Phantom Tones

Neill Duncan was a legend of New Zealand and Australian music. A founding member of the Braille Collective, Neill first came to prominence in the 1980’s with the pioneering Wellington exploratory jazz ensemble ‘Primitive Art Group’ which remains hugely influential to subsequent generations of adventurous musicians in Aotearoa. Neill’s time in Wellington was prolific and cemented him as one of the most creative musicians in the country – appearing in a huge number of groups such as The Four Volts, The Six Volts, Rabbitlock, The Front Lawn, The Spines and many more. Upon relocating to Auckland, Neill expanded his artistic output to include writing and producing musicals (Braindead – The Musical, with Mark Austin), performing in The Jews Brothers Band, with New Orleans jazz band the Blue Bottom Stompers, making a solo album of songs (Quiver), writing soundtracks, and acting in local television shows and theatre. In 2020 Neill travelled back to Wellington to reunite with his compatriots from the 1980s and record an album of original tunes he had developed with John Stuart. The Devils Gate Outfit was formed to rehearse, perform and record Neill and John’s compositions and featured his close friends and Six Volts alumni Anthony Donaldson, David Donaldson and Steve Roche, with next-generation Wellington sonic adventurers Daniel Beban, Tom Callwood and Cory Champion completing the lineup. DGO has subsequently become the most dynamic and creative instrumental group in Wellington, and continues to perform many of Neill’s compositions. Over two days and nights the group worked on the music for Phantom Tones.

Tracklist

1. Loosening the Screws
2. Learning to Suffer
3. Pickpocket Rag 
4. Lonely Swinger 
5. Naomi’s Window 
6. Ghost Beats
7. Handiwork
8. Phantom Tones