The Necks trio of Chris Abrahams (piano), Tony Buck (drums) and Lloyd Swanton (bass) return to their evolving improvisation format, with ethereal arco harmonics, mesmeric piano riffs, subliminal pulses, twittering electronics, and even an arco bass choir.
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2013 Country: USA Packaging: Cardstock gatefold foldover Recorded at Studios 301, in Alexandria, Australia, by Tim Whitten.
"Following on from their two track LP release, Mindset (2011), Open sees legendary artists-in-resonance The Necks return to the territory they are best known for, a single piece running for over an hour. The piece emanates a calm, immersive stillness throughout. Already The Wire has said that Open "(displays The Necks') astute handling of pacing and momentum, finely honed collective sense of timing, (and) their shared ability to balance at length a group equilibrium".
Bassist Lloyd Swanton elaborates: "Mindset reached some pretty intense levels at times, and though we never overtly discussed it, I think that on Open by contrast, all three of us were taken by the idea of working in an area of great stillness. After a couple of days' recording, it was clear that the music was leading us in this direction."
From the opening tones of Tony Buck's monochord, it is immediately clear that this Necks album is something special.As it unfolds, ethereal arco harmonics, minimalist funk, mesmeric piano riffs, subliminal pulses, twittering electronics, even an arco bass choir are inducted into the process.
Open will be the first of The Necks' albums released in North America on Northern Spy. "They're a great label; energetic and imaginative, with some really impressive artists" says Chris Abrahams, "so we're flattered that they sought us out, and delighted to be working together on growing our music across North America, because the response to our tours there thus far has been incredible." "-Northern Spy