There are so many quirky elements to The Lie Detectors’ third album, Part III: Secret Unit -- including the fact that Part I and Part II don’t officially exist. Granted, this power duo comprised of Israeli-born guitarist Eyal Maoz and drummer Asaf Sirkis released two other albums together under their own names. But Secret Unit appears to be the first one to be filed under “The Lie Detectors.”
These two seasoned players have known each other since they were 10 years old and formed what the duo's press material calls a “top-secret organization” dubbed The Lie Detectors. Which helps explain why this incongruous and alternately soft-loud and neat-messy avant-jazz/rock/punk/fusion/crazy-ass hybrid somehow works.
“Rice” is interrupted by shocking screaming (or is that Maoz’s guitar?), while the rumbling “Here and There” screeches and gurgles like a coked-out droid and “Closer” sounds like an instrument-turning/warm-up exercise. The subdued “Follow” provides a welcome breather about a third of the way through, but it's (ahem) followed by “Flying Horse” -- a galloping workout that is one of the album’s highlights. Similarly, “Green Shirt” impresses as one of the most intentional songs on the album; I wonder what Moad and Sirkus could have done with that one had they added lyrics and a vocalist.
If you like wacky yet challenging instrumental jazz music played at a high level with little regard for commercial value, be honest with yourself and check out The Lie Detectors.
Track Listing:
1. Rice
2. Go
3. Closer
4. Here and There
5. Follow
6. Flying Horse
7. Sting
8. Circles
9. Tree
10. Zoo
11. Green Shirt
12. Quiet Me
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