NEIL HANNAN BAND : What Were They Thinking

By Bruce Morley

Bassist Neil Hannan and drummer Josh Sorensen sound very Sly and Robbie here, but with an intriguing subtext: despite Hannan’s ever-present driving bass, the album feels as though it’s built around the drums – drum licks are almost the hook on the opening track, T.C., and on Cop Show, Officer Dibble, I Like It Like That and parts of Wax Bouncing – but without them being in your face, thanks to Sorensen’s assertive-but-reticent style and Hannan’s skilful production (occasionally, and daringly, dub-mixing the drums back a bit). Indeed, the second track, Sweet Lips, even sounds slightly unfinished, inviting the listener to fill in the gaps. It takes a lot of nerve to play this minimally so early in the album and still hold attention. On Empty City, the overall feel is reminiscent of Herbie Mann’s Memphis Underground. In contrast, Channel Seven simply swings, and Into The Night is a bluesy 12/8. Throughout, pianist Stephen Small and tenor saxophonist Jim Brenan turn in solid, compatible solos, with Small also contributing several compositions among others by Hannan, Tony Backhouse and Godfrey de Grut. This is a very cool example of spacey-but-forceful, take-your-time, dub jazz.

Related Information

Issues

NZ Musician

August/September 2009