I had been slightly hesitating on VOD box "Lowest Music & Arts 1980 - 1983". I had it, most of all because was member of VOD in 2012. Looked the box of 10 LP's + 7", and filed it on shelves. I am familiar with some of tapes before, and just wasn't on the mood at that time.
Was listening through Rising From The Red Sand compilation 5xLP box, where Merzbow's noise track sticks out strongly as one of the best contributions. Among plenty of synth, beats, post-punk, electronic stuff, good to hear real noise. It instantly made me decide that next thing I'll listen will be Lowest Music & Arts 1980 - 1983.
And I must say, despite you can't file any of the LP's among "top hits", vast majority of them are great. I don't like all of the very earliest Merzbow. Lots of free jazzy, garbage sounds collaged together, not-so-powerful racket made with various rubbish, etc. However, it's clear that there are great material right there in earliest years. I tend to think his best works range probably between 1984-1998 with little bleed before and after.
Strength of box is, that each LP is very much of its own identity. You got disturbing ones based on very simple structure and nearly annoyingly challenging sounds. You got more sound collage/improv type of things. And you got rhythmic drum machine beat dominated industrial-noise. There are LP's that operate on disorganized chaos, and other opposite of that. There are more distorted recordings, even if he doesn't yet reach the level of distortion orgy known from later days Merzbow.
Booklet what comes in wooden box, ain't much for me. "Lowest arts" in deed. I like modern art / antiart to some level, but knowing how great Merzbow collages and artworks are at the best, this particular abstract mess of colors and patterns doesn't do anything for me. For tape covers, xeroxed into grainy B/W, works out fine. Now reproduced in it's full glory on glossy full color booklet... well,....
Out of all the Merzbow I listened this year, I must say that this box is actually the best. I listened this 5 LP's in a row. During two days. It tells something about diversity and strength of material. That even after nonstop blast of 5 LP's, you could listen more, but just run out of time and have to continue later on. This doesn't happen with many of later days Merz, what may be good, but also so "complete" that it doesn't necessary give you feeling of "I'll listen 4 more today..."
If you happen to have empty slot of 10LP's in wooden box in your record collection, not a bad choice!
