The best boxes!?

[Andrew McIntosh]

Has anyone released a box set of Merzbow box sets yet?

Yes:

https://www.discogs.com/release/25004707-Merzbow-35CD-BOX

https://www.discogs.com/release/20342752-Merzbow-10x660CDBox

Well, then, the next step is obviously a box set of box sets of box sets, ad infinitum.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Talkin Merz and box. These 6cd Slowdown boxes (stated date of recording) are pure gold:

Loop & Collage (84-87)
Strings & Percussion (86-88)
Tapestry of Noise (89-91)
Metallic (93-95)
Green & Orange (96-98)

While these consist almost entirely of alternative takes and mixes of the releases proper (exception being Loop & Collage which includes Crocidura Dsi Nezumi and Enclosure), I'd say in terms of overall sound flavor & texture there is unsurprisingly a great deal of overlap*. Merz kind of is a study in overlap, or self-plunderment. Merzbowelment. What's in a name you say. Merzbow unequivocally, and with due apologies to FdW, sounds likes Merzbow.

* with the releases proper and the Merzbox and the other Merzboxes**
** the 10cd Youth Inc sets, Merzphysics and Merzmorphosis, are possible exceptions, as far as repping more raw and untreated materials as I've commented on in the dedicated merzthread.

I was debating whether to expand on this in the Merzthread or here, but I think my comment can speak to the value of (at least least a certain type of) comp.

Reading back the above quoted and referring the earholes to both the releases proper and the alt versions contained in the Slowdown boxes, and I'm thinking the logic of (at least one part of) the Slowdown project is coming through for me. That is, context. Historical context but more importantly context with respect to certain species of compositional approach. Each of the above sets does not so much represent a particular period but a particular sound in the development of the project*. This is in fact explicated in some detail by Slowdown, in the booklet and on their website. (FWIW it does seem the two chaps behind the label are genuine heads who've been around and involved for quite some time; and who clearly have had communications with the chief perv-veyor on the subject of his work and its development.)

You can take the often highly appraised Batztoutai With Memorial Gadgets (&  alternate Batztoutai With Material Gadgets) against Loop & Collage and reappraise BWMG as a sort of "best of" compilation of fragments and outtakes from more fully-fleshed works. Or you could take these apparently fuller-in-the-flesh works as works-in-progress that would culminate in BWMG. I'm more inclined to the former take because I rather like the full-bodied shambolic glory of the longer pieces. But this would only be a start in potential retard-level cross-referencing between a whole mess of Merz issuing from then and about, including things like Antimony, Antimonument, Storage, Agri Hotna, Fission Dialogue, Music for Bondage, Ecobondage, pretty much all the SCUMs, etc etc.

So maybe another way of saying mileage will vary per capacity for 'tarding out to yer preferred species of shizzle.


* And it behooves me to footnote that the period represented by these boxes is all** I'll ever need Merz-wise.
** probably

Has anyone released a box set of Merzbow box sets yet?

Yes:

https://www.discogs.com/release/25004707-Merzbow-35CD-BOX

https://www.discogs.com/release/20342752-Merzbow-10x660CDBox

Well, then, the next step is obviously a box set of box sets of box sets, ad infinitum.

Kurt^(tm) approved.

[Balor/SS1535]

Talkin Merz and box. These 6cd Slowdown boxes (stated date of recording) are pure gold:

Loop & Collage (84-87)
Strings & Percussion (86-88)
Tapestry of Noise (89-91)
Metallic (93-95)
Green & Orange (96-98)

While these consist almost entirely of alternative takes and mixes of the releases proper (exception being Loop & Collage which includes Crocidura Dsi Nezumi and Enclosure), I'd say in terms of overall sound flavor & texture there is unsurprisingly a great deal of overlap*. Merz kind of is a study in overlap, or self-plunderment. Merzbowelment. What's in a name you say. Merzbow unequivocally, and with due apologies to FdW, sounds likes Merzbow.

* with the releases proper and the Merzbox and the other Merzboxes**
** the 10cd Youth Inc sets, Merzphysics and Merzmorphosis, are possible exceptions, as far as repping more raw and untreated materials as I've commented on in the dedicated merzthread.

I was debating whether to expand on this in the Merzthread or here, but I think my comment can speak to the value of (at least least a certain type of) comp.

Reading back the above quoted and referring the earholes to both the releases proper and the alt versions contained in the Slowdown boxes, and I'm thinking the logic of (at least one part of) the Slowdown project is coming through for me. That is, context. Historical context but more importantly context with respect to certain species of compositional approach. Each of the above sets does not so much represent a particular period but a particular sound in the development of the project*. This is in fact explicated in some detail by Slowdown, in the booklet and on their website. (FWIW it does seem the two chaps behind the label are genuine heads who've been around and involved for quite some time; and who clearly have had communications with the chief perv-veyor on the subject of his work and its development.)

You can take the often highly appraised Batztoutai With Memorial Gadgets (&  alternate Batztoutai With Material Gadgets) against Loop & Collage and reappraise BWMG as a sort of "best of" compilation of fragments and outtakes from more fully-fleshed works. Or you could take these apparently fuller-in-the-flesh works as works-in-progress that would culminate in BWMG. I'm more inclined to the former take because I rather like the full-bodied shambolic glory of the longer pieces. But this would only be a start in potential retard-level cross-referencing between a whole mess of Merz issuing from then and about, including things like Antimony, Antimonument, Storage, Agri Hotna, Fission Dialogue, Music for Bondage, Ecobondage, pretty much all the SCUMs, etc etc.

So maybe another way of saying mileage will vary per capacity for 'tarding out to yer preferred species of shizzle.


* And it behooves me to footnote that the period represented by these boxes is all** I'll ever need Merz-wise.
** probably

Has anyone released a box set of Merzbow box sets yet?

Yes:

https://www.discogs.com/release/25004707-Merzbow-35CD-BOX

https://www.discogs.com/release/20342752-Merzbow-10x660CDBox

Well, then, the next step is obviously a box set of box sets of box sets, ad infinitum.

Kurt^(tm) approved.

That's very interesting and really helpful to know.  I'll try to pick one or two of them up later this year.  It reminds me that what was perhaps most remarkable to me about the Merzbox was Akita's extensive liner notes for each release included in it---implying that he likely has a fantastically detailed archival system.

Reading a lot of books on noise recently, it's been a bit irritating to see that most discussions of Merzbow try to distinguish him based on the volume of his output---acting like the excessiveness of it makes a full and systematic appraisal of his work impossible.  Hegarty is especially guilty of this, I think.  But, as you show in your post and others have as well, it just takes a bit of unhinged focus to get a lot farther!

[BatteredStatesofEuphoria]

Has anyone released a box set of Merzbow box sets yet?

Yes:

https://www.discogs.com/release/25004707-Merzbow-35CD-BOX

https://www.discogs.com/release/20342752-Merzbow-10x660CDBox

Well, then, the next step is obviously a box set of box sets of box sets, ad infinitum.

What we need is a box set of EVERY Merzbow release ever, including originals, reissues, compilations, archives, and of course....box sets....delivered to your house on a flat bed truck. Getting it inside is your problem. 

[Goat93]

Has anyone released a box set of Merzbow box sets yet?

Yes:

https://www.discogs.com/release/25004707-Merzbow-35CD-BOX

https://www.discogs.com/release/20342752-Merzbow-10x660CDBox

Well, then, the next step is obviously a box set of box sets of box sets, ad infinitum.

What we need is a box set of EVERY Merzbow release ever, including originals, reissues, compilations, archives, and of course....box sets....delivered to your house on a flat bed truck. Getting it inside is your problem. 

You have to Build a House for that and close the Circle with a Merzbau full of Merzboxes of Merzbow

[theotherjohn]

Don't forget to add a garage to store... well, you know what.

[Minus1]

[Zeno Marx]

It reminds me that what was perhaps most remarkable to me about the Merzbox was Akita's extensive liner notes for each release included in it---implying that he likely has a fantastically detailed archival system.

This absolutely deserves more talk and discussion and should not be mildly passed over.  While there isn't much to say about it...because we don't know...but it clearly does exist.  If he'd allow, even a basic walk thru like White Centipede did with Club Moral would be worth the time and documentation.  I've said this same thing about Zoviet France, because it is clear about them as well that they have an extensive archive of unreleased recordings and such.

It's funny how these things get thrown into conversations, or are indirectly hinted at,  basically going unnoticed anyway.  I remember when the punk compilation of the Fiesta Grande shows was released, and you could read a hundred pages about the record and events, but no one seemed to clock that the release implied that someone (Chris Dodge, Slap A Ham?) had all those shows recorded off the soundboard sitting somewhere. A crucial archive of recordings used to make a single LP.  RELEASE THE TAPES!

[Balor/SS1535]

It reminds me that what was perhaps most remarkable to me about the Merzbox was Akita's extensive liner notes for each release included in it---implying that he likely has a fantastically detailed archival system.

This absolutely deserves more talk and discussion and should not be mildly passed over.  While there isn't much to say about it...because we don't know...but it clearly does exist.  If he'd allow, even a basic walk thru like White Centipede did with Club Moral would be worth the time and documentation.  I've said this same thing about Zoviet France, because it is clear about them as well that they have an extensive archive of unreleased recordings and such.

It's funny how these things get thrown into conversations, or are indirectly hinted at,  basically going unnoticed anyway.  I remember when the punk compilation of the Fiesta Grande shows was released, and you could read a hundred pages about the record and events, but no one seemed to clock that the release implied that someone (Chris Dodge, Slap A Ham?) had all those shows recorded off the soundboard sitting somewhere. A crucial archive of recordings used to make a single LP.  RELEASE THE TAPES!

I guess no one has interviewed Akita about it?  This definitely seems like something that should be rectified.

[Minus1]

Indeed, the...er...Merzbook is a goldmine of information. I still think The Merzbox is a steal, when you consider all that it contains.

(My Merzshirt is falling apart though.)

It suddenly occurred to me that there is no Whitehouse Box Set. How is this even possible, given their importance / influence, and wealth of material - studio, live, out-takes, etc?

Why, William? Why?

[Balor/SS1535]

Indeed, the...er...Merzbook is a goldmine of information. I still think The Merzbox is a steal, when you consider all that it contains.

(My Merzshirt is falling apart though.)

It suddenly occurred to me that there is no Whitehouse Box Set. How is this even possible, given their importance / influence, and wealth of material - studio, live, out-takes, etc?

Why, William? Why?

Ha!  My Merzhirt disintegrated and made a mess of an entire load of laundry  !

There was the Come Organization box on VOD, but no just Whitehouse box.  That does need to happen (hopefully on CD)!

[Minus1]

Some random points for possible discussion:

I'm quite new here, but I bow to the hugely informative and entertaining posts of Bloated Slutbag. Just...thanks.

What might the informed people here think of the following boxes? (Please forgive me if this sounds lazy. I really have searched!)

Sancher Pelz 5CD Mutation For A Continuity
Aube 4CD Sensory Symphonies

I'm asking for a friend.

[moozz]

What might the informed people here think of the following boxes? (Please forgive me if this sounds lazy. I really have searched!)

Sancher Pelz 5CD Mutation For A Continuity
Aube 4CD Sensory Symphonies

Not sure if I count as informed. Sacher-Pelz was never a favorite, I never even found it good really. I've heard the four early albums in that box set and I found them just bad. Crude and clumsy but not in a tasty way. But then again I am sure there are people who love these. The box set appeared already in 2001, later Urashima released those old albums on LP and then Menstrual released that 5-disc version of the box set so there clearly is demand for this stuff. I'd advice anyone to proceed with Sacher-Pelz with caution but that comes from a guy who cannot even appreciate M.B.'s Symphony For A Genocide which is considered some sort of classic.

Aube on the other hand is brilliant. This box has many of his "trademark sounds" represented: there is quiet ambient, experimental ambient, "noise-lite", there is looping abrasive noise, and then there is everything in between. The strange thing about this set (or so it seems by a quick glance) is that three of the four albums here were kind of a trilogy and all of them had parts of the human body as the sound source. Pulse Resonator (a noisy album released two years earlier that uses a VCO as the sound source) was added as the fourth disc in the set. This box is a reissue of an earlier CDR box set released by Akifumi on his own label G.R.O.S.S. The name of that set was Vinyls 1995+1997. That explains the 1995 Pulse Resonator appearance in this box of 1997 body sound LPs.

[Minus1]

What might the informed people here think of the following boxes? (Please forgive me if this sounds lazy. I really have searched!)

Sancher Pelz 5CD Mutation For A Continuity
Aube 4CD Sensory Symphonies

Not sure if I count as informed. Sacher-Pelz was never a favorite, I never even found it good really. I've heard the four early albums in that box set and I found them just bad. Crude and clumsy but not in a tasty way. But then again I am sure there are people who love these. The box set appeared already in 2001, later Urashima released those old albums on LP and then Menstrual released that 5-disc version of the box set so there clearly is demand for this stuff. I'd advice anyone to proceed with Sacher-Pelz with caution but that comes from a guy who cannot even appreciate M.B.'s Symphony For A Genocide which is considered some sort of classic.

Aube on the other hand is brilliant. This box has many of his "trademark sounds" represented: there is quiet ambient, experimental ambient, "noise-lite", there is looping abrasive noise, and then there is everything in between. The strange thing about this set (or so it seems by a quick glance) is that three of the four albums here were kind of a trilogy and all of them had parts of the human body as the sound source. Pulse Resonator (a noisy album released two years earlier that uses a VCO as the sound source) was added as the fourth disc in the set. This box is a reissue of an earlier CDR box set released by Akifumi on his own label G.R.O.S.S. The name of that set was Vinyls 1995+1997. That explains the 1995 Pulse Resonator appearance in this box of 1997 body sound LPs.

This is wonderful info. Thanks so much.

[Andrew McIntosh]

Sancher Pelz 5CD Mutation For A Continuity

I've got the four cd version from Marquis. I'm a fan of this stuff because of its raw crudeness and borderline un-listenability. Tell your friend to dive right in, this is what early Industrial Noise is all about.