NEEB’s 'Take To The Sky' is a late-night electro-acoustic odyssey

Hartlepool’s NEEB step confidently back into the fold with 'Take To The Sky', their debut full-length that arrives via Bairn Records. This eight-track collection is a masterclass in texture and atmosphere, blending jazz, soul, and ambient funk into a sound that is as immersive as it is inventive. For a band whose history spans electronic, drum & bass, and broken-beat experimentation, this album feels like both a culmination and a fresh beginning.

Throughout this eclectic journey, Jasmine Weatherill’s vocals glide over Mark Hand’s warm Rhodes and glimmering synths, balancing intimacy with expansiveness. Tony Waite’s sleek production ensures every layer, be it Martin Ditcham’s percussion accents or Andy Wain’s textural synth work, sits in perfect harmony, creating a groove that feels simultaneously relaxed and alive.

Tracks like 'Cave of Hands' and 'Time Is Elastic' explore a hypnotic interplay between rhythm and melody. Hand’s keyboards shimmer like city lights over Lloyd’s nuanced drumming, while Weatherill’s voice anchors the emotional core. The band navigates mood shifts with finesse with 'Visions' and 'Brighter Day' lifting into more luminous, expansive territories, hinting at the band’s jazz-lounge influences without ever feeling derivative.

What sets 'Take To The Sky' apart is its ability to feel both live and meticulously produced. Each instrument and vocal layer seems to breathe, giving us room to sink into the grooves and textures.

For those seeking music that bridges intimate songwriting with sprawling landscapes, 'Take To The Sky' is an invitation to bask in the glow of late-night jazz and ambient funk, and to appreciate the meticulous craft of a band finally arriving at their full stride.