Liars
The True Sound Of The Liars

The brave Area Pirata has now become a reference point for fans of '60s sounds. In this sense, the recovery of legendary Italian neo-psychedelic bands from the '80s is commendable. In addition to the great No Strange, the Pisa-based label has also rescued from oblivion the Liars, one of the most important bands of the Italian neo-psychedelic scene of the '80s. The Liars were from Pisa, a crucial city during that particular period when our peninsula was invaded by sounds that revived the lesson of garage rock and '60s-sourced psychedelia from bands like Kingsmen, Sonics, Chocolate Watch Band, Seeds, 13Th Floor Elevators, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. In Pisa, the seminal Useless Boys were formed, a band that gifted the Cosmos with Dream's Dust Factory, a brilliant and mythical demo of raw garage rock that deserves to be reissued. The Useless Boys included three figures of great personality: Daniele Caputo (who would later be the leader of the great Birdmen Of Alkatraz as well as the mind behind other projects like Standarte and London Underground), Maurizio Curadi (the mind behind the equally valid and psychedelic Steeplejack) and Alessandro Ansani, who would subsequently form the Liars.

The True Sound Of The Liars, this is the title of this rich, double, and unmissable CD, retraces the entire career of the Liars and finally does justice to a small piece of the history of psychedelia in Italy. The first disc opens with the mini LP Optical Sound - a still immature work, although not lacking in good ideas but ultimately too penalized by poor production. The talent of the Liars emerged prominently, in any case, in tracks like the derailing garage rock of "She's Alright" and the acid The Lady Knew. Mindscrewer is instead a true inspired and visionary masterpiece, a record that should not be missing from any respectable psychedelia discography. This album features the already mentioned and legendary Daniele Caputo, undoubtably an artist and a great connoisseur and collector of obscure '60s bands. Tracks like the captivating You Shock My Heart, the mystical and hallucinatory Her And Her Mountain – a cover of the Frantic –, the intimate and metaphysical It Gets Wasted – very close to the lysergic spirit of the Birdmen Of Alkatraz – transport the listener into a dimension beyond time and space. The interplay among the three musicians – who alternate on vocals – is perfect: Alessandro Ansani is talented and impeccable on bass, Pierpaolo Morini proves to be a great guitarist, acid just the right amount, while Daniele Caputo confirms his genius and charisma on drums and vocals. Notable as well are Tulips Of Haarlem, still close to the Birdmen Of Alkatraz, and the conclusive and visceral Fire Illusion, a sort of visionary psychedelic mini-suite.

The second CD brings to light the demo 86 Tears – the title references the famous Question Mark & The Mysterians – and undoubtedly shows the inspiration of the Pisa-based band. The sound, compared to that of the Useless Boys, is more measured and shows some new wave influence. 86 Tears proves to be, in any case, a precious document that highlights all the talent and potential of the Liars as can be heard in the compelling and classic Cold Girl – later released as a single – the derailing Just Like A Shadow, and the lovely cover of For Your Love. The disc is completed by three unreleased tracks and the 1990 single Cold Girl. This is great music that takes the mind on a journey through the Cosmos, and the advice is to absolutely get The True Sound Of The Liars and thus rediscover one of the most spontaneous and creative musical seasons that flourished in Italy, as well documented by Roberto Calabrò in his book "Eighties Colours" (Coniglio Editore - 2010).