THE NECKS – MINDSET

Unsettling. Not to the level of disturbing; but to the point of keeping you off-balance, unsure. That is Mindset, the sixteenth offering from Sydney-born, globe-traveling trio The Necks. For those that came in late, The Necks are an instrumental, improvised outfit of double bass, piano/keys and drums – Lloyd Swanton, Chris Abrahams and Tony Buck. Together they create long, slowly evolving pieces, of which Mindsets two 21 minute tracks are actually brief by their standards. Opening with the hushed clatter of cymbals, percussion and bass, and the distant thunder of piano hammers on strings, Rum Jungle sets the tone immediately in terms of pace and instrumentation. And while half way in the piano moves towards from thunderous intent to cascading volumes, nothing from the rhythm section lets you settle and the introduction of clashing guitar and return to the thunderous piano means the piece builds to its almost relieving conclusion. This is intense and exhausting listening. The tinkling opening to Daylights providing some relief, as a piano keys drift. Electronic static, organ and sundry instrumentation keeps the tension slowly burning and the mood claustrophobic as the piece refuses to ever resolve, instead just suddenly it has ended, leaving you both breathing a sigh of relief and hitting play again.

*** 1/2s