The Necks are a musical trio from Sydney, Australia, who play a difficult-to-categorise avant-garde jazz-rock. The lineup, stable since the group's formation in 1987, primarily conists of Chris Abrahams (piano), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Tony Buck (percussion/guitar).

The trio has released nearly thirty studio and live albums of their long, slowly-unfurling experimental improvisations. The Necks' unique sound is heavily informed by minimalism and krautrock - their sophomore record, Next, is perhaps the most "traditionally" jazz-fusion of their discography, and one of the few to include outside collaborators. A more pronounced post-rock influence entered their musical vocabulary over the 2010s, with long-time Necks enthusiast Michael Gira inviting them as openers for Swans' 2011 Australian tour and later recruiting them as session players for the 2019 LP Leaving Meaning.

The Necks will appeal to fans of krautrockers like Can, Faust and Oren Ambarchi, the jazz-rock of Talk Talk, Miles Davis and Medeski Martin & Wood, and minimalist composers such as Tony Conrad, Terry Riley and Philip Glass.

"Sex" (1989)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/sex" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/sex

"Next" (1990)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/next" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/next

"Aquatic" (1994)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/aquatic" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/aquatic

"Silent Night" (1996)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/silent-night" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/silent-night

"Piano Bass Drums" (1998)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/piano-bass-drums" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/piano-bass-drums

"Hanging Gardens" (1999)

"Aether" (2001)

"Athenaeum, Homebush, Quay & Raab" (2002)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/athenaeum-homebush-quay-raab" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/athenaeum-homebush-quay-raab

"Drive By" (2003)

"Silverwater" (2009)

"Open" (2013)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/open" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/open

"Vertigo" (2015)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/vertigo" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/vertigo

"Unfold" (2017)

"Body" (2018)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/body" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/body

"Three" (2020)

https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/three" rel="nofollow - https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/three

I was surprised, too! I see they have a Progfreak page, though, and their most recent album was classified as "Instrumental Prog Post Rock."

Thanks for the suggestion. I've always considered The Necks avant-garde jazz or experimental jazz with ambient flavorings. The only possible album i would consider having rock elements, much less prog would probably be BODY which has aspects of post-rock.

Keep in mind jazz-fusion isn't an all inclusive category here. We only add the MOST progressive of such acts that incorporate healthy doses of prog to the mix. Sure there are a few examples on this site where artists were added that probably shouldn't have been that doesn't mean we continue doing so.

Personally i'd give them a no but we'll see what others have to say.

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Wow. They aren't on here?

Same thought here. I only know parts of their work but what I know seems very post-rocky to me with some jazz and experimentation (with some hints at psychedelia and kraut rock) thrown in. For me they fit 100% but I don't have to say much here.

Same here. They are a jazz band through and through (and if they skid off that track they fall into the avant-garde realms) and really have no place on PA.

Great band though. Enjoy them well.