Ned Collette: Australia's Finest Singer Songwriter? C/D

Suprisingly, no thread on this Melbourne artist, who cites Leonard Cohen, Robert Wyatt and Cat Power as key influences. Currently touring in Europe, his albums are critically acclaimed here, yet he still seems to be quite unknown in some circles (mine, at least). His three album run is pretty flawless and he is brilliant live. Based on my US/UK Amazon search, they only have his latest album 'Over the stones, under the stars' through import, but is anyone (from Aus or otherwise) familiar with him? Opinions please. Hugely, hugely underrated stuff.

Here's a track off his debut 'Jokes & Trials'....picks up steam at 1:37 and has the addition of an unusual keyboard/synth reminiscent of the 'A Clockwork Orange' soundtrack at 2:53. If you can get past the video being too literal, it's a great track. Can really hear the Leonard Cohen influence too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYkZJxJmbM

yeah, I like him. boulder is v dope i agree. Also Show Your Hand off his second one

Yeah, show your hand is probably my favourite off that album....would have linked it if it was on Youtube. Have you heard his latest, Over the stones, under the stars? Its sixth track, Aspect, is really great too. Dark, depressing and wonderful....especially for the beautiful guitar noodling from 3:20 onwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcr2Ddr63ME

dude records next door to my house

nice enough bloke though i don't especially love his records

he fronted a band called city city city for a while, they were pretty good, released two decent albums

Wow, that's awesome. In melbourne I assume? I met him two years ago, when he was opening for Mark Kozelek at the East Brunswick club. He was amazingly nice and we chatted about our mutual obsessions with MK and Leonard Cohen.

No interest in great Australian music anyone? Oh well, your loss ;)

I adore this man. Been following him religiously since 2012. New single out today, for his first album of songs in eight years. Characteristically, and increasingly, brilliant. His best lyrics yet?

Very excited to hear this. First exposure to him was his hallucinatory masterpiece, Old Chestnut. I've since been lucky to see him three times (solo, and as a duo). Wonder if he'd ever to a full band tour?

i love Old Chestnut! brought it up on the cass mccombs thread recently. he is new to me this year. glad i finally got to hear him. my pal teddy who lives down the road from me put Old Chestnut out on vinyl.

Correction: six years! Feels like eight. When I became a fan, he was still putting out a new record every other year. I'd like to complain that things have slowed down, but since the music that does come out is as good as it is, I'd be a jerk.

This latest single (title track of the new album, Our Other History) is maybe the best (and also maybe the only) answer I've heard to the question: what if Leonard Cohen had gone prog?

You guys who love Old Chestnut, the back catalogue is full of gems -- every album different from the next -- but do definitely at least explore backwards to Networking in Purgatory, which is like nothing else I know. I could find find reference points for individual songs, but for the effect the album as a whole has? Got nothing.

So, to answer the thread title, absolutely a classic. One of my favorite living musicmakers. It's been great to see both of Australia's best / biggest-profile psychedelic / rock / what-have-you bands, The Dirty Three and The Necks, getting behind Ned over time.