Travel

Part of why it feels strange calling The Necks “jazz” is that they’ve always put individual expression second to the dynamic of the group. Collecting four 20-minute improvisations used to open practice sessions, *Travel* is a great introduction both in its digestibility (typical Necks albums are usually a single track running about an hour long) and in how it captures the band’s peculiar, meditative intensity, which can range from churchlike (“Bloodstream”) to threatening and noir (“Signal”). That the other two tracks draw their names from active verbs—“Forming” and “Imprinting”—tells you where the Australian group’s collective head is at: process, process, process.

Geoff Dyer’s Book ‘Working the Room’ "(The Necks) are sometimes categorised as a jazz trio - which is fine as long as this is immediately qualified by adding that they've completely re-conceived the idea of the jazz trio." _ _ __|_|__|_|__ _|____________|__ |o o o o o o o o / ~'`~'`~'`~'`~'`~'`~'`~ Travel, the 19th studio album by Australian improvisational trio The Necks, documents their recent practice of starting each day in the studio with a 20-minute trio improvisation. The recordings offer some of their most ecstatic and captivating music cut to tape. As bassist Lloyd Swanton puts it: “It’s a really nice communal activity to bring us together in focus each day, and some lovely music has resulted from it.” Although a straight “live” improvisation has never been recorded in the studio by the band, these tracks (save for some light overdubs and post-production) feel closest to their 30 years of celebrated live performances. In 2017 Stephen O’Malley’s Ideologic Organ label released the band’s lauded Unfold, which first offered up this uncharacteristic studio work: four sub-20-minute pieces - instead of the typical 60+ minute arc for which the band is known - along with an obfuscated track list which leaves play order to the listener’s hand. The album quickly sold out, and persists as a treasure in collections or as a high-priced ‘Want’ on Discogs. Travel marks a return to this double-LP format, offered in a beautiful gatefold package that features photography by Traianos Pakioufakis and impeccable mastering by Doug Henderson.

Over 34 years, Australian trio the Necks -- pianist/keyboardist Chris Abrahams, drummer/electric guitarist Tony Buck, and bassist Lloyd Swanton -- have forged a compelling, exploratory, singular musical language.