Eyal Maoz / Asaf Sirkis: Elementary Dialogues (2009)

Glenn Astarita

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Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: October 3, 2009

Eyal Maoz / Asaf Sirkis: Elementary Dialogues

Tzadik recording artist/guitarist Eyal Maoz teams with U.K.-based drummer/leader of The Inner Noise, Asaf Sirkis. Here, the duo projects style, substance and gobs of variety on these sprightly duets for the avant-garde Swedish record label, Ayler Records. Elementary Dialogues is an album built on cunning improvisation, where the instrumentalists delve into laidback funk-rock, noise-shaping maneuvers and quirky deviations, among many other elements.

Maoz's odd-phrasings and Jimi Hendrix-like cosmic meltdowns are abetted by his fierce soloing escapades in line with Sirkis' polyrhythmic aplomb. The guitarist pulls a consortium of tricks out of his bag and alters his distortion techniques on a per-track basis. With scorching crunch chords and steely-edged harmonics, Maoz shines as an acute sculptor of sounds and cunning propositions amid the duo's playful interludes.

The musicians sustain a fresh outlook throughout, by designing fractured motifs, topped off with punishing climactic opuses and thorny developments. Where others fail in these sparse situations, this team excels via thoughtfully conceived metrics, engineered with semi-structured platforms, that are used as improvisational vehicles. Ultimately, they don't overstate their cause. In addition, Maoz's chameleonic approach to the guitar offers a myriad of diverse tonalities and contrasts, while Sirkis stirs the pot with weighty backbeats and a thrusting impetus. An emotively charged exposition it is, as they raise the bar a few notches for the avant style, guitar-drums format.

Track Listing: Reggae; Foglah; Sparse; Strip; Duo; Kashmir; OK; Hole; Miniature; Esta; Shadows.

Personnel: Eyal Maoz: guitar; Asaf Sirkis: drums.

Record Label: Ayler Records
Style: Free Improv/Avant-Garde