Epistrophy Arts presents The Necks

The Necks are one of the great cult bands of Australia. Chris Abrahams (piano), Tony Buck (drums), and Lloyd Swanton (bass) conjure a chemistry together that defies description in orthodox terms. Featuring lengthy pieces which slowly unravel in the most mesmerizing fashion, frequently underpinned by an insistent deep groove, the eighteen albums by The Necks stand up to re-listening time and time again. The deceptive simplicity of their music throws forth new charms on each hearing. Not entirely avant-garde, nor minimalist, nor ambient, nor jazz, the music of The Necks is uniquely their own.

“One of the greatest bands in the world” NEW YORK TIMES

“Tonal, accessible, and yet profoundly challenging… The Necks are singular… Yielding things no one else does” THE WIRE

“Absolutely riveting…how three musicians can sound like eighteen is a mystery… extraordinary magical sounds emerged from the ensemble…the way The Necks do this with acoustic instruments is nothing short of miraculous” FINANCIAL TIMES (UK)

“…Entirely new and entirely now…They produce a post-jazz, post-rock, post-everything sonic experience that has few parallels or rivals. They may teach us to listen in a new way, but they communicate a fierce energy and warmth at the same time. Their music is a thrilling, emotional journey into the unknown. Like seeing a world in a grain of sand, The Necks permit us to hear a whole new world of music in a sliver of sound” THE GUARDIAN (UK)

“A magic act masquerading as a piano trio, this Australian group delivers long-form improvisations that shift with such patient beauty that it casts a bit of a trance. You\’ll seldom spend an hour that passes so quickly — and rewardingly.” – Los Angeles Times

This project is supported in part by individual contributors and the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.