Ned Collette and Leah Senior roll through Frank’s together for this special Sunday arvo show, in Ned’s words “one of the things I miss most about Australia—the Sunday session.” He is launching his new long player ‘Mixed Light’, which has already gathered unanimous praise globally for its vast musical vision; creating a landscape where conversational outsider folk meets grinding motorik rock and large ensemble free jazz speaks to romantic pop Meanwhile Senior is coming off the back of an Australian tour of her latest stunner ‘Pt. Roadknight’. These two have a special bond—Senior sings throughout ‘Mixed Light’ and they have collaborated often live, both artists sharing a similar vision for pushing folk beyond the forests and fields where it normally dwells.
Of Senior, Collette says: “every time she sings on one of my songs a new character is created that spins around and deepens the meaning and relation of the other characters within. I never intend it, but am slowly coming to expect it—it’s like writing a two-hander but you know someone brilliant is going to take care of the other hand.”
As all true Nedheads would know to expect, Collette’s live performances drift between delicate, intimate folk and sonic exploration, both when performing solo or in various band combinations. His songwriting, combined with his early background in improvised and experimental music, has resulted in eight albums of uncompromising vision, released on a variety of international labels. These are produced mostly out of his studio in Berlin, where he has been based since 2010. Funny, haunting and sad, often all at once, the music nonetheless manages to remain plain-spoken and uncluttered.
“Ned’s music it wears its modernity subtly and surely and is as rewarding a listening experience as I’ve come across”–Will Oldham aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy