by Brian OlewnickHere's one to test the limits of even the most ardent new music supporter. It was perhaps inevitable that these long-reigning giants of the avant-garde would meet in performance, but the outcome fails to live up to expectations. Most notably, fans of Haino's marvelous power trio Fushitsusha or other guitar-driven projects should be aware that his contributions on this disc consist entirely of vocals. aino's vocal stylings are an acquired taste at best, made up of howls, whines, guttural snarls, and grunts. Early in this recording, Brotzmann appears to be trying to follow Haino's lead, producing similarly anguished cries and creating some fairly excruciating music. Later on, Brotzmann reverts to his more standard style, including some blues-derived riffs that make for the most satisfying listening on the disc. Unfortunately, he and Haino often appear to be in separate worlds and little of substance is produced. Why no guitar was used is a mystery, as is the lack of titles on the tracks. For completists only.