The Necks – masters of their own musical language / Piano, bass, drums

For more than thirty years, The Necks have built an international reputation as masters of their own musical language. Their minimalist, repetitive improvisations with piano, drums, and bass sound as if they were produced by a single, unknown instrument. They have collaborated with artists such as Brian Eno, Swans, Evan Parker, Karl Hyde, as well as with several symphony orchestras. Nine years ago, they toured Australia as the opening act for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and in 2019 they collaborated with Underworld on a new audiovisual series, as well as with Michael Gira on a Swans album.

Australia is a surprisingly fertile musical landscape that much of the world has yet to fully discover. The Necks have recorded nearly 30 albums and have gained a reputation as one of the finest cult bands that defy genre classification. They create finely structured soundscapes drawing from jazz and minimalism, freely crossing stylistic boundaries. Each member has established themselves as a strong individual artist – drummer Tony Buck has performed with jazz musicians Branford Marsalis and Ernie Watts and leads the hardcore improvisation group Peril. Bassist Lloyd Swanton has released eight albums with his band The Catholics, receiving three ARIA nominations (the Australian equivalent of the Grammys), and has earned major recognition accompanying bluesman Jimmy Witherspoon, winning the Australian Jazz and Blues Awards three times.

The group has existed for over three decades, and their music is often described as trance jazz or as a continuation of European experimental groups like Can or Faust. Their breakthrough album Hanging Gardens (1999) opened doors internationally, followed by tours in the USA and distribution through the avant-garde British label ReR. Their album Open presents a musical labyrinth created from hours of improvisation and distilled into a 68-minute form. While their creative methods follow the legacy of ambient pioneer Brian Eno, the result carries stronger dynamics, warm instrumental tones, and deep emotional resonance. Enhanced by organ, guitar, and other instruments, their recordings create dreamlike sonic landscapes. Experiencing The Necks live is even more powerful – a seemingly simple motif gradually unfolds into a majestic architecture of interwoven melodic lines, built in real time and captivating the listener as irresistibly as the relentless rhythms of trance rituals.