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Merzbow (メルツバウ) is an experimental music project created in Tokyo in 1979 under the direction of musician Masami Akita (秋田昌美). Since 1979, Akita has formed two record labels and has contributed releases to numerous independent record labels. As well as being a prolific artist, he has also written a number of books and has been the editor of several magazines in Japan. He has written about a variety of subjects, mostly about art, avant-garde music and post-modern culture. His more renowned works have been on the topics of BDSM and fetish culture. Other artforms Akita has been interested in include directing and Butoh dance.
The name “Merzbow” comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters’ artwork, Merzbau. This was chosen to reflect Akita’s dada influence and junk-art aesthetic. In addition to this, Akita has cited a wide range of influences from various progressive rock artists such as Frank Zappa and King Crimson to Japanese bondage.
In 2000, Extreme Records released the 50 CD box set known as the Merzbox. From 2004 onwards, he has been a supporter of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which has influenced a number of animal-themed releases as well as Akita becoming vegan. Akita’s work has been the subject of several remix albums and at least one tribute album. Akita is a prolific musician and has produced over 200 releases since 1980. This, among other achievements, has helped Merzbow to be regarded as the “most important artist in noise music”.
The name “Merzbow” comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters’ artwork, Merzbau. This was chosen to reflect Akita’s dada influence and junk-art aesthetic. In addition to this, Akita has cited a wide range of influences from various progressive rock artists such as Frank Zappa and King Crimson to Japanese bondage.
In 2000, Extreme Records released the 50 CD box set known as the Merzbox. From 2004 onwards, he has been a supporter of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which has influenced a number of animal-themed releases as well as Akita becoming vegan. Akita’s work has been the subject of several remix albums and at least one tribute album. Akita is a prolific musician and has produced over 200 releases since 1980. This, among other achievements, has helped Merzbow to be regarded as the “most important artist in noise music”.
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Dirtynigress wrote:
Merzbow's part in collaborations is almost always extremely minimal. Especially on Sun Baked Snow Cave, and the weird thing about that album is that even Nadja make noisier drone than that and Nadja is just one guy with a guitar whereas Sun Baked has an entire band AND a seasoned noise musician.
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Smirnon wrote:
i find it plenty of it to be pretty engaging tbh but w/e. pretty psyched about this alleged collab with Menace Ruine. some of Merz's best stuff comes from collabs (Merzdub, Keio Line, Sun Baked...)
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Lortagreb wrote:
You know even for noise, Merzbow is pretty bad. I'm not complaining about his timbre / texture whatever. In fact he is quite genius at creating his tone. However, when he uses that exact same timbre over the same soundsource with only the variation of the feedback being the non-constant for 30 mins+, the result is inevitably poor. That is why I don't like merzbow, he fails at creating any engaging noises or sounds.
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corganzero wrote:
yeah japanese birds is really really boring of what i've heard so far (1-7) except for five of course. that greatness came out of nowhere, as always with Merzzie
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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
i call this "old asian guy typing at laptop in starbucks noise"
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Dirtynigress wrote:
v Yep, it's easily the best of the birds releases (so far) and i'd maybe even say that it's the best thing that Merzbow's done in years. It's definitely the most creative, that's for sure, a lot of his recent stuff has been boring and overly-simplistic but he seems to be making a return to the days of sampling which is a good thing tbqh.
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corganzero wrote:
japanese birds vol. 5 is fantastic
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Bora-02 wrote:
i think dharma was the only album that had a lyrics booklet.
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XXITheWorld wrote:
Still looking for the lyrics for Flare Gun part 3
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mrshpot wrote:
Singing along to his stuff is awesome
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sxesven wrote:
And is ANY of gero's stuff harsh noise? > Nothing to Hear & some select tracks on other recordings
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NegroSucio wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfVYRoTdJOs
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ImDaneCook wrote:
but you do love macs right?
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ImDaneCook wrote:
like they should seriously get merzbow to do mac commercials "with garageband i can make 7 albums a week" that would own
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Shru wrote:
>XYZZY
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realghostanyhow wrote:
do you feel you belong angel
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I6479865031 wrote:
_Merzbox_
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ImDaneCook wrote:
Similar Artists: Wavves
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blackless wrote:
you may like Tetsuo Furudate and Maurizio Bianchi
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MyManMahmoud wrote:
Guys, I have a question, and I want a serious answer, alright? I'm asking for noise recommendations... I like Merzbow, Masonna, Prurient and Wolf Eyes... and I HATE Gerogerigegege and Hanatarash.... so can ya'll recommend me something you'd think I'd like? I'm extremely picky about the noise I listen to... 90% of the stuff out there is time-wasting shit.
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Events
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Dec
11
State-X New Forms
Paard van Troje, Den Haag, Netherlands
37 shouts
| 119 attendees
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Dec
12
Making New Waves Festival
Trafó Bár Tangó, Budapest, Hungary
12 shouts
| 52 attendees
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Dec
12
MERZBOW and Balázs Pándi duet
Trafó, Budapest, Hungary
Add shout
| 7 attendees
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Recent Activity
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minimatika added Merzbow to minimatika’s library. 22 minutes ago
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pumpkin_coach tagged Merzbow with japanese and noise. 4 hours ago
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Garbuzichok and treeoflifedeath added Merzbow to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Nethiros tagged Merzbow with instrumental, classical, pop and 6 other tags. yesterday afternoon
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uk80 wrote about Merzbow in a deleted journal. yesterday afternoon
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uk80 wrote about Merzbow in Mindfuck DEMOS (music). yesterday afternoon
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fzfxfzfx and uk80 added Merzbow to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Mind_Plague tagged Merzbow with ‘easy listening’. yesterday afternoon
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xNOIZx2810x and ksmokedubdig added Merzbow to their libraries. yesterday morning
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FootToFace wrote about Merzbow in The Worst Albums of 2009. yesterday morning
Related Journals
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Mindfuck DEMOS (music)
by uk80 |
8 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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The Worst Albums of 2009
by FootToFace |
8 Nov 2009 | 9 comments
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new: 1+1= a window, saturn form essence, earth incubator, fukte & ezcaton
by Dreagan_luna |
4 Nov 2009 | 2 comments
Groups (348)
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ANTI-DADA
25 members
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The cult of Merzbow
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Senzuri Champions
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no more genre
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ËËËËËËØÝÝЖ68Ш1ÝÀËП-1ÜÀÜØËËËЖ
43 members
