The Necks are an Australian avant-garde jazz trio formed in 1987 by founding mainstays Chris Abrahams on piano and

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs ...

, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass. They play

improvisation Improvisation is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of impr ...

al 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 ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...

as "one of the top 20 avant albums of 2017." In 2020, The Necks was listed at number 49 in ''Rolling Stone Australia''s "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time" issue.

History

The Necks were formed in 1987 in Sydney by Chris Abrahams on piano and

, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar, and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass.The Necks related entries at Australian Rock Database: * The Necks (1987–present): * Chris Abrahams: * The Sparklers: * Stephen Cummings: * Dynamic Hepnotics: 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. 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). Abrahams left in 1987 before that group's first album, ''Persuasion'' (October 1988). 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. In 1986 Swanton had been a member of

Dynamic Hepnotics The Dynamic Hepnotics were an Australian soul, blues and funk band which formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1986. Mainstay, lead vocalist and front man, "Continental" Robert Susz formed the group in Sydney. They had chart success on the Australian K ...

. According to Australian musicologist,

Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist h ...

, the Necks "issued several albums of abstract, improvised, jazzy mood music." François Couture of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

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." The band has been described as "offending (successfully) against tradition for the past quarter of a century, oing somostly by occupying the spaces between accepted positions and obstinately refusing to obey genre rules". The group issued their debut album, '' Sex'' on the Spiral Scratch label in 1989. It consists of a single track of the same name, which is just under an hour long. 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." Aside from their work within the group each member has undertaken side projects, recording session work or as a touring band musician. 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). All three have worked for Stephen Cummings, both collectively and individually.

Live performance

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). Geoff Winston of ''London Jazz News'' described how "Each performance by

he Necks He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...

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." 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 Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...

jazz'. ''

The Quietus ''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics. Content ''The Quietu ...

'' 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."

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. 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."

Soundtracks

Their soundtrack for ''

The Boys Boys are young male humans. Boys or The Boys may also refer to: Film and television Films * ''The Boys'' (1962 British film), a courtroom drama by Sidney J. Furie * ''The Boys'' (1962 Finnish film), a war drama by Mikko Niskanen * ''Boys'' ( ...

'' (1998) was nominated for

ARIA In music, an aria ( Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompa ...

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

* '' Sex'' (Spiral Scratch, 1989) * ''

Next Next may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Next'' (1990 film), an animated short about William Shakespeare * ''Next'' (2007 film), a sci-fi film starring Nicolas Cage * '' Next: A Primer on Urban Painting'', a 2005 documentary film Lit ...

'' (Spiral Scratch, 1990) * '' Aquatic'' (Fish of Milk/Shock, 1994) * '' Silent Night'' (Fish of Milk/Shock, 1996) * '' Hanging Gardens'' (Fish of Milk/Shock.ReR Megacorp,1999) * ''

Aether Aether, æther or ether may refer to: Metaphysics and mythology * Aether (classical element), the material supposed to fill the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere * Aether (mythology), the personification of the "upper sky", sp ...

'' (Fish of Milk/Shock/ReR Megacorp, 2001) * ''

Drive By A drive-by is a form of hit-and-run tactic, a personal attack carried out by an individual or individuals from a moving vehicle. Drive-by or Drive By may also refer to: Music * Drive By (band), an American music group * Drive-By, an American hi ...

'' (Fish of Milk/Shock/ReR Megacorp, 2003) * ''

Mosquito/See Through ''Mosquito/See Through'' is the eighth album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released as a 2-CD set on the Fish of Milk label in 2004 and later on the ReR label internationally. The album features two hour-long tracks, titl ...

'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2004) * ''

Chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe ...

'' (Fish of Milk/Shock?ReR Megacorp, 2006) * '' Silverwater'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2009) * '' Mindset'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2011) * ''

Open Open or OPEN may refer to: Music * Open (band), Australian pop/rock band * The Open (band), English indie rock band * ''Open'' (Blues Image album), 1969 * ''Open'' (Gotthard album), 1999 * ''Open'' (Cowboy Junkies album), 2001 * ''Open'' (Y ...

'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2013) * ''

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties ...

'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2015) * '' Unfold'' (Ideologic Organ, 2017) * '' Body'' (Fish of Milk/Northern Spy, 2018) * '' Three'' (Fish of Milk/Northern Spy/ReR Megacorp, 2020)

Live albums

* '' Piano Bass Drums'' (Fish of Milk/Shock, 1998) * ''

Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab ''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, ...

'' (Fish of Milk/Shock, 2002) * '' Photosynthetic'' (Long Arms, 2003) * ''

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 30 ...

'' (Fish of Milk/ReR Megacorp, 2007) live album, recorded on 15 February 2007 live in concert at the Riverway Arts Centre in

Thuringowa City The City of Thuringowa () was a city and local government area in North Queensland, Australia covering the northern and western parts of what is now Townsville. The suburb of Thuringowa Central is the main business centre in this area. Thurin ...

, Northern Queensland. * '' Live in Berlin'' (memory stick video, 2019)

Soundtrack albums

* ''

'' (original soundtrack) (Wild Sound/MDS, 1998) * ''

Strade Trasparenti Straide (), or Strade, is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. It is located on the N58 national secondary road between Foxford and Castlebar. The name Strade is an anglicisation of the Irish words ''an tsráid'', meaning ''the street''. Strai ...

'' (Staubgold/2011)

Other appearances

* "Royal Family" on ''Beyond El Rocco'' (Vox, 1993) – soundtrack to Kevin Lucas' documentary on Australian Jazz * "Chemist" (live performance) on ''Highlights From The ABC TV Series Studio 22'' (ABC Music, 2002) * "Hall" on split-single 7" with Hards-Ons (We Empty Rooms, WER#25, 2014) *''Drift'' project by Underworld (2018 - 2019) - appear on "A Very Silent Way", "Appleshine Continuum" and "Altitude Dub Continuum" * '' Leaving Meaning'' by '' Swans'' (Young God & Mute, 2019) - appear on the songs "Leaving Meaning" and "The Nub"

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The

APRA Awards APRA Awards may refer to one of two awards ceremonies: *APRA Awards (Australia) *APRA Awards (New Zealand) The APRA Music Awards are several annual and two-yearly award ceremonies run in New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association ...

are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). , - ,

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris (dwarf planet), Er ...

, , "

" ( Lloyd Swanton, Christopher Abrahams, Anthony Buck) , , Most Performed Jazz Work , , , - , 2006 , , "

" (Swanton, Abrahams, Buck) , , Most Performed Jazz Work , , , - ,

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, "Body" (Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck, Lloyd Swanton) , Song of the Year , , -

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. , - ,

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

, ''The Boys'' , Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album , , - ,

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, disintegrated during reentry into Atmosphere of Earth, Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an 2002– ...

, ''Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab'' , Best Jazz Album , , - ,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, ''Drive By'' , Best Jazz Album , , - ,

, ''Mosquito/See Through'' , Best Jazz Album , , - , 2006 , ''Chemist'' , Best Jazz Album , , - , 2010 , ''Silverwater'' , Best Jazz Album , , -

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. Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

. ! , - , rowspan="2", 2009 , ''FOOD COURT'' (with Back to Back Theatre) ,

Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work __NOTOC__ The Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work is an award presented by Live Performance Australia (LPA), an employers' organisation which serves as the peak body in the live entertainment and performing arts industries in Australia ...

, , rowspan="2", , - , ''FOOD COURT'' (The Necks, Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck & Lloyd Swanton) , Helpmann Award for Best Original Score , , -

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. ! , - , National Live Music Awards of 2019 , The Necks , Live Jazz Act of the Year , , , -

References

External links

The Necks home page

– 25-minute performance for ABC television in 2006. Includes MP3 and

streams A stream is a continuous body of surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to by a variety of local or regional names. Long large streams ...

.
The Necks performing at The Factory, Sydney in March 2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Necks, The APRA Award winners ARIA Award winners Australian jazz ensembles Australian rock music groups Musical groups established in 1989 New South Wales musical groups Northern Spy Records artists Private Music artists