“Take To The Sky” - NEEB
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Hartlepool’s own NEEB have crafted something truly special with their debut full-length album “Take To The Sky” — a slow-burning, genre-fluid exploration that lives somewhere between jazz, soul, ambient funk, and electronica. It’s the kind of record that feels as comfortable in a smoky late-night lounge as it does soundtracking a long train ride through the city lights. Over eight tracks, NEEB stretch the boundaries of what a modern jazz-soul record can sound like — lush, textured, and hypnotically groovy.
At the centre of it all is Jasmine Weatherill, whose silky, intimate vocals glide effortlessly over the band’s intricate instrumentation. She doesn’t just sing; she inhabits the music, her voice wrapping itself around Mark Hand’s lush Rhodes lines, Tony Waite’s subtle yet driving bass, and Mark Lloyd’s deft, jazz-informed drumming.
The album was recorded in the band’s own Mobeus Studio, a creative space that clearly became both laboratory and sanctuary. You can hear that intimacy in every detail — the soft pad of the Rhodes, the space between the drums, the organic imperfections that give the record its life. This is a band in total control of their craft but unafraid to let go when the groove takes over.
From the opener “Take To The Sky” — all dreamy chords and ambient drift — to the syncopated funk of “All Caught Up” and the soulful catharsis of “Brighter Day”, the record unfolds like a single, cohesive journey. Each track bleeds into the next with a kind of liquid smoothness, yet every song has its own heartbeat. “Cave of Hands” leans into downtempo electronica with its meditative basslines and shimmering synths, while “Visions” delivers something more introspective — almost spiritual in tone, carried by Weatherill’s hauntingly tender delivery.
Part of what makes “Take To The Sky” so intoxicating is the sheer craftsmanship on display. These are musicians who’ve spent decades exploring electronic, house, dub, and jazz scenes, and that experience bleeds through in the band’s meticulous layering and groove design. There’s a rare confidence here — the kind that only comes from years of shared musical language.
The guest appearances add even more depth: Martin Ditcham (Talk Talk, Sade) brings his trademark subtle percussion textures, while Andy Wain’s synth work adds a warm analog shimmer. Mark Hill’s trumpet and Peter Casson’s Ebow guitar lend cinematic flourishes that make the record feel widescreen in scope — jazz for the 21st century, filtered through the glow of lo-fi soul and ambient electronica.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
If the album has a unifying theme, it’s transcendence — not in a cosmic sense, but in the everyday act of finding beauty in repetition, rhythm, and human connection. There’s a calm optimism throughout, even in the melancholy moments.
“Take To The Sky” feels both deeply rooted and forward-thinking — a debut that doesn’t try to chase trends, but instead builds a world of its own.
In a time when jazz and soul are being reimagined by a new generation, NEEB arrive not as imitators, but as innovators — a band with history, chemistry, and a sound that’s quietly, confidently their own. “Take To The Sky” isn’t just an album title; it’s a statement of intent — NEEB are ready to soar.
“Take To The Sky” is available now on all major streaming platforms
Follow NEEB - Spotify | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Youtube | Facebook
Listen to NEEB and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - World Music’
