Takashi Masubuchi/Fumi Endo/Yusuke Kawamura

Despite the album title, this is one trio that will never be confused with the five-person 1970s American band Styx. A guitar may feature in both iterations, but unlike the hard rock clamor from the quintet, guitarist Takashi Masubuchi, pianist Fumi Endo and pianist Yusuke Kawamura create calm measured tones that have more in common with Feldman than Foghat.

Part of the ongoing Tokyo players adaptation of lower-case music the three intersect with others in the genre like Taku Sugimoto. At points the instrumentation resembles AMM, but with the six slow-moving themes animated by trumpet techniques not drums. The closest approximation is that like AMM’s John Tilbury Endo seems to be resonating similar keyboard notes and phrases throughout.

Still, although Kawamura’s growls, tongue stutters and other extended techniques are most prominent, especially on the title track and “Returning”, a fair balance of power exists among the three. There are sequences in fact where guitar strokes and piano clips unify as brass plunger tones make up the background.

Most of the time though tolling keyboard slaps escalates with pedal pressure and intermittent guitar plucks provide the backing for Kawamura’s mouthpiece squeaks, valves tumult and spittle-encrusted accents. Furthermore, in spite of the trio’s sparce and non-connective textures, instances of lyricism change the dynamics.

This is especially apparent on “Returning”. Crying brass timbres ascend to slide-whistle-like squeaks alongside guitar string pops that prevent piano chording from descending to monotonous repetition. This portamento brass reflux is such that in contrast to Masubuchi’s simple folk-like strums, Endo’s chording also expands and by the conclusion the outlines of an entire melody can be heard.

Without betraying their Onkyo roots, this group’s trip across the Styx creates a journey that can be relished by followers of animated improvisation as well as those who prefer their sounds near silent and near static.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Circular I 2. Improvisation I 3. Styx 4. Improvisation II 5. Returning 6. Circular II

Personnel: Yusuke Kawamura (trumpet); Fumi Endo (piano) and Takashi Masubuchi (acoustic guitar)