[microsound] Re: merzbow

[Anthony Saunders <anthony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wow! Quite a reaction to my post!

As someone already mentioned, the point of my site is not to document 
merely the size of Merzbow's discography, rather it is to give some 
context and critical evaluation of releases, content to slowly grow 
over time; there are several fairly comprehensive discography listings 
elsewhere on the net and linked to from my site. Despite the popular 
conception that all Merzbow cds sound like Pulse Demon, it's very far 
from true, and I found myself wishing for a website like mine, and so I 
made it. Also, I had a project due for the Digital Libraries class I 
took at Rutgers and it seemed like a good fit. I'll be adding two more 
cds this week, bringing the site to over 40 entries.

Regarding digital vs. analog Merzbow, I personally enjoy the 
early-to-mid 90's harsh noise era and the mid-90's to '98 
psychadelic/prog-rock/jazz-fusion noise era the most, and find the 
digital era to be a mixed bag of total genius and inexplicable 
repetition. The last few years has also seen a shift away from 
assaulting the listener and towards ambient, albeit often loud and 
abrasive ambient.

As far as recommendations from the digital era, I'd suggest Cycle, 
which has two pieces, one which sounds more like mid-90's material and 
the second being a 40 minute collage of sirens, field recordings and 
synths; it's stunning. Closest thing to IDM I've heard from Merzbow, 
really. Tamago is quite good, but went out of print immediately and is 
$35+ from Amazon.com, assuming they still have it. (That's where I got 
mine, ouch!)

The 24 Hours A Day Of Seals box set is a mixed bag, but the highlights 
are extremely strong, including most of disc 4 and the epic guitar 
laiden track that begins disc 2.

Amlux is a little on the sterile side for my taste, but is definitely 
quite good. I prefer Puroland, which is another of the digital era cds, 
which I got at the same time. Guitar loops, drones, rhythmic noises, 
and it has a certain organic looseness that is missing from much of the 
digital era, which often suffers from rigid looping.

Merzzow is a solid masterpiece, except for the opening track, which I 
feel would have been better placed near the end of the album. "Inside 
Looking Out Pt. 1" feels almost like it could be a collaboration with 
Fennesz. Now that I think of it, this is probably the best album to 
start investigating Merzbow's digital work.

The MAZK cd on tigerbeat is also really excellent. I'd say it's "loud 
microsound"; the anti-richard chartier. Gets louder and louder as the 
cd goes on, even.

Ikebukuro Dada reminds me of certain Mille Plateaux artists, if they 
were using old Merzbow cds for source material. Also has some nicely 
hacked up string and piano loops. Rigid and academic sounding, a rather 
nice departure for Merzbow.

I hope one day Akita's comfort with his laptops becomes such that he 
pumps out albums that are the equal of works like Space Metalizer, 
Doors Open At 8 am, Pulse Demon, Noisembryo, Loop Panic Limited and 
Rainbow Electronics. Merzzow, Tamago, & Puroland are a good start. And 
would it hurt for someone to repress the Music For Bondage cds?!?! Or, 
for that matter, Antimonument?

Most of the cds I mention here are discussed in more depth on my site.

Anyhow, glad to see Merzbow is well respected here.

Anthony


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