Distant Birds / Chris Abrahams & Dave Symes - VOL. 01 & 02

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 band 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 band conjures a world where spontaneity meets structure, where repetition becomes meditation, and where the listener is invited into a continuous, unfolding soundscape.

Chris Abrahams is one of Australia’s most distinctive and revered keyboardists, internationally celebrated for his work as a founding member of the groundbreaking trio The Necks. Known for his exploratory approach to sound and improvisation, Abrahams combines a deep emotional sensitivity with sonic adventurousness. Over a career spanning four decades, he has carved a singular path through experimental jazz, ambient minimalism, and contemporary classical music, drawing listeners into vast, slowly unfolding musical landscapes.

A New Zealand-born, Sydney-based pianist, Abrahams has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, from Midnight Oil and The Church to Swans and Brian Eno. His solo work delves into the textural possibilities of the piano, with a glacial beauty that borders on the hallucinatory. Across his ten solo albums and extensive work with The Necks, Abrahams has won multiple APRA Awards and received widespread acclaim for his ability to shape time, texture and space in music. Whether in an intimate solo performance or driving a hypnotic groove in a project like Distant Birds, Abrahams remains a compelling and visionary force in contemporary music.

Dave Symes is an Australian bassist, producer and composer whose expansive career has seen him perform and collaborate across a wide spectrum of genres, from indie rock and soul to jazz and electronic music. Best known as a longtime member of ARIA Award-winning band Boy & Bear, Symes has played on multiple chart-topping albums and toured extensively throughout Australia, North America, and Europe. His work reflects a deep curiosity for musical hybridity and a strong commitment to collaboration.

With a background in jazz, Symes has worked as a musical director, arranger and producer for artists including Missy Higgins, Sarah Blasko, Marcia Hines, and Keith Urban. A former mentee of the legendary Jackie Orszaczky, Symes brings a warm, grounded sensibility to every project he undertakes. In Distant Birds, his newest project with Chris Abrahams and Evan Mannell, Symes explores hypnotic grooves and extended forms, fusing his rhythmic expertise with a love of sonic exploration. His approach is at once instinctive and refined—anchoring expansive improvisations with clarity, feel and subtle invention.