Merzbox is a box set compilation by the Japanese noise musician Merzbow. It consists of 50 CDs spanning Merzbow's career from 1979 to 1997. 30 discs are taken from long out of print releases, while 20 are composed mainly of unreleased material. The box also contains two CD-ROMs, six CD-sized round cards, six round stickers, a poster, a black long-sleeve T-shirt, a medallion, and the Merzbook, all packaged together in a "fetish" black rubber box. It is limited to 1000 numbered copies.[5][6] A Merzbox Sampler was released in 1997.
The Merzbook, subtitled The Pleasuredome of Noise, is a 132-page hardcover book written by Brett Woodward with over 100 images. It contains an extensive biography, culled from previous interviews and articles, a new interview, and essays by Achim Wollscheid, Jim O'Rourke, Damion Romero, Eugene Thacker, and Jonathan Walker. Masami Akita provides extensive liner notes for each disc. The book was also released separately with the Merzrom included.
The Merzrom is an interactive multimedia CD-ROM, designed by Troy Innocent. A second CD-ROM contains various Extreme press and a catalog. The "Merzdallion" medallion was designed by Marcus Davidson. Art direction and design were by Doriana Corda. Audio mastering was by François Tétaz.
History
Extreme's original plan was to reissue Collaborative, their only vinyl release, for the label's tenth anniversary. There was then discussion of reissuing other early releases, with talk of a ten disc box, the number was finally set at 50 discs. The Merzbox was originally scheduled for release in late 1997, and available for pre-order, but kept getting delayed until it was finally released in 2000.[7][8] It was officially launched on June 16, 2000 at Sónar, Barcelona, where Merzbow also performed.
Those who had pre-ordered received a two CD album called Decomposition with remixes of Eugene Thacker and Shane Fahey followed by the original tracks, the Merzbox Sampler, and two posters.[9] These were then made available with purchase of the Merzbox for extra money.
The Merzbox was exhibited at Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna from April 4 to April 7, 2002. Merzbow performed opening and closing concerts. All 60 hours were webcast live.[10]
In December 2002, Georgia Tech's student-run radio station WREK broadcast the entire 50-disc Merzbox without interruption. An article in Creative Loafing described the Merzbow Marathon as "what may be the most obscure and counterintuitive move in the history of radio."
Between the final recordings of the set and its release, Merzbow switched to using a laptop, having first acquired a Macintosh to work on the artwork for the set.[6]
Masami Akita has stated in a 2009 interview that he has enough unreleased material for another 50 CD box.[11] Between 2010 and 2013, he released four 10 box sets of unreleased raw material recorded from 1987 to 1997; Merzbient, Merzphysics, Merzmorphosis, and Duo. 2012 also saw the release of Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983, a 10 LP box set that included some full-length albums only partially released in the Merzbox.
Album listing
OM Electrique
The first noise recordings of Merzbow. Previously unreleased.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "OM Electrique Part 1" | 31:17 |
2. | "OM Electrique Part 2" | 7:55 |
3. | "Untitled Taped Drum Solo" | 8:59 |
4. | "Untitled Guitar Solo" | 10:25 |
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tape recorder, percussion, meditation, guitar, Merztronics, taped drums, voice, water
Earliest Merzbow recording available until the release of the Merzbox.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Balance of Neurosis" | 46:59 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – Merztronics, tape recorder, recorded percussion
Remblandt Assemblage
First work using tape manipulation. Only a few copies distributed.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Remblandt Assemblage" | 9:44 |
2. | "Voice of Scwitters" | 2:09 |
3. | "Theme of Dadaist" | 9:39 |
4. | "Hans Arp" | 1:47 |
5. | "Tape Dada" | 5:52 |
6. | "Music Concret" | 2:34 |
7. | "Prepared Guitar Solo 1" | 17:32 |
8. | "Prepared Guitar Solo 2" | 3:59 |
Notes
- Mixed at Lowest Music & Arts, 1980
- All tracks from Remblandt Assemblage cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, prepared acoustic guitar, noise, tabla, percussion, microphone, voice, radio, concret sounds, egg cutter
Collection Era Vol. 1
The three Collection Era discs are compiled from the ten volume Collection series. The first five volumes were recorded for Ylem and consist of studio sessions with Kiyoshi Mizutani. However, Ylem went out of business before they could be released. Masami Akita then released them himself and recorded five more at home using previous Collection session recordings mixed with new material and effects.
|
1. | "Electric Environment" | 24:00 |
2. | "Untitled Material Action" | 23:57 |
3. | "Telecom Manipulation" | 18:18 |
Notes
- Mixed at Ylem/Gap Works, Tokyo, 3 June 1981
- Tracks 1–2 from Collection 001 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
- Track 3 from Collection 002 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, ring modulator, violin, tabla, voice, guitar, percussion, drums, radio
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – drums on track 1, percussion on track 2, organ on track 3
Collection Era Vol. 2
Note: The contents of CD 5 and CD 6 were switched (5 has eight tracks and 6 has seven), the info below is as it appears in the Merzbook.
|
1. | "Merz Rock 1" | 1:58 |
2. | "Merz Rock 2" | 8:23 |
3. | "Merz Gamlan 1" | 15:54 |
4. | "Merz Gamlan 2" | 5:55 |
5. | "Merz Scat" | 11:29 |
6. | "Merztronics Jazz Mix" | 11:45 |
7. | "Merztronics Rhythm Mix" | 11:17 |
Notes
- Mixed at Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
- Tracks 1–4 from Collection 007 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
- Track 5 from Collection 009 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
- Tracks 6–7 from Collection 010 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Merztronics tape used on tracks 6–7
Personnel
- Masami Akita – taped drums, tabla, guitar, tapes, Synare 3, percussion, ring modulated recorders, voice, endless tape, noise, rhythm box
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – wood bass on track 6
Collection Era Vol. 3
|
1. | Untitled | 5:17 |
2. | Untitled | 5:59 |
3. | Untitled | 10:35 |
4. | Untitled | 6:13 |
5. | Untitled | 4:53 |
6. | Untitled | 6:51 |
7. | Untitled | 3:14 |
8. | Untitled | 22:52 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–7 from Collection 008 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1981
- Track 8 from Tridal Production cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
Personnel
- Masami Akita – guitar, tape, damaged tape recorder, bass guitar, Dr. Rhythm, ring modulator, percussion, rubber guitar, violin, tape loops, Synare 3, tabla, drums, synthesizer
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – guitar on track 1, piano on track 4, violin on tracks 7–8
Paradoxa Paradoxa
Paradoxa Paradoxa |
---|
Live album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
March 22, 1981 at Kid Ailack Art Hall, Tokyo |
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Length |
72:23 |
---|
The first Merzbow live performance.
|
1. | "Paradoxa Paradoxa Pt. 1" | 46:14 |
2. | "Paradoxa Paradoxa Pt. 2" | 26:08 |
Notes
- Mastered from original live recording
- Track 1 from Paradoxa Paradoxa cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Track 2 previously unreleased
Personnel
- Masami Akita – Merztronix, tape, solar organ on track 2, violin, Dr. Rhythm, alto saxophone, radio, feedback
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – solar organ on track 1, violin, tape, piano
- Masahiro Kurose – live recording
Material Action for 2 Microphones
Material Action for 2 Microphones |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
July 1981 at Mizutani home studio, Kasai |
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Length |
70:45 |
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"Material Action" was a term for using household objects to make quiet sounds, which were then amplified, inspired by John Cage's "Cartridge Music". The term itself was taken from Otto Muehl. This recording was used as raw material for other works such as Material Action 2 N.A.M.
|
1. | "Hoochie Coochie Scratched Man" | 25:31 |
2. | "Yumin, Non Stop Disco" | 21:14 |
3. | "New Acoustic Music No. 7" | 23:58 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – condenser microphone, environmental percussion, scratched sound, tapes, turntable, radio
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – condenser microphone, percussion, additional synthesizer
Yantra Material Action
Originally intended to be the first Merzbow LP, but it went unreleased. Six months later the label then asked again to release the LP, but Akita decided to record new material – which became Material Action 2 N.A.M. Includes reworks of past recordings with added effects and new instrumentation. The liner notes were to have been written by Fred Frith, who heard the tape and liked it.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | Untitled | 11:25 |
2. | Untitled | 2:52 |
3. | Untitled | 1:48 |
4. | Untitled | 4:37 |
5. | Untitled | 1:06 |
6. | Untitled | 8:40 |
7. | Untitled | 7:26 |
8. | Untitled | 4:35 |
Notes
- Mixed at Junktion Music Works, 1981
- All tracks from Yantra Material Action cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1983
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, junks, noise, percussion, radio, drums, guitar
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – percussion, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, tapes
- H. Kawagishi – sound engineering
Solonoise
Solonoise means "Solar-Noise", inspired by Georges Bataille's The Solar Anus.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Solonoise Pt. 1" | 23:55 |
2. | "Solonoise Pt. 2" | 23:42 |
3. | "Solonoise Pt. 3" | 22:21 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–2 from Solonoise 1 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Track 3 from Solonoise 2 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
Personnel
- Masami Akita – electronics, ring modulator, violin, voice, treated tapes, acoustic guitar, Nil Vagina tape loop, treated percussion, Synare 3, TV, styrofoam
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – violin, electric piano on track 1
Expanded Music
Conceptual works manipulating various inputs using feedback processed audio mixer. Inspired by Stan Brakhage's scratched films.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Manipulation 1" | 17:37 |
2. | "Manipulation 2" | 5:28 |
3. | "Manipulation 3" | 6:36 |
4. | "Manipulation 4" | 3:53 |
5. | "Manipulation 5" | 2:51 |
6. | "Manipulation 6" | 2:15 |
7. | "Manipulation 7" | 1:57 |
8. | "Manipulation 8" | 5:45 |
9. | "M.F.S.W 1" | 18:58 |
Notes
- Tracks 1-8 from Expanded Music 2 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Track 9 from Musick for Simulation World cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1983
Personnel
- Masami Akita – TV test signal, feedback mixer, damaged tape recorder, Dr. Rhythm, tapes, percussion, synthesizer
Nil Vagina Tape Loops
Featuring a four track tape recorder found in the street. A different sound was recorded on each track, and then played back randomly.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Nil Vagina Tape Loop No. 0" | 14:08 |
2. | "Nil Vagina Tape Loop No. 1" | 30:19 |
3. | "Nil Vagina Tape Loop No. 2" | 28:28 |
Personnel
- Masami Akita – Sony 464 tape recorder, Nil Vagina tape loop, treated tapes, percussion, Synare 3, Dr. Rhythm
Notes
- Track 1 from Solonoise 2 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Tracks 2–3 from Lowest Music 2 cassette, Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
Material Action 2 N.A.M
Material Action 2 N.A.M |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
September–October 1982 at Junktion Music Works, Tokyo |
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Length |
40:59 |
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The first Merzbow LP. The 2 in the title refers to Yantra Material Action, which was meant to be the first LP. Sounds include styrofoam and a typesetting machine (Kiyoshi Mizutani worked at a typesetting company at the time). Includes raw material from Material Action for 2 Microphones.
|
1. | "Nil Ad Mirari" | 22:47 |
2. | "Nimbus Alter Magneto Electricity" | 18:12 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, junk percussion, electro-acoustical noise, organ, tape collage, recording, mixing
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – tapes, synthesizer, violin, machine noise
- H. Kawagishi – engineering
Mechanization Takes Command
Mechanization Takes Command |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
1982–1983 at Merz-bau Studio, Machida and ZSF Produkt Studio, Asagaya |
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Length |
69:37 |
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First release on ZSF Produkt. Akita changed the name of his label since he wanted to release other artists. Featuring the Synare 3, which was later destroyed by Bara on stage in the late 90s.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Electric Pygmy Decollage" | 14:12 |
2. | "Mechanization Takes Command" | 11:01 |
3. | "Peaches Red Indian" | 10:46 |
4. | "Sahara" | 5:44 |
5. | "Iggy" | 3:15 |
6. | "Suicidal Machine" | 14:17 |
7. | "Ai-Da-Ho" | 10:19 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – Pearl drum kit, various percussion, tapes, TV, Synare 3, voice, tabla, Dr. Rhythm, ring modulator, guitar, feedback, synthesizer, recorder, scrap metals, devices
Dying Mapa Tapes 1-2
Dying Mapa Tapes 1-2 |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
March 27–28 and May 5, 1982 at Merz-bau, Tokyo |
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Length |
68:33 |
---|
Title inspired by the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Made with different equipment and instruments than other recordings of the same period. Featuring instruments recorded on tape, then slowed down or played backwards.
|
1. | "Denegation" | 10:07 |
2. | "Indifferent Pt. 1" | 6:20 |
3. | "Indifferent Pt. 2" | 8:01 |
4. | "Ooinon for Satva Karman (Sprashutavia) Decoup" | 21:46 |
5. | "Dharma Kamarage" | 22:17 |
Notes
- Produced by Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Tracks 1–4 from Dying Mapa I cassette, Aeon, 1983
- Track 5 from Dying Mapa II cassette, Aeon, 1983
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, radio, ring modulator, percussion, noise, rhythm box, guitar
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – violin, percussion
Dying Mapa Tapes 2-3
Dying Mapa Tapes 2-3 |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
March 27–28, 1982 at Merz-bau, Tokyo |
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Length |
69:40 |
---|
|
1. | "Sukha, Chanda, Tanno, Kless" | 23:28 |
2. | "Genetic Erotic (Sie Wiro Weib)" | 22:57 |
3. | "Rejet, Ictus, Connotation, Accompagnement, Penisersatz, Stigma Indelible etc." | 23:14 |
Notes
- Produced by Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
- Track 1 from Dying Mapa II cassette, Aeon, 1983
- Tracks 2–3 from Dying Mapa III cassette, Aeon, 1983
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, radio, ring modulator, percussion, noise, rhythm, junk electronics, TV, guitar, bass
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – violin, percussion
Agni Hotra
Originally intended to be the second Merzbow LP, but it went unreleased. Includes outtakes from Ushi-Tra, which is from the same period. Loops were included on Loop Panic Limited.
|
1. | "Agni Hotra" | 18:26 |
2. | "Asagaya in Rain" | 3:51 |
3. | "Swamp Metal" | 6:29 |
4. | "Loops in Flames" | 12:30 |
5. | "Arbertus Magnus" | 7:14 |
6. | "Kunyan" | 7:52 |
7. | "Untitled Waves" | 6:45 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–4 from first Agni Hotra master
- Track 5 from second Agni Hotra master
- Track 6 appeared with different mix on Ushi-Tra cassette, Cause & Effect, 1985
- Track 7 from Ushi-tra recording session
Personnel
- Masami Akita – distorted tape loops, metals, recorder, tapes, tape reel, percussion, shakujo, bells, noise
Pornoise 1kg Vol. 1
In the 80s Masami Akita had a mail art project called Pornoise, in which he made collages using discarded magazines – in particular pornographic magazines – taken from the trash. These were then sent along with his cassettes, the idea being that his art was like cheap mail order pornography. Pornoise/1kg was released as part of these activities, the 1kg refers to the total weight of the original package.[12] The voice on "Night Noise White" is taken from the "Halt Tape".
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Industrial" | 3:32 |
2. | "Loop Fuck 1" | 6:12 |
3. | "Loop Fuck 2" | 5:39 |
4. | "Obituary 1" | 5:15 |
5. | "Obituary 2" | 7:12 |
6. | "Night Noise White" | 31:24 |
Notes
- All tracks from Pornoise/1kg cassette box, ZSF Produkt, 1984
Personnel
- Masami Akita – distorted Sony 464, feedback mixer, radio, loop tapes, Synare 3, rhythm box, ring modulator, devices
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – taped typesetting machine noise and taped synthesizer on tracks 2–4 with distorted process
Pornoise 1kg Vol. 2
Field recordings on "Dynamite Don Don" include street sounds recorded from a moving bicycle, and a house being demolished across from Akita's apartment.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "New Karhma" | 31:24 |
2. | "Dynamite Don Don Pt. 1" | 16:54 |
3. | "Dynamite Don Don Pt. 2" | 13:16 |
Notes
- All tracks from Pornoise/1kg cassette box, ZSF Produkt, 1984
Personnel
- Masami Akita – distorted Sony 464, feedback mixer, loop tapes, Synare 3, ring modulator, field recording tapes, devices
Pornoise 1kg Vol. 3
The voice on "UFO vs British Army" is taken from the "Halt Tape". Some other samples are from horror films.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "UFO vs British Army" | 30:46 |
2. | "Toy 69" | 28:55 |
Notes
- All tracks from Pornoise/1kg cassette box, ZSF Produkt, 1984
Personnel
- Masami Akita – distorted Sony 464, feedback mixer, loop tapes, Synare 3, ring modulator, devices
Pornoise Extra |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
December 1984 at ZSF Produkt Studio, Asagaya |
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Length |
59:26 |
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Additional tracks from the Pornoise 1kg sessions. Original release had different track titles.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Flesh Radio 1" | 4:49 |
2. | "Flesh Radio 2" | 4:51 |
3. | "Dance of Dharma-Kala" | 13:29 |
4. | "Psycotic Orange" | 0:42 |
5. | "Helgas Death Disco" | 5:34 |
6. | "Eros Pandra" | 8:28 |
7. | "Kirie" | 6:45 |
8. | "Domine" | 5:54 |
9. | "Chopin Is Dead" | 5:55 |
10. | "Risa Supersex" | 2:55 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – feedback mixer, radio, loop tapes, Synare 3, rhythm box, ring modulator, distorted Sony 464, devices
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – sampled electric piano
Sadomasochismo/Lampinak
Includes unused tracks for Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Antimony Pt. 1" | 10:30 |
2. | "Antimony Pt. 2" | 13:05 |
3. | "Eyes of Isonokami" | 11:44 |
4. | "The Lampinak-Sarpent Power" | 10:29 |
5. | "Carcass on the Floor" | 4:35 |
6. | "Village of 8 Graves" | 4:30 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – various metal percussion, chain, loops, noise electronics, Synare 3, tapes
Original recordings for the Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets album. Includes samples from François Bayle, Conlon Nancarrow, Ivo Malec, Luc Ferrari.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Anus Anvil Anxiety" (long version) | 14:40 |
2. | "Radio 1511" | 24:01 |
3. | "Mortegage Inc. Batztoutai" | 23:21 |
Notes
- Track 1 appeared edited on Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets LP, RRRecords, 1986
- Track 2 previously unreleased
- Track 3 appeared in different order on Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets LP
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, voice, electronics, scrap metals, percussion, field recordings
Enclosure/Libido Economy
Enclosure/Libido Economy |
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Compilation album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
July 1987, 1988, November 1989 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
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Length |
58:04 |
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First of two cassettes made with raw material from Ecobondage, Vratya Southward being the second.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Enclosure" | 17:27 |
2. | "Scarabe" | 5:33 |
3. | "Interline No. 1-3" | 18:10 |
4. | "Itch" | 5:39 |
5. | "Libido Economy No. 1" | 5:39 |
6. | "Libido Economy No. 2" | 5:32 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–3 from Enclosure cassette, ZSF Produkt, 1987
- Track 5 from Enkele Gemotiveerde Produktiemedewerkers compilation, Midas Music, 1990
- Track 6 from Network 77 compilation, Network 77, 1990
Personnel
- Masami Akita – bowed instruments with piano wires, ring modulator, tapes, feedback mixer, effects, percussion, turntable
Vratya Southward
Vratya Southward |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
1987 at ZSF Produkt Studio, Asagaya and July 1988 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
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Length |
61:18 |
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Second cassette made with raw material from Ecobondage. "Electric Red Desart" includes a field recording of the Menkake gyōretsu (面掛行列, mask procession) festival at the Goryō shrine in Kamakura. Masami Akita posted photos of the procession on his blog in 2010.[13]
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Electroacoustic Voyage" | 23:47 |
2. | "Electric Red Desart" | 18:19 |
3. | "Lightning" (bonus) | 19:10 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–2 from Vratya Southward cassette, ZSF Produkt, 1987
- Track 3 previously unreleased
Personnel
- Masami Akita – cymbals, various percussion, electronics, paper pipe, tapes, plastic, voice, flute, toy marimba, scratch records, electric violin on tracks 1–2; feedback mixer, piano strings on metal box on track 3
Live in Khabarovsk, CCCP – I'm Proud by Rank of the Workers
Live in Khabarovsk, CCCP – I'm Proud by Rank of the Workers |
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Live album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
March 23–24, 1988 in Khabarovsk, USSR |
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Length |
57:34 |
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First two of three performances. First performance was stopped for being "too wild", so they then played more conventionally. Includes Batztoutai material on backing tape, and Russian radio.
|
1. | "Live at Trade Unions Place of Culture Hall 23 March 1988" | 29:21 |
2. | "Live at Soviet Army Officers House Hall 24 March 1988" | 28:13 |
Notes
- Recorded live at Jazz-on-Amur '88, Khabarovsk, Russia
- Live PA recordings by Russian staff
- Remastered from original live recording
- Different versions appeared on Live in Khabarovsk, CCCP LP, ZSF Produkt, 1988
Personnel
- Masami Akita – electric bowed instruments, tape, radio on track 1; drums, tape on track 2
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – piano, low feedback US MP guitar on track 1; piano, guitar on track 2
Storage
Due to issues with sound quality, the recording was edited for the LP release. The full-length recording is released here for the first time. The working title for the album was War Storage, which is now used for the track titles.
|
1. | "War Storage Pt. 1" | 23:02 |
2. | "War Storage Pt. 2" | 23:48 |
3. | "War Storage Pt. 3" | 21:08 |
Notes
- All tracks from Storage LP, ZSF Produkt, 1988
Personnel
- Masami Akita – bowed instruments with piano wires, percussion, tapes, effects, guitar
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – submitted raw material on track 2
Fission Dialogue
Fission Dialogue |
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Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
1987–1988 at ZSF Produkt Studio, Asagaya |
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Length |
57:47 |
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Unreleased tracks from Ecobondage and Storage period.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "White Gamlan" | 16:27 |
2. | "Fission Dialogue" | 9:08 |
3. | "Inside Tangues in Tera-Aspic" | 32:11 |
Personnel
- Masami Akita – cymbals, various percussion, electronics, voice, byan, bowed instruments, paper pipe on tracks 1–2; noise electronics, turntable, scrap metals on track 3
Collaborative
Essay by Jonathan Walker from the original LP is reprinted in the Merzbook.
|
1. | "Joint" (Merzbow + S.B.O.T.H.I.) | 20:51 |
2. | "Code-Geräusch-Aggregate" (S.B.O.T.H.I. + Merzbow) | 20:12 |
3. | "Jointed" (Merzbow) | 7:06 |
Notes
- Track 1 recorded at ZSF Produkt on 8 March 1988
- Track 2 produced 1988
- Track 3 recorded at ZSF Produkt (live) on 1 May 1988
- All tracks from Collaborative LP, Extreme, 1988
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, metals, scratch, guitar, mixing on track 3
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – samples, guitar, balalaika, byan on track 3
- Achim Wollscheid – raw materials on track 1, production on track 2
Crocidura Dsi Nezumi
Crocidura Dsi Nezumi |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
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Recorded |
August 1987 and August 1988 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
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Length |
63:07 |
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"Unplugged noise" made using household objects; violin sound is violin bow on plastic cassette case or wood, acoustic guitar is a rubber band, Tibetan trumpet is a toilet paper tube, electrical sounds are made with metal. "Environmental drums" are the floor, gas stove, the spring of a table lamp.
Names are taken from the Latin names of the Dsinezumi shrew, Japanese stoat, and Japanese least weasel. Other titles were inspired by Frank Zappa's song "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" and Sun Ra's album Strange Strings.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Mustela Erminea Nippon" | 23:00 |
2. | "Mustela Sixasa Namiyei" (Including: The Revenge of the Son of Monster Magnet) | 23:50 |
3. | "Strange Strings" | 16:16 |
Notes
- Tracks 1-2 from Crocidura Dsi Nezumi cassette, ZSF Produkt and Banned Production, 1988
- Track 3 previously unreleased
Personnel
- Masami Akita – environmental drums, bowed instruments, paper pipe, plastic, woods, flute, insects, effects on tracks 1–2; bowed instruments, motor, noise electronics on track 3
KIR Transformation |
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Live album by Merzbow + Achim Wollscheid |
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Recorded |
1989 at KIR, Hamburg |
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Length |
40:39 |
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Producer |
Masami Akita, Achim Wollscheid |
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From a concert with Achim Wollscheid: first Merzbow played, then Wollscheid played using a recording of Merzbow's set, then Merzbow and Wollscheid played together.
All tracks written by Masami Akita and Achim Wollscheid.
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1. | "KIR Transformation" (Merzbow + Achim Wollscheid) | 40:39 |
Notes
- Edited by Achim Wollscheid, 1997
SCUM Vol. 1
SCUM Vol. 1 |
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Studio album by SCUM |
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Recorded |
May–December 1988 at ZSF Produkt Studio and various rehearsal studios |
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Length |
59:55 |
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SCUM was project to create new works out of previous Merzbow sessions using cut-ups, effects, and mixing. Name taken from the SCUM Manifesto. The track titles influenced by American post-war art. This was last LP record on ZSF Produkt.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Cockchola" | 12:54 |
2. | "Extract 1" | 4:21 |
3. | "Extract 2" | 5:48 |
4. | "Extract 3" | 1:18 |
5. | "Extract 4" | 5:59 |
6. | "Kinetic Environment" | 11:46 |
7. | "Yeah, But That Was Just Dyke Stuff / Great Nude Variation No. 2" | 17:46 |
Notes
- Order of this CD is same as the original master tapes
- Tracks 2–5 previously unreleased
- All others from Scissors for Cutting Merzbow LP, ZSF Produkt, 1989
Personnel
- Masami Akita – electronics, tapes, bowed instruments, percussion, metal junks, motor, piano wires, noise generator, drums, guitar, radio
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – junks, effects on raw materials
SCUM Vol. 2
SCUM Vol. 2 |
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Studio album by SCUM |
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Recorded |
May–December 1988 at ZSF Produkt Studio and various rehearsal studios |
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Length |
60:46 |
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All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Music for Funk Arts No. 1" (long version) | 22:51 |
2. | "Music for Funk Arts No. 2" (long version) | 22:09 |
3. | "Great Nude Variation No. 1" | 12:05 |
4. | "Extract 5" | 3:40 |
Notes
- Order of this CD is same as the original master tapes
- Track 4 previously unreleased
- All others from Scissors for Cutting Merzbow LP, ZSF Produkt, 1989
Personnel
- Masami Akita – electronics, tapes, bowed instruments, percussion, metal junks, motor, piano wires, noise generator, guitar, electric shaver, radio, effects
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – guitar, junks, effects on raw materials
Severances
Severances |
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Studio album by SCUM |
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Recorded |
July 2, 1989 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
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Length |
61:28 |
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Includes two covers, "Deaf Forever" by Motörhead and the Jimi Hendrix version of "Wild Thing".
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "UP Steel CUM" | 16:24 |
2. | "Catabolism Variation Stereo No. 1" | 14:02 |
3. | "Deaf Forever / Wild Thing / Electric Shaver Forest / De-Soundtrack Variation No. 1 / Rap the Khabarovsk" | 31:01 |
Notes
- Drum track of "Rap the Khabarovsk" was recorded live in Russia
- All tracks from Severances cassette, Discordia/Concordia, 1989
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, turntables, electronix, drum kit, percussion, voice, metal percussion, bowed instruments, electro-shaver, motor, self-made junk
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – tape materials: guitar on tracks 1 and 3; keyboard, computer rhythm on track 2
Steel CUM
Steel CUM |
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Studio album by SCUM |
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Recorded |
1989 at various locations |
---|
Length |
56:36 |
---|
The EP on Vertical Records was remixed and released without permission, with the cover made using one of Masami Akita's collages. "But a result of EP was fine. So, I'm agreed. But EP is still bootleg."[6]
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Mona" | 2:51 |
2. | "Great Nude Variation No. 3" | 5:57 |
3. | "Duck Exercise" | 17:14 |
4. | "Blues in C Minor" | 24:23 |
5. | "Body" | 6:09 |
Notes
- Mixed at ZSF Produkt Studio 1989
- All tracks from Steel Cum cassette, ZSF Produkt, 1990
- Some parts appeared on Steel Cum 7", Vertical, 1992
Personnel
- Masami Akita – guitar, drums, tapes, electronics, metal bowed instruments, feedback mixer, turntable
- Kiyoshi Mizutani – drums, guitar on some parts
Cloud Cock OO Grand
Cloud Cock OO Grand |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
October 1989 – January 1990 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
78:58 |
---|
During the European tour in 1989, Masami Akita could only bring simple equipment, and created a new live electronics style, different from his acoustical and tape based studio work, leading to the harsh noise Merzbow became known for in the 1990s. Cloud Cock OO Grand was the first example of this style, Merzbow's first digital recording, and the only CD on ZSF Produkt.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Brain Forest for Metal Acoustic Concret" | 23:37 |
2. | "Spinnozaamen" | 24:01 |
3. | "Autopussy Go No Go" | 7:40 |
4. | "Modular" | 15:12 |
5. | "Postfix" | 8:26 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, noise electronics, metals, distorted DBX, turntable, loops, bowed instruments, metal harp, short wave
- Reiko Azuma – bowed instruments on track 4
- Peter Duimelinks – original live recordings
Newark Hellfire, Live at WFMU, USA
Newark Hellfire, Live at WFMU, USA |
---|
Live album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
September 23, 1990 at WFMU Studio, New Jersey |
---|
Length |
58:45 |
---|
Radio session from Merzbow's first American tour.
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – feedback audio mixer, metals, electronics, electric shaver
- Reiko Azuma – metals, bowed instruments
Hannover Cloud
Features outtakes from Hannover Interruption and Cloud Cock OO Grand. "Rocket Bomber" uses raw materials from Sadomasochismo.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Magnetic Void" | 20:35 |
2. | "Rocket Bomber" | 15:17 |
3. | "Untitled Cock" | 6:13 |
4. | "Autopussy Go No Go 2" | 13:22 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, metals, tapes
Stacy Q, Hi-Fi Sweet Leaf
Stacy Q, Hi-Fi Sweet Leaf |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
April–May 1991 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
52:57 |
---|
Originally made as raw material for "Crash for Hi-Fi", "Wing Over", and "Another Crash for High Tide". Includes the use of a scratched Cloud Cock OO Grand CD.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Decomposed Cockoo" | 26:29 |
2. | "Stacy Q, Hi Fi Sweet Leaf" | 26:28 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, tapes, scratched CD, radio, sound effect records, guitar
Music for True Romance Vol. 1
Music for True Romance Vol. 1 |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
May 1992 – 1993 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
59:50 |
---|
Backing tracks made for True Romance, a performance art project with Seido and Bara.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "True Romance Theme" | 3:52 |
2. | "Mystic Cave" | 2:27 |
3. | "She Floating-Preparation" | 15:43 |
4. | "She Mutilation-Main Ritual" | 15:17 |
5. | "Injured Emperial Soldiers Marching Song" | 22:29 |
Notes
- Tracks 1–4 made for Blood Orgy of the She Dolls soundtrack, 1992
- Track 5 made for "Isis and Secret Army Hyper Vivisection" performance at MOMA, Kyoto, 1993
Personnel
- Masami Akita – tapes, electronics, disks
Brain Ticket Death
Track 4 samples Brainticket's self-titled song from their album Cottonwoodhill. It's also a reference to Nurse with Wound, who used the same bit on Brained by Falling Masonry.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Metal of Doom" | 6:36 |
2. | "Electric Peekaboo" | 3:45 |
3. | "Iron Caravan" | 5:33 |
4. | "Brain Ticket Death" | 34:01 |
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, metals, turntable, bass, guitar
Sons of Slash Noise Metal |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
1992, February – March 1993 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
60:25 |
---|
Tracks 1 and 3 were made as raw material for recordings of the same period. Track 2 is a remix of a fragment.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "In-A-Gadda-Da-Veddah" | 16:53 |
2. | "Cross Toad" | 10:57 |
3. | "Slash Embryo" | 32:34 |
Notes
- All tracks remastered from original mother tape, no editing
Personnel
- Masami Akita – metals, noise electronics, scratched CD, radio, tapes
Exotic Apple
Includes Arthur Lyman samples. Yuuri Sunohara is a director, producer, model etc. for Kinbiken/Right Brain. "Apple Rock" includes unused material originally made for Flying Testicle.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Sunohara Youri Is Suzanna Erica" | 10:16 |
2. | "Moon Over the Bwana A" | 5:30 |
3. | "Apple Rock 1" | 14:20 |
4. | "Apple Rock 2" | 16:17 |
5. | "Apple Rock 3" | 7:23 |
6. | "Apple Rock 4" | 7:55 |
Notes
- Track 1 from Melt compilation, Work In Progress, 1992
- Track 2 from Land of the Rising Noise compilation, Charnel House, 1993
Personnel
Liquid City
Liquid City |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
December 1994 – January 1995 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
57:12 |
---|
Originally intended to be part of a CD+CD-ROM called Scatologic Baroque, but it was canceled. The material for the CD-ROM was use for the book Anal Baroque. Part of the "World Trilogy" with Magnesia Nova and Green Wheels. "Liquid City 17-1-95" was recorded on the same day as the Great Hanshin earthquake. "Tiabguls" is a Throbbing Gristle tribute.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Liquid City 17-1-95" | 19:11 |
2. | "Dalitech Filters" | 21:09 |
3. | "Tiabguls" | 9:16 |
4. | "Cheese Car Commando" | 7:35 |
Notes
- Track 3 from Entertainment Through Pain compilation, RRRecords, 1995
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, metals, EMS, voice
Red Magnesia Pink
Red Magnesia Pink |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
April–August 1995 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
61:20 |
---|
Outtakes from Red 2 Eyes, Magnesia Nova, and Pinkream.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Minus Zero" | 5:57 |
2. | "Etic" | 4:08 |
3. | "Delta X" | 4:33 |
4. | "Tremolo Man" | 10:27 |
5. | "Euclids Pickel" | 13:48 |
6. | "Chameleon Body" | 9:18 |
7. | "Little Bang!" | 7:38 |
8. | "You-Bahn" | 5:27 |
Personnel
- Masami Akita – EMS Synthi 'A', noise electronics, metal, filters, voice
Marfan Syndrome
Marfan Syndrome |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
September 1994 – January 1995 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
51:51 |
---|
"Marfan Syndrome for Blue" is first track to use EMS synthesiser. Track 2 is a reference to Claes Oldenburg, who creates oversized sculptures of everyday objects, including soft sculptures.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Marfan Syndrome for Blue" (remix) | 7:07 |
2. | "Oldenbergs Soft Gun" | 18:39 |
3. | "Spider Nest Castle Pt. 1" | 12:26 |
4. | "Un Br Che" | 11:25 |
5. | "Yosef Voice" | 2:12 |
Notes
- Track 1 appeared with different mix on Eternal Blue Extreme compilation, Somnus, 1994
- Track 4 appeared edited on Coruscanto by Reiko Azuma, Nekoisis, 1995
- All others previously unreleased
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, EMS, Synare 3, metals, rubber bass guitar, telephone signal, tape, voice
- Reiko Azuma – voice on tracks 1 and 5
Rhinogradentia
Named after a fictitious order of mammals. Masami Akita performed solo twice as Zecken, playing this style.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Rhinogradentia" | 14:52 |
2. | "Silver Scintillator" | 16:41 |
3. | "Narco" | 24:02 |
Notes
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, EMS, audio generator, filters
Space Mix Travelling Band
Tracks 1–2 are based on four channel tape: two channels recorded in 1994 and used on tracks of the same period, and two channels of EMS recorded in 1996. Additional EMS and Moog overdub and final mix in 1997.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Travelling 1997" | 20:04 |
2. | "Floating Manhattan" | 14:06 |
3. | "Hongkong Suite" | 24:52 |
Notes
- Raw materials of tracks recorded during 1994–1996
- Track 3 different mix used as raw material for Brisbane–Tokyo Interlace with John Watermann, Cold Spring, 1996
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, EMS, Moog, metals, voice, tapes
Motorond
Track 1 was most recent live performance when Merzbox was compiled.
|
1. | "Motorond Pt. 2" | 31:25 |
2. | "Motorond Pt. 1" | 27:53 |
Notes
- All remixed at ZSF Produkt Studio, April 1997
- Track 2 last 10 minutes appeared on Non Stop Noise Party, Hond in de Goot, 2000
Personnel
- Masami Akita – noise electronics, Novation Bass Station, metals, pressure pedal
- Bara – voice
Annihiloscillator
Annihiloscillator |
---|
Studio album by Merzbow |
---|
Recorded |
December 1996 – March 1997 at ZSF Produkt Studio |
---|
Length |
60:17 |
---|
Selection of recent tracks when Merzbox was compiled. Track 3 is a reference to Marguerite Yourcenar's Dark Brain of Piranesi, an essay about Giovanni Battista Piranesi's Carceri prints.
All tracks written by Masami Akita.
|
1. | "Hair Gun" | 13:16 |
2. | "Kyoko Hamuras Air Clyster" | 12:14 |
3. | "Black Brain of Piranese" | 13:26 |
4. | "Soft Parts 1 & 2" | 17:29 |
5. | "Wild Pair" | 3:50 |
Notes
- Raw material for track 2 recorded live in California, 1995
- Track 4 appeared on Merzbow/Kadef split 10", Dreizehn, 1997
Personnel
- Masami Akita – metal, noise electronix, EMS on tracks 1–2, Theremin on tracks 1–4, Moog on track 4
- Reiko Azuma – noise on track 2
- Bara – voice on track 2
References
- ↑ McCarthy, Kieran. Merzbow: Merzbox > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- ↑ Jim Haynes (2001). "The Merzbox". Chunklet. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ Michael Daddino (2002). "Writing through the Merzbox". Land of a Thousand Dances. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ Todd Burns (August 8, 2002). "Deconstructing the Merzbox". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ "XLTD-003 - Merzbow - Merzbox". Extreme. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Woodward, Brett (1999). Merzbook: The Pleasuredome of Noise. Melbourne, Australia: Extreme Records. ISBN 0646383264.
- ↑ Marc Weidenbaum (April 29, 1997). "Extreme Measures". Disquiet. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ Sebastian Chan (November 24, 2007). "Extreme Records interview". Cyclic Defrost. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ Sundin, Ronnie (January 24, 1999). "Re: am i on the list or what?". Yahoo! Groups. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ↑ Kunstradio webcast
- ↑ Roger Batty (December 20, 2009). "The Birds of Noise". Musique Machine. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ↑ Chad Hensley (1999). "The Beauty of Noise: An interview with Masami Akita of Merzbow". EsoTerra. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ↑ "面掛行列". blog.merzbow.net. September 19, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
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