While down to just the two core members Ishikawa Kenji and Tanaka Yasuhiro (see "Quartet '99" review, above), Trio 96's Duo '03 CD has richer tonal textures, and definitely WEIRDER stylings. As you can guess from the titles, the earlier CD was indeed recorded in 1999, and this one from 2002 to 2003, both in Tokyo. This time around, Trio 96 has moved away from being a traditional-sounding jazz combo, straying into sound effects territory, and I applaud this direction. From the sampled-string-bending on track number two, "Kerenmi Afureru Pray" to the strange Hendrix-y wah-wah guitar and staccatto bass patterns on "Improvisation (Braford)" to the synth-like brooding melancholy of "Hommage à A & G," there is, ironically enough, a lot more tonal variation to sink your teeth into. Poseidon/Musea's promo sheet compares the guitarwork on this CD--a six-song EP, really--to that of eighties King Crimson, and I think that's quite right. To me, it also goes a long way toward bridging the gap between avant-jazz and works like the amazing jazz-electronica of fellow Japanese duo Boom Boom Satellites. Less is more, kids.