New Necks

Anyone check out this collab with Underworld?

Yeah the Underworld fans like it, at least.

There's a touch of 'jazzy house' to it that's perhaps just this side of corny, but on the other hand it's cool to hear rhythmic Necks again. And I like how it starts fully electronic, brings them in, then slowly transitions to fully acoustic and eventually to rubato Neckisms.

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/three

it must be great being in the necks, just like, vrrrrrrrrooooooommmm

the consuming rattle of the opener, “Lovelock,” dedicated to the memory of Damien Lovelock, former frontman of The Celibate Rifles, is a weightless and atmospheric threnody that ruminates in the quiet and overwhelming moments of grief

aww

Album streaming today; enjoying it immensely so far!

New album is great and their prettiest album in years and years, albeit hardly groundbreaking - as hinted by the Underworld collaborations they’ve returned to a “classic” Necks sound: the ringing piano chords and circular bass of “Bloom” reminds me of Drive By; “Lovelock” is all whispery ambience and rustle somewhere between Silent Night and Aether, and is closest to the live style; “Further” is a return to the Sex / Aquatic sound by way of Journey in Satchidananda.

oh that sounds good. have had some reliably great live experiences with them in the last couple of years but I think 'open' was their last essential recording,

Yeah if Open was the last album you really liked then you will definitely enjoy this.

i really like this

I enjoyed Body quite a lot, actually, it felt like something genuinely different for them. That said, I've not listened to it anywhere near as intensely as my favourites by them over a similar length of time, perhaps because it lent itself far less to ambient / atmospheric 'use'.

Got Three yesterday, and gave it a half listen last night. Chemist is probably my second favourite thing they've done, so I'm looking forward to exploring what they do with a similar format again.

I liked Vertigo quite a bit, but never ended up connecting with Unfold or Body. I think they are back on track with this one, though. Glad they've ditched the guitar

'Unfold' seems to get a bit ignored, but I thought was the some of best music they've recorded in years, esp 'Blue Mountain'. New one is great, though, isn't it!

It really is. This and Alabaster DePlume have been the soundtrack to my quarantine!

God this last track sounds like an unreleased late Talk Talk jam.

Enjoying this a lot. First track is really clattery - almost gamelan; second is eerie as hell - piano led and pure atmosphere, like the desert at night.

Wrote a review of this that will go up on Tuesday. Second track sounds like a cross between Miles Davis's "He Loved Him Madly" and Tangerine Dream's Zeit. I like it a lot.

it's weird. you always make me listen again and again to this band. talk talk and tangerine dream's zeit, some of my favourite music. but though i understand the comparisons, there is a feel of late talk talk in the last piece and there is a hint to zeit in the second i don't think the necks have anything to do with those bands and their music. they take little snippets and repeat them for 20 minutes and more, they turn around and around, their music negates progression, it just circles around itself. it does not point anywhere. there is no horizon in it, just self-centeredness. like minimal music which was so hip in the second half of the seventies. but in the end it was just what the name says, it was music with very little creative input which was then inflated by repetition. not my cup of tea at all. though this has been the time i was the closest ever to like the necks.

disagree but very good post

They were supposed to play in town this weekend :(

Last time I saw them I was surprised to see so many people I never see out at shows. They have a solid fan base!

'Bloom' is a stunner

Yeah, "Bloom" and "Further" are outstanding. I've had a hard time connecting with "Lovelock," however. It's nice and I like it when it's playing, but it's the only one where when it's on I feel like I can safely leave the room for a minute to check the mail or grab a snack and not really miss much.

I've been taking a walk everyday, and each day I listen to a different bootleg of a live Necks show (mostly from Soulseek, and some ripped from videos on youtube). It's a really great way to zone out.

Oohhhhh, did not expect 'Further' to be Alice Coltrane/Pharoah Sanders-esque spiritual hat jazz in 5/4. This album owns.

The clattery percussion is mind bending, I wonder if it's just free or even recorded without listening to the main track

Never before have I looked at the track time and thought 'thank god there are still seven minutes left in this track'

If you want to read my review, here it is.

Very, very sweet new record. (Also, great review, Phil.)

"Further" definitely the standout of the three for me

also looool i just looked to see where i was in the song and it was just about 7 min left -- the 13-something minute point must be really good!!

haha

New Necks! Travel, out February 24th.

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/travel

Really wish they'd re-release Unfold, even if just on CD.

'imprinting' sounds like a caravan through purgatory i'm feeling it

Listening to the album now. Each track is surprising and yet utterly The Necks.

loving this new one

Not done yet, but so far I like the first two soooooo much better than "Imprinting" (but maybe it will be better in context).

Oh this is where people talked about Three! Thought that one was their strongest since Open.

So I'm basically listening to Travel every day now, especially in the morning. I like this so much better than the last two, but I've been meaning to revisit Three, which I don't think I gave a fair chance after being so utterly disappointed by Body. I'm nuts about this new one, though.

Weird to read people don't like "Imprinting." That might be my favorite!

Love this album. It feels like it touches on a lot of different great aspects of their previous work. First two tracks very Drive By, then “Imprinting” kind of reminds me of Silverwater, and then “Bloodstream” is like Aether if they had decided to cut straight to the noisy ending. It’s all very pretty.

feel like "Signal" is a hard act to follow

magical track

like their previous release

whoops

like their previous release that came out on vinyl, it's one track per side with no given order. So feel free to play the CD's first track last.

It's a good one for sure, bless The Necks <3

i've been going back to aether and open lately. so beautiful. hmm maybe today is the day i get the new one.

i need to remember about this band the next time i reach for something new too

i got the new one! it's great. travel if you're traveling through purgatory? very evocative.

Turns out this new album is incredible (who would have thought otherwise?)
Tossing up making the 3hr return trip to see them tonight but honestly what a small price to pay.

is Travel the new one or is there a newer one? I can't actually remember if I have it / have heard it - but I absolutely loved Three

was thinking it was time to see them again but didn't get around to their Sydney shows

(you should go!)

Travel! I'm just late to the party.

I'm on my way there now. Brissy's putting on a good show these three weeks. Necks, boris, Tim hecker back to back!