Dream On Dreamers
Left to right: Chris Abrahams (piano), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Tony Buck (drums). Photo courtesy of Earslend
Words by Elise Annetts.
Die-hard fans of The Necks will not be surprised to hear such a suggestion, but listening to the band’s minimalist, improvisational jazz could be an opportunity to open your mind. Whether you want to ponder epic questions of existentialism, or finally remember where you left your keys, their music might just set you on the path to finding the answers.
As bass player (and Eastside’s very own presenter) Lloyd Swanton says, “We are trying to conjure that trance-like state just before you do nod off. I believe it’s called the alpha-state, where the normal barricades between different parts of your brain start getting broken down, and so you make all sorts of connections that wouldn’t be made if you were alert.” (SOURCE: Stand and Deliver online)
A combination of subtle simplicity and frenzied intensity, The Necks slowly lull audiences into a dream, before seamlessly providing the soundtrack for it. Like the Pied Pipers of the Jazz world (minus the pipes), The Necks lead us, unquestioningly, into uncharted territory. But as their decades of success have clearly shown, we are happy to follow.
Don’t miss The Necks live at the Sydney Opera House on 18th March.
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