Franz Hautzinger (quartertone trumpet), Masahiko Okura (reeds) and Tetuzi Akiyama (tape delayed electric guitar). Recorded in Tokyo, 2004.

A rebus is "a representation of a word or phrase by pictures or symbols", as you probably all know. Just wondering what the words might be then, on listening to this remarkably active (in its discreet lowercase way) trio outing from trumpeter Hautzinger, saxophonist Okura and guitarist Akiyama. EAI is, after all, supposed to be slow and spacious (think Hautzinger's forbidding Dachte Musik, Okura's contributions to the Hibari Chamber Music Concerts, or Akiyama's Relator) - if half of the gurgles, spits and scrapes that make up this album were replaced with "real" notes, even Martin Davidson might consider it for release. Then again, these musicians' interests have always gone way beyond strict EAI: Hautzinger can swing hard when he wants to, Akiyama can rock his hat off and there's no way in the world you could describe Okura's work in Gnu as user-unfriendly extended technique improvisation. Rebuses is a curious album, because its predominantly low volume level would seem to invite headphone listening, but it sounds unpleasantly obtrusive when you put the cans on. Akiyama's little Baileyesque flourishes and the rustle and flutter of the horns sound better on a normal stereo system, but finding the right playback level isn't always easy: turn it down too far and the music will disappear into the background domestic noise (just a couple of minutes ago I mistook the neighbour's loo flushing for Hautzinger - apologies, Franz!), pump it up too much and you'll feel uncomfortable. But it's well worth experimenting with.

Dan Warburton [Paris Transatlantic, 02.2010]