Merzbow Top Hits

[FreakAnimalFinland]

This CD is 2024 Tzadik "essential collection" digipak. It is curious that CD is not listed even on Tzadik site nor Discogs and no pictures of it can be found with online search.
I ordered it from big mainstream wholesaler and was not cheap at all. Tzadik import from mainstream dealer, price is that sort of thing. Like 25 euro CD.

[Zeno Marx]

Do we need another Merzbow thread on the front page?

It appears it is time for my periodic Merzbow quandry:  is Merzbow playing me/us the fool?

I remember watching Peter Brotzmann at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, and about half way through his set, I physically laughed, feeling like he was playing me the willing fool.  I genuinely like Brotzmann a lot, but what I was watching was an artist making me the butt of his joke.  I've come to feel that way many times listening to Haino too, and I consider Haino one of the greatest musical artists of my time.  So while this rubs my ego side a little the wrong way, it's not wholesale negative.  Maybe this is one of the infinite number of conclusions/considerations all great art should at some point elicit?

With all these reissues and 1st mix, 2nd mix, etc, I'm feeling the same way about Merzbow.  If it was a classic rock band re-releasing their album for the 15th time as "remastered" or "remixed" or as another unreleased outtake, my cynical side would write it off as just another cash grab and an insult to their audience.  Merzbow somehow escapes that grudge.  Reading the descriptions on the Slowdown bandcamp page, I don't know how you can't almost immediately ask yourself, "OK.  This sounds like a lot of bullshit.  Is he playing me a fool too?  Am I really supposed to believe there is a 4th version of this 1982 album?"
https://slowdown-merzbow.bandcamp.com/music

The only thing I know for a fact is that I'll be here again in a few months, or maybe next year, making another post just like this one.

[k.p.g]

is Merzbow playing me/us the fool?

Short answer: no.
Long answer: Let's break down some of the points you have raised in your post...
The Merzbow discography has always been overbearing and escapes the point of being a digestible experience.  I guess you could call yourself a fool if you choose to sit through every release (or most of them) like some RateYourMusic purists have attempted before.  I view it more as a "choose your own adventure" type of discography.  Pick the releases that seem of interest to you and listen.  Listen to it all if you are so insane.  Ignore it all if you wish.  I find the disparity between "essential listening" lists for people with Merzbow to be fascinating.
The reissues/remixes have a tricky legacy to them.  While Masami tries to play it off as the version he would have wanted out back in the 90s, it really just comes down to not wanting Reiko's name on the Merzbow legacy post-divorce.  I cannot see it any other way.  It's weird and we are all made to scratch our heads by it.  I personally do not reach for the reissues.  I am also not upset by it happening, along with the other weird moves the guy pulls (boxsets, A.I. art, etc.).  I think he has just established himself as such a singular weirdo entity at this point that trying to figure out if all these moves is fruitless.  He will continue doing what he does because it is personally fulfilling to him, and you can engage with it as much as you wish.  But to write it off as "playing us the fool" is not the conclusion I would draw.

[k.p.g]

This CD is 2024 Tzadik "essential collection" digipak. It is curious that CD is not listed even on Tzadik site nor Discogs and no pictures of it can be found with online search.
I ordered it from big mainstream wholesaler and was not cheap at all. Tzadik import from mainstream dealer, price is that sort of thing. Like 25 euro CD.

I'm pretty curious about this one.  I didn't realize he did a disc on Tzadik beyond 1930 (which is a pretty inessential disc, IMO).

On another note, the more I think about it, Tentacle was a great listen yesterday.  I am curious to check out more laptop works from this era now.  Anyone got an idea where to go next?

[Balor/SS1535]

This CD is 2024 Tzadik "essential collection" digipak. It is curious that CD is not listed even on Tzadik site nor Discogs and no pictures of it can be found with online search.
I ordered it from big mainstream wholesaler and was not cheap at all. Tzadik import from mainstream dealer, price is that sort of thing. Like 25 euro CD.

I'm pretty curious about this one.  I didn't realize he did a disc on Tzadik beyond 1930 (which is a pretty inessential disc, IMO).

On another note, the more I think about it, Tentacle was a great listen yesterday.  I am curious to check out more laptop works from this era now.  Anyone got an idea where to go next?

The rerelease of 1930 sounds/looks great, but it has the worst digipack design I have seen thus far.  Strange for Tzadik.

[Zeno Marx]

The reissues/remixes have a tricky legacy to them.  While Masami tries to play it off as the version he would have wanted out back in the 90s, it really just comes down to not wanting Reiko's name on the Merzbow legacy post-divorce.

That might explain the first new edit of a reissue, but a tape, then in Merzbox, and then a newly surfaced 2nd mix...  I'm not ultimately offended by being his fool, but it's also understandable if we arrive at such a conclusion.  If I wasn't rewarded with a level of joy and/or satisfaction, I'd look for a far less forgiving conversation.  Another thing I didn't mention in my post earlier today is that I'm also questioning what effect this has on his legacy, which is part of being the fool.  If you can't trust what an artist is telling you, does it affect their integrity/relationship with their audience?  Sure, we're more cynical and nihilistic than the average Joe (less so these days), but does anyone really like to be sold bullshit? I like your noise.  Sell me your noise.  I'm your sponge.  Save the bullshit for someone else though.

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

I honestly don't remember at this point. Is it a foregone conclusion that he is intentionally leaving Reiko material out due to personal reasons (feelings), or is it a legal reason? Do labels and Masami have to get permission, and either Reiko outright refused or Masami doesn't want to jump through hoops for all of that material?

[Minus1]

This CD is 2024 Tzadik "essential collection" digipak. It is curious that CD is not listed even on Tzadik site nor Discogs and no pictures of it can be found with online search.
I ordered it from big mainstream wholesaler and was not cheap at all. Tzadik import from mainstream dealer, price is that sort of thing. Like 25 euro CD.

I'm pretty curious about this one.  I didn't realize he did a disc on Tzadik beyond 1930 (which is a pretty inessential disc, IMO).

On another note, the more I think about it, Tentacle was a great listen yesterday.  I am curious to check out more laptop works from this era now.  Anyone got an idea where to go next?

You don't like 1930? 😳

It's one of his...erm...greatest hits.

I'm more of a B-sides man myself. (Speaking of B-sides, did you know that this is The Summer Of Merzbox, which just turned 25?)

Edit: I love Sphere - another Tzadik.

[Balor/SS1535]

I honestly don't remember at this point. Is it a foregone conclusion that he is intentionally leaving Reiko material out due to personal reasons (feelings), or is it a legal reason? Do labels and Masami have to get permission, and either Reiko outright refused or Masami doesn't want to jump through hoops for all of that material?

From other things I have seen online, I think it's coming very much from him---though I wouldn't be surprised if other factors like the law are also at play.  I remember reading on the weird Merzbow forum site that Akita tried to get the whole website shut down when he found out they were having conversations about his ex's contributions to Merzbow.

[Minus1]

Damn. I didn't know about any of these goings-on.

Maybe we'll see diss-tracks soon! They often become hits.

[k.p.g]

Another thing I didn't mention in my post earlier today is that I'm also questioning what effect this has on his legacy, which is part of being the fool.  If you can't trust what an artist is telling you, does it affect their integrity/relationship with their audience?

He has never really had much of a strong relationship to his audience to begin with.  After 46 years, what do we really know about the man behind Merzbow?  Not much; he drank a lot of beer when he recorded Venereology and now he loves birds.  I think the intrigue created by that continues to keep people around, and his well-established ability to rip has cemented his legacy when it comes to actual creation of his noise.

[Minus1]

Another thing I didn't mention in my post earlier today is that I'm also questioning what effect this has on his legacy, which is part of being the fool.  If you can't trust what an artist is telling you, does it affect their integrity/relationship with their audience?

He has never really had much of a strong relationship to his audience to begin with.  After 46 years, what do we really know about the man behind Merzbow?  Not much; he drank a lot of beer when he recorded Venereology and now he loves birds.  I think the intrigue created by that continues to keep people around, and his well-established ability to rip has cemented his legacy when it comes to actual creation of his noise.

Ouch!!😂

(To be honest, for, like, a couple of decades I've thought "I have all the Merz I need.")

But seriously, has it come to this? 😂