Merzbow Top Hits

[13]

Thanks a lot. I'll go with Echobondage and see where that takes me. Could you also recommend me something in the vein of Metalvelodrome and Venereology just in case I'd want more of that? 

[acsenger]

Ecobondage is a great choice. Concerning releases similar to the other albums you mentioned, I think these CDs are excellent: Artificial Invagination, Pinkream, Spiral Honey and Electric Salad. The latter two have a lot of variety while the first two are full-on noise.

[Zeno Marx]

Could you also recommend me something in the vein of Metalvelodrome and Venereology just in case I'd want more of that?

This is going to sound like a lazy answer, but just about anything from late 1993 thru 1996.  Oersted, Noisembryo, Artificial Invagination, Spiral Honey, Green Wheels, Hole...  He was on fire for those 2-3 years.  I'll 2nd AntiMonument for the early racket.  One of my favorites.  Crocidura Dsi Nezumi from 1988 and Great American Nude from 1991 are good, too.

[13]

Here's the "Beyond Ultra-Violence: Uneasy Listening by Merzbow" (1998) documentary for those who haven't seen it: http://vimeo.com/68339199

I think it does a pretty good job at portraying Masami at the prime of his career. The things he was interested in and the general atmosphere of his working life.

[acsenger]

I for one didn't like Beyond Ultra-Violence. It has good moments, but the spastic editing/visual style annoyed me and the sequence of the movie is just random. While most of what Akita is saying is interesting, there should've been real discussion about his work instead of letting him rant.

[13]

I wouldn't call it a rant. Some people just express themselves in vague terms. Which is perfectly fine by me. It gave me enough information to work with. The structure is somewhat random, but it gave me this funny feeling of being in the middle of everything instead of relying some "coherent" (possibly boring) storyline. But yeah, we can't all agree now can we? hehe

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Yesterday thought to listen MERZBOW / CRIS X split LP which has been some years in shelves, I think. Recordings from 2011. Started with Cris X, as was highly cautious about new Merzbow works. It's decent experimental music. Italian guy with some Japanese women. Sachiko could be known to some at least?! Sort of musical works, but also decent amount of experimental abstract electronics. Turn the Merzbow side, and was slightly turned off about apparent lack of punch of sound. But as soon as layers and intensity started to build, I noticed it was not bad at all. In fact, instant multiple rotations proved that at least on vinyl format, despite certain lack of true loud amplification one can sense here, it is pretty close to older good Merzbow. 3 rotations later, still kind of tempted to listen more today than just the one time. It's curious to realize that NEW Merzbow, at this day, can still make such impact despite certain flaws what sets it behind his older master works.. Perhaps should give chance to some other new Merzbow. It's clear that return to use also party analogue gear, has resulted massive flow of energy to his works.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

And here entire side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPW07gdvn-c

[ost-jurgur]

to me recently i like really takahe collage it's really peacefull i like merzbient too.
on the other hand i don't like too much merzbeat but it's another history

ost

[acsenger]

And here entire side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPW07gdvn-c

I liked that track too.
On another note, I recently got the double vinyl version of Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets after reading on this forum that it's different from the double CD version. It's surprising how different it indeed is, although the overall feel of the album is the same. I still prefer the CD slightly, but I'm glad to have the vinyl version too.

[13]

I hate to be all pissy, but I really, really dislike the recording/mastering of Guya. I can see how it's similar to classic Merzbow, in both composition and attitude, but the sound quality is absolutely dreadful.

[13]

Finally got my hands on Music For Bondage Performance and it's just brilliant. It's the first pre-90's Harsh Noise Merzbow release that I've really gotten into. Great eerie sounds and a really nihilistic atmosphere. I know I'm late to the game, but I just had to express my excitement! 

[FreakAnimalFinland]

It was long time, but finally someone uploaded ARTIFICIAL INVAGINATION mCD to youtube. If there are people like myself who don't really "get" any torrents or soulseek or whatever is that people use for sharing music, hehe... So just click of youtube and you can listen audio in surprisingly good sound. Of course I'd recommend anyone to hunt down the CD for obviously better sound.

This mCD rates in my books as the absolute best Merzbow. Perhaps it is also due short length (20+ min) that I have listened it way more than many other good Merzbow titles. It shows how early 90's "cut up" could beat easily a lot of contemporary material of such type. Perhaps that it is not as much edited, but actually played. It's never so precise that it would appear mathematical. It keeps throwing in new sounds and change pacing and layering, but does it always be moving forward. Not by stopping. One gets feeling of hectic live-edit rather than adjusting envelopes on screen.

Physical nature of metal, grinding power tools and such adds very good physical touch. When you rip the file from disc to computer, you can see that wave of sound is everything else than "block of sound". It's NEVER flat. Actually sound is significantly lower volume than almost anything published on CD these days. Still, manages to sound far more ripping, and with intense punch to all sounds. Magic of DAT input gain distortion?! Who knows. If someone has yet to hear this, I'd recommend to click this below and hope for proper re-issue!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRDphofU5qY

[13]

Artificial Invagination is really special and I recommend it too, though I still rate Metalvelodrome (Exposition Of Electro-Vivisection) as his defining moment. It almost plays like a Harsh Noise opera, which makes it completely pointless to compare the two. So yeah, whatever.

[13]

Just gave Metalvelodrome (Exposition Of Electro-Vivisection) another listen. Chewed four discs in a row. It really is unbelievably good. An absolute masterpiece.