Recuperating from jetlag after a lighting quick US tour, bassist LLOYD SWANTON of Australian Jazz luminaries THE NECKS explains to MITCH ALEXANDER how to find diamonds in the darkness.

The exploratory jazz notes of The Necks have always lent themselves quite well to a close connection with the natural environment. At times floating through tranquil mists, while other disconcerting moments reflect mother nature’s more wrathful tendencies, the album titles are a patchwork of references to our surroundings. As the fifteenth studio recording from the trio in a two-decade career, Silverwater is indicative of the album’s eerie expansiveness, like a river whose stillness hides the activity occurring only inches below. Although, it’s possibly that I’ve put much more though into this than Lloyd.

“I often see the turnoff for Silverwater when I’m heading in and out of Sydney, and it’s possibly best known as the site of a major prison,” Lloyd explains from a hideaway in the Blue Mountains. “It just occurred to me that it’s such a lovely word, but we liked to convey something a little unsettling, but also kind of pleasant at the same time.

“To some extent, people seem to find that about our music too, people can find it unsettling, but also compelling at the same time. I did a little bit of research, [Silverwater] has been an industrial suburb since 1815, and in 1817 they built a bonecrushing plant, which would’ve been great to live next to,” he continues dryly.

At the time (and significantly less so in retrospect), a dilapidated bonecrushing facility seemed like a logical segue to their upcoming performance at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Perhaps, picking up on Lloyd’s probing mind, he would have some opinions on the venue’s current esteem and storied past?

“I love those sort of places, in Europe in particular it seems like every town has a rejuvenated bakery or abattoir or whatever…and they’re always great places to play,” he shines. “The old Brisbane Museum, that’s a beaut too, and Customs House.

“Considering how much of your heritage got demolished by … those whose names we won’t mention…” he continues with a laugh. “…it’s fantastic that the ones that remain are so good.

THE NECKS play the Brisbane Powerhouse on Saturday Feb 20. SILVERWATER is out now through Fish Of Milk. www.thenecks.com.

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