brother Peter Oxley on bass guitar (ex-Sunnyboys). [3] [4] Abrahams left in 1987 before that group's first album, Persuasion (October 1988). [3] [4] Buck had been a member of a number of groups: Great White Noise (1983), Women and Children First, Tango Bravo and Pardon Me Boys; prior to forming the Necks. [4] In 1986 Swanton had been a member of Dynamic Hepnotics. [4]

According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the Necks "issued several albums of abstract, improvised, jazzy mood music." [3] François Couture of AllMusic described how they "usually start playing a very basic melodic and rhythmic figure, and then keep going at it for an hour, gradually introducing microscopic changes and variations. Some critics have compared them to Krautrock groups like Can and Faust. Others find similarities in the works of minimalist composers like LaMonte Young, Tony Conrad, even Philip Glass." [5] The band has been described as "offending (successfully) against tradition for the past quarter of a century, [doing so] mostly by occupying the spaces between accepted positions and obstinately refusing to obey genre rules". [6]

The group issued their debut album, Sex on the Spiral Scratch label in 1989. [3] [7] It consists of a single track of the same name, which is just under an hour long. [7] Couture noticed that "The difference between Sex and the many other CDs they would record afterwards is the purity: The trio's hypnotic repetitive piece relies only on piano, bass, and drums; no electronics, extra keyboards, samples, or lengthy introduction." [7]

Aside from their work within the group each member has undertaken side projects, recording session work or as a touring band musician. [3] [4] Abrahams formed an ongoing duo with Melanie Oxley (1989–2003), which has released four "moody, emotive soul/pop albums" from Welcome to Violet (October 1992) to Blood Oranges (April 2003). [3] [4] All three have worked for Stephen Cummings, both collectively and individually. [4]

Live performance

Buck, Swanton and Abrahams performing in Aarhus, Denmark, November 2015 The-necks.jpg
Buck, Swanton and Abrahams performing in Aarhus, Denmark, November 2015

The Necks performances are always improvised, with the instrumentation of piano, double bass, and drums/percussion (with the occasional exception, e.g., when Chris Abrahams played the Melbourne Town Hall pipe organ instead of piano [8] ). Geoff Winston of London Jazz News described how "Each performance by [the Necks] begins with a blank page which one of the trio will start to fill in to commence the journey, an uninterrupted set of around forty to sixty minutes. There are no rules, no agreements about who will take that lead and about how the discourse will evolve. The only criteria that apply are those of their own impeccably high standards." [9] Typically a live performance will begin very quietly with one of the musicians playing a simple figure. One by one, the other two will join with their own contributions–all three players independent yet intertwined. As the 'piece' builds through subtle micro-changes, the interaction of their instruments creates layers of harmonics and prismatic washes of sound that lead some to apply the genre label 'trance jazz'.

The Quietus ' Kate Hennessy found that "any Necks' show is a make or break experience. Some find it cathartic, others buckle and ever the twain shall chafe in the washout. The trio's routine is to play two improvised sets using just piano, double bass and drums: one set relatively calm; the other dispensing sound of escalating intensity for a long hour. Jazz by name but not by nature – if jazz denotes songs that spark at intervals into fine displays of musicianship and tricky timing, after which one claps, drinks, and feels pretty good about the world and the talent in it. No, The Necks plunge listeners to the kinds of violent psychological depths few other bands can achieve at all, let alone all acoustically." [10]

Studio albums

Studio albums by The Necks are also based on improvisations, but the recording process can involve multiple takes and sections which are then edited together into a single composition. [11] Studio recordings often involve extra instrumentation beyond the core piano, bass and drums, including samples, organ (Abrahams), electric guitar (Buck) and appearances by guest musicians.

The Necks have never attempted live performance of studio recordings. When they were approached to perform their debut album Sex as part of a series of "classic albums" concerts Chris Abrahams pointed out "That's not how we make music. It would make no sense." [12]

Soundtracks

Their soundtrack for The Boys (1998) was nominated for ARIA Best Soundtrack Album, AFI Best Musical Score and Australian Guild of Screen Composers Award. They have also recorded soundtracks for What's The Deal? (1997) and In the Mind of the Architect (three one-hour ABC-TV documentaries, 2000).

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Soundtrack albums

Other appearances

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). [16]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2005 "Drive By" (Lloyd Swanton, Christopher Abrahams, Anthony Buck)Most Performed Jazz Work [17] Won
2006 "Chemist" (Swanton, Abrahams, Buck)Most Performed Jazz Work [18] Won
2019 [19] "Body" (Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck, Lloyd Swanton)Song of the YearShortlisted

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. The Necks have won two awards from six nominations. [20]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1998 The Boys Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album Nominated
2003 Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab Best Jazz Album Nominated
2004 Drive ByBest Jazz AlbumWon
2005 Mosquito/See ThroughBest Jazz AlbumNominated
2006 ChemistBest Jazz AlbumWon
2010 SilverwaterBest Jazz AlbumNominated

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001. [21] Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2009 FOOD COURT (with Back to Back Theatre) Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work Nominated [22]
FOOD COURT (The Necks, Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck & Lloyd Swanton) Helpmann Award for Best Original Score Nominated

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
National Live Music Awards of 2019 The NecksLive Jazz Act of the YearWon [23] [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Swanton</span> Musical artist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Abrahams</span> New Zealand pianist (born 1961)

Christopher Robert Lionel Abrahams is a New Zealand-born, Australian-based musician. He is a founding mainstay member of experimental, jazz trio the Necks (1987–present), collaborated with Melanie Oxley as a soul pop duo (1989–2003), and has issued ten solo albums.

The Benders were an Australian jazz band from 1980 to 1985. The group's members included Chris Abrahams on keyboards, Dale Barlow on saxophone, Louis Burdett on drums, Andrew Gander on drums, Jason Morphett on saxophone, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar. They issued three albums, E (1983), False Laughter (1984) and Distance (1985).

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<i>Sex</i> (The Necks album) 1989 studio album by The Necks

Sex is the debut album of improvised music trio, The Necks, originally released on the Spiral Scratch label and later rereleased on Fish of Milk and Private Music in the US. The album features a single track of just under an hour in length performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck improvising over a two-bar motif. On this album the band overdubbed the instrumentation of piano, bass and drums in a dual take creating a "hypnotic repetitive piece".

<i>Next</i> (The Necks album) 1990 studio album by The Necks

Next is the second album by Australian improvised music trio, The Necks, originally released on the Spiral Scratch label in 1990 and later re-released on Fish of Milk. The album differs from most of the trio's releases in that it features 6 tracks, rather than a lone track.

<i>Piano Bass Drums</i> 1998 live album by The Necks

Piano Bass Drums is the fifth album and first live album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks released on the Fish of Milk label in 1998. The album features a single track titled "Unheard", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck recorded in concert at The Basement in Sydney, Australia.

<i>The Boys</i> (The Necks album) 1998 soundtrack album by The Necks

The Boys is the sixth album and first soundtrack album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks originally released on the Wild Sound/MDS label in 1998 and later rereleased on Fish of Milk. The album features music recorded for the Australian motion picture The Boys (1998).

<i>Aether</i> (album) 2001 studio album by The Necks

Aether is the sixth album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2001 and later on the ReR label internationally. The album features a single hour-long track, titled "Aether", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck.

<i>Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab</i> 2002 live album by The Necks

Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab is the ninth album and second live album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2002 as a 4-CD set. The album features 4 live performances by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck recorded in Melbourne, Sydney and Raab. The album was nominated for the ARIA Music Awards Best Jazz album in 2003.

<i>Drive By</i> (album) 2003 studio album by The Necks

Drive By is the seventh album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2003 and later on the ReR label internationally. The album features a single hour-long track, titled "Drive By", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck.

<i>Chemist</i> (album) 2006 studio album by The Necks

Chemist is the ninth album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks, which was first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2006 and later on the ReR label, internationally. The album's three tracks, "Fatal", "Buoyant" and "Abillera", were written, performed and produced by the group's members: Chris Abrahams on piano, Lloyd Swanton on double bass and Tony Buck on drums and guitar. It won the ARIA Music Awards Best Jazz Album category in 2006.

<i>Townsville</i> (album) 2007 live album by The Necks

Townsville is the fourteenth album and fourth live album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2007 and on the ReR label internationally. The album a single track, titled "Townsville", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck recorded live at the Riverway Arts Centre in Thuringowa, Northern Queensland.

<i>Silverwater</i> (album) 2009 studio album by The Necks

Silverwater is the tenth album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2009 in Australia and on the ReR label internationally. The album features a single track, titled "Silverwater", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck.

<i>Open</i> (The Necks album) 2013 studio album by The Necks

Open is the twelfth album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks, first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2013 in Australia and on the ReR label internationally.

The Catholics are an Australian jazz ensemble led by Lloyd Swanton on acoustic and electric bass guitar, percussion and piano. Other long-term members include Sandy Evans on tambourine, tenor and soprano saxophones, and James Greening on trombone. They have been nominated for ARIA Awards for Best Jazz Album in 1994, 1997 and 2000 (Barefoot). Swanton is also a member of a jazz trio, the Necks; Evans was also in Ten Part Invention and has released solo material.

<i>Body</i> (The Necks album) 2018 studio album by The Necks

Body is an album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2018 in Australia and on the Northern Spy label in the US.

<i>Vertigo</i> (The Necks album) 2015 studio album by The Necks

Vertigo is an album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2015 in Australia, on ReR Megacorp in Europe, and on the Northern Spy label in the US.

References

  1. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R. (2 January 2018). "20 Best Avant Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  2. ↑ 50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time – #49: The Necks. Dave Williams, Rolling Stone Australia, 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Chris Abrahams'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The Necks related entries at Australian Rock Database:
    • The Necks (1987–present): Holmgren, Magnus. "The Necks". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 19 March 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
    • Chris Abrahams: Holmgren, Magnus. "Chris Abrahams". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 14 March 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
    • The Sparklers: Holmgren, Magnus. "The Sparklers". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 14 March 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
    • Stephen Cummings: Holmgren, Magnus. "Stephen Cummings". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 1 March 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
    • Dynamic Hepnotics: Holmgren, Magnus. "Dynamic Hepnotics". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Couture, François. "The Necks | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Biron, D. 2013. Are The Necks the Best Band in the World? The Conversation, 13 December.
  7. 1 2 3 Couture, François. "Sex – The Necks | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Heavens, what a soundtrack". The Age. 5 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Winston, Geoff (14 April 2016). "Review: The Necks and James McVinnie at Union Chapel, N1". London Jazz News. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Hennessy, Kate (29 December 2014). "Features | Anniversary | 25 Years On: The Necks' Sex Revisited by Kate Hennessy". The Quietus . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "THE NECKS The X-Press Interview". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Williams, Richard (10 June 2010). "The Necks on the line". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "The Necks crane their necks and announce their necks album, "Body"". Tinymixtapes.com. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Townsville". Amazon.com. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2018– via Amazon.
  15. ↑ "The Necks – Townsville". Vortexjazz.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  17. ↑ "2005 Winners – APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  18. ↑ "2006 Winners – APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  19. ↑ "APRA Reveals 2019 Song of the Year Shortlist". Music Feeds . 5 February 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "The Necks ARIA Awards". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Events & Programs". Live Performance Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  22. ↑ "2009 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners". Helpmann Awards. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!". NLMA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…". NLMA. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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