Two Improvisations is definitely our favorite release from the aRCHIVE camp so far...Gaping Maw's rumbling, grindcore-strength electro-acoustic

improv is so brain flattening that we've had to spin this about two dozen times just to try and absorb the heavy density of these two eruptions, recorded

live in Chicago in 2001 and 2002. The trio features heavy names from the free-improv orbit, including Kurt Johnson (Flying Luttenbachers) on bass and

electronics, Kyle Bruckmann (EKG) on electronics/minimoog/suona, and Tatsuya Nakatani on drums/percussion. The first jam, nervous center, has the

group bulldozing over you for about 20 minutes of destruction, opening up with what sounds like a free-jazz drummer being slowly and inexorably crushed to

death by 100 copies of Godflesh's Streetcleaner all being played at the same time. Tatsuya Nakatani's drumming on this jam kills, rattling out some

powerful blasting and snare abuse alongside more fluid percussive flourishes and krautrock grooves, as the other guys stack huge slabs of electronic quake

and low-end rumble. The second tracks is titled Candlestick Maker, starts off quieter, pure menace as the droning subdued rumbling of an encroaching

electronic thunderstorm gradually explodes into a fierce percussive assault. Gaping Maw delivers a killer improv disc in the vein of the heaviest crush-jazz,

like an infernal "metal" take on Flying Luttenbachers and Borbetomagus at their most thunderous. Righteous, highly recommended. Comes in typically sweet

packaging from aRCHIVE, the disc attached to the interior of a foldout full color sleeve with great artwork.