Bilders / - Neverlasting
13th Floor
As Bilders, Builders, and many other constructs, Bill Direen started (and continues) his journey aiming for the stars, a genesis of releases on Flying Nun, was followed by some self-released (South Indies), many on others local (onset-offset) and much on overseas labels (Grapefruit and Siltbreeze).
The membership of these bands was possibly more fluid than The Fall’s, with Direen the sole constant. Members have included past, present, future members of legendary acts the likes of The Bats, The Terminals, Primitive Art Group, Scorched Earth Policy and Victor Dimisich Band, as well as musicians the likes of Stuart Page and Alec Bathgate. Attempting to list the many overseas contributors would be futile.
On Neverlasting, Direen, once again has worked with Aotearoa-American Bilders Matt Swanson and Alex McManus (both of Lambchop) (both featured on 2024’s Dustbin of Empathy) with guesting by former local Bilders the likes of Stu Page and Greig Bainbridge. Recorded in France, USA and Aotearoa, it reflects his travelling lifestyle as an originator.
Direen has spent a lot of his earthly-time travelling between Aotearoa’s South Island and France, as well as sojourns to America. However on Neverlasting it’s his roots in our Southern Land that are pronounced in lyric and verse. Whilst Alex McManus is credited with the arrangement, and all songs are credited to the band, it perhaps to Direen’s credit that the gothicism of the South island…think visual artists W.D. Hammond, or more recently Ronnie Van Hout…is joyfully evident in all the compositions, in particular the gem that is Port.
Neverlasting, with its modernity, reflective of Direen’s palpable vexation at the Earth’s degradation, and people’s adversities, still captures the creativity of earlier days. The musical and lyrical richness of each song, some garrulous, some rebuking, some pavlovian, seems timeless. Neverlasting never drags, as each song seems a stand alone chapter or short-story, themselves each a different world.
Bilders are set for a brief run of live performances. To explore these shows or secure a limited vinyl edition of Neverlasting, check out their Bandcamp page.
