Peter Brötzmann, Peeter Uuskyla

Stripped-down' probably isn't the right term for a release like this, but Brotzmann's reeds and Uuskyla's drums are the only two constituents of this double disc set, setting themselves up for comparison with fellow free improv pillars Ken Vandermark and Paal Nilsen-Love on their Dual Pleasure recordings. These lengthy improvisations (four pieces stretch across over an hour and a half of recordings) are a feat of endurance - not only for the improvisers themselves, but for even the most intrepid listener: these duets are fantastically heavy-going, featuring combustive tenor sax and clarinet performances from Brotzmann supported by an absolute powerhouse percussive backbone from Uuskyla, whose drumming on 'Dead And Useless' over on the second disc is an absolute masterclass in dexterity and rhythmic invention.