I have Batztoutai 2xLP too, but this "Batztoutai material gadgets / Loop Panic Limited" 2xCD edition is not just the CD version. It is entirely different release. First disc is de-composed, re-created version of 2xLP. Many songs vary in length, some up to +5 minutes more. I won't get into analysing how different they are, since it's been too long gap since listening it. I got this 2nd pressing soon after it was published, in 1994.
Even more with this! Actually, I had feeling as if "loop panic limited" title of disc has influenced my perception what this actually is. I recall back in in mid 90's when I got this (this is 2nd press from 1994), my feeling was that it was "just loops". Probably because each title says so. Perhaps true in a sense that it is not some purely free noizu, but looping is just the part of how Merzbow did it in some of the best releases. There is lots of noise on top, and besides of loops, and this disc should be filed just among the probably best Merzbow era (1993). It is great, but also different from pretty much any album.
I recall amusing article in BANANAFISH magazine, where mr Glass tells that his friends did not believe he could say what Merzbow album is playing, if someone put CD on player. He managed to know all albums, and then friends tried even playing LP at wrong speed, but he knew still what it was. This is the 90's, when output was big, but still reasonable in some ways. For some people, it's all "just noise", for a lot of people, until late 90's you can really hear distinctively what album is playing, as they are so different. This is quite achivement in such a huge discography. Batztoutai or Loop panic, not really something you'd think they sound like... antimonument or artificial invagination.
I have managed to get couple Finnish friends to re-appreciate Merzbow after all these years. Of course there are ton of good noise out there, but best era of Merz.. seems mandatory!
Unfortunately sold out from RRR, but I would guess some of the many pressings are affordable to find.
