by Skip Jansen
In the Japanese underground music scene, the artists see no distinction in the varying pockets of the avant-garde. Be it the late free jazz bassist otoharu Yoshizawa, whose improvisation sparing partners were as many as folk troubadours. In the music, material from Keiji Haino that can only be called "total" music or the eccentric folk blues of Kan Mikami, one thing can be said about this trio: that their common link that makes them such appropriate collaborators is their absolute willingness to create a music that knows no boundaries. On this second volume of their Live in the First Year of Heisei project, the trio create a singular music forged from their highly distinguished styles. At times their improvisations are unconfortably primitive, and the guitars, vocals, and bass seem focussed on revealing the very essence of music. An often ugly and grueling interaction that is part Cecil Taylor, part Howlin' Wolf. In other mo...