Vol. 01 & 02

Description

Distant Birds is the hypnotic new collaboration between Chris Abrahams (The Necks) and Dave Symes (Boy & Bear). A project born from deep musical trust and mutual curiosity, VOL. 01 & 02 traverses twilight soundscapes of pulsing grooves, moody atmospheres and extended improvisational forms. Channeling '70s Afrobeat, soul, and dub-reggae influences, the music is raw yet intricately textured - Moog synths, Fender Rhodes and Hammond organs swirl over infectious bass lines, with layers of saxophone and trumpet doubling Abraham's extended right hand extemporisations, and Evan Manell's subtly shifting drum patterns. The result is a world of syncopated hooks and rhythmic interplay, designed as much for the dancefloor as for immersive, headphone listening. Recorded live in single takes, the album captures the spontaneity and fluid energy of the trio in full flight.

While Abrahams brings his signature blend of minimalism, ambience and melodic disquiet - hailed by The Wire as "one of the most restless and musical artists anywhere" - Symes infuses the music with an earthy, groove-laden sensibility drawn from his expansive experience in pop, jazz, and experimental scenes. With roots in bands like Prop, Aronas and Boy & Bear, and shaped by his formative years under the mentorship of the late Jackie Orszaczky, Symes' musical direction is both grounded and exploratory. Volume 1 & 2 is a natural extension of these creative trajectories: long-form tracks that eschew predictable structures in favour of evolving, conversational intensity. The horns act like a fourth voice - threading, interrupting, and echoing themes - adding yet another layer to this deeply organic and genre-defying sonic journey.

At the rhythmic core of Distant Birds is drummer Evan Mannell, whose fluid, instinctive playing gives the music its open, breathing pulse. A versatile improviser with roots in jazz, rock and experimental music, Mannell anchors the long-form structures with a balance of restraint and drive - shaping the arc of each track without ever dictating it. His interplay with Symes forms a deep rhythmic foundation that invites Abrahams' keys and the horn arrangements to float and dart with ease. More than just a rhythm section, their collaboration is a conversation - dynamic, evolving, and full of surprise. Together, the trio conjures a world where spontaneity meets structure, where repetition becomes meditation, and where the listener is invited into a continuous, unfolding soundscape.