Merzbow / Achim Wollscheid - Eleven Live Collaborations

"Eleven Live Collaborations" was released by Selektion in 1992.

Get it here : Merzbow / Achim Wollscheid - Eleven Live Collaborations

Merzbow - Antimonument

"Antimonument" was released by ZSF Produkt in 1986, then re-released by Art Directe in 1991.

Get it here : Merzbow - Antimonument

Merzbow - Cloud Cock OO Grand

From Allmusic.com : "There is no need to argue: Merzbow stands as the most important artist in noise music. The favorite moniker of Japanese Masami Akita appears on hundreds of albums. The name comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' famous work Merzbau, which he also called The Cathedral of Erotic Misery. Akita's choice reflects his fondness for junk art (through Schwitters' collage method) and his fascination with ritualized eroticism, namely in the form of fetishism and bondage. All these elements constitute the Merzbow persona.

Akita was born in Tokyo in 1956. He grew up with psychedelic rock and began to play the guitar in progressive rock cover bands, in particular with drummer Kiyoshi Mizutani, who would remain a frequent collaborator. After high school, Akita studied literature and visual arts in college. There he discovered free jazz and studied seriously the ideas of Dada and the surrealists (Salvador Dali remained a big influence). Akita gradually withdrew himself from the rock scene and began experimenting in his basement with broken tape recorders and feedback.

In 1979, Akita created his own cassette label, Lowest Arts & Music, and released the first of many albums, Metal Acoustic Music. Infiltrating the then-burgeoning network of underground industrial music, Merzbow lined up one cassette after another, packaged in Xeroxed collage art. His harsh noise eschewed the primitive anger found on this scene (Throbbing Gristle, Man Is the Bastard) to reach a Zen state, calm inside the storm. Mizutani occasionally appeared on some of the raw material, as would other musicians (like Reiko.A), but in essence Merzbow is Akita and would always be. The artist/group made low-budget live appearances in Tokyo, but his main focus remained on his art production and his writing (he is erudite in 20th century art and the Japanese tradition of bondage).

In 1983, Akita's first LP, Material Action 2 (NAM), was released on Chaos/Eastern Works in Japan. Out of the mail-art network and into the specialty record shops, Merzbow began to attract some eyes and ears. Akita started a second label, ZSF Produkt, which put out dozens of 7"s, EPs, LPs, and more cassettes. By the late '80s, other record labels had begun to pay interest, namely the Australian Extreme. Collaborative (1988), an LP recorded with Achim Wollscheid, brought the Merzbow sound to more international listeners, and slowly Akita invaded other territories. By the mid-'90s, his reputation verged on the mythical. He toured Europe and the U.S., and had high(er)-profile releases on Extreme, RRR, and Alchemy.

In 1997, Extreme announced it was putting in production a 50-CD box set, Merzbox. It was finally released three years later. It includes 30 reissues dating as far back as 1979, and 20 discs' worth of unreleased material, and remains the biggest musical statement in the history of noise music. More widely available albums for Alien8 Recordings (Aqua Necromancer, 1998) and Tzadik (1930, 1998), combined with constant worldwide touring, have taken the artist out of mythical status and propelled him into the legendary. In the late '90s, Akita started to collaborate with other artists outside the Merzbow moniker, namely with Mike Patton (as Maldoror) and Otomo Yoshihide. Both a prolific composer and performer, Akita continued his string of Merzbow releases into the next century, including Frog (2001), V (2003), Merzbird (2004), the two-volume set Minazo (2006), Merzbear and Synth Destruction (2007), Dolphin Sonar (2008), and the multi-volume 13 Japanese Birds series issued monthly between January 2009 and January 2010. He followed this massive undertaking with Another Merzbow Records, released by the U.K's Dirtier Promotions imprint in April of 2010."

"Cloud Cock OO Grand" was released by ZSF Produkt in 1990.

Get it here : Merzbow - Cloud Cock OO Grand

Merzbow + Pan Sonic - V

From Allmusic.com : "V is the concert (a world premiere) Merzbow and Pan sonic played at the 2002 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville. A highlight of that edition, the performance has been reviewed by many music critics, and it's funny to see how they split between two groups: those who think that Merzbow was maximizing Pan sonic's input and those who think Pan sonic were filtering Merzbow's harsh sound material. But on listening to the CD, it becomes obvious that it was wrong to try to find such a simple chain of action. It was also wrong to think that Merzbow had to be the one providing the concrete walls of noise and that Pan sonic had to be responsible for the more staccato glitches. In fact, the Finnish duo's collaboration with Peaches and Ilpo Väisänen's involvement with Schneider TM as Angel prove that they can get very noisy and brutal on their own. There is too much diversity, too wide a dynamic range unfolding on V to say anything specific about individual contributions. Despite the two-headed billing as Merzbow & Pan sonic, this continuous 68-minute improvisation features a genuine group sound that transcends either artist's persona, although one could say that fans of Pan sonic's more delicately pulsing works might feel a bit lost. The performance includes some very harsh passages but also some fascinating interplay at lower volumes. Recommended as a highlight in both artists' lists of collaborations."

"V" was released by Les Disques Victo in 2003.

Get it here : Merzbow + Pan Sonic - V

Trax Anthems 2 [C60 Tape]

A compilation dedicated to anthems, each participant being asked to perform an alternative version of its own real or imaginary national anthem.

Side A :
01. Naif Orchestra - Fratelli d’Italia (Italy)
02. DDAA - La Marseillaise (France)
03. P16. D4 - Aktion: Leer. Korn; Bier (Germany)
04. Van Kaye & Ignit - Wilhelmus, part 1 & 2 (Netherlands)
05. Renaldo And The Loaf - Then At Iona Lanthem (United Kingdom)
06. Bene Gesserit - La Brabançonne (Belgium)
07. La Otra Cara De Un Jardin - The last minutes of everyday (Spain)
08. Laibach - Hej Sloveni (Yugoslavia)
09. Henryk Gajewski - Jeszcze Polska nie zginela (Poland)

Side B :
01. No Night Sweats - The Gundalai Coolabah (Australia)
02. Merzbow - Kimigayo (Japan)
03. Olho Seco - Botas, fuzis, capacetes (Brazil)
04. Spirocheta Pergoli - Munrovia Sunrise (Liberia)
05. 001011011100... Cancer - Hodors Walley (Naon)
06. Prhemm - UrsSA (USA/USSR)
07. The Gerlovins & Charlie Morrow - The Russian American Anthem (USSR/USA)
08. Olho Seco - Castidade [b] (Brazil)
09. Monty Cantsin - Catastronics (Akademgorod)
10. Oxomaxoma - Si es que asì se la puede llamar (Mexico)
11. Culturcide - The Star-Spangled Banner (USA)
12. The Haters - No Canada (Canada)

Like on the "Paris-Tokyo" compilation, Merzbow's contribution is absolutely not noise.

"Trax Anthems 2" was released by Trax in 1983.

Get it here : Trax Anthems 2

Paris-Tokyo [C40 Tape]

This prestigious compilation showcases French artists on one side and Japanese artists on the second side.
Interesting enough, the 2 Merzbow tracks featured here are absolutely not what you could expect from the most famous noise terrorist. It was the time when Masami Akita was not necessarily doing noise.


Side Paris :
A1  Richard Pinhas - Joe Chips Meets K.B. (Part. 2)      
A2  Jac Berrocal & Jacques Doyen - Sacré!      
A3  Vidéo-Aventures - Le Retour De L'Homme Au Grand Chapeau      
A4  Fondation - Contact      
A5  Vidéo-Aventures - Anyhow For Tennis      
A6  DDAA - La Roue De Bicyclette      
A7  Vidéo-Aventures - En Hommage à Pop Corn      
A8  Satellite - Surprise

Side Tokyo :
B1  Merzbow - Awa Dance      
B2  Isansozokunin - Senjo No Mura      
B3  Haco - Kasokudo No Etude      
B4  Merzbow - Hannya / Haramitta      
B5  Kumiko Suyama - Dance      
B6  MLD  - Dynamo      

"Paris-Tokyo" was released by Tago Mago in 1983.

Get it here : Paris-Tokyo

L'Eponge Synthétique + Merzbow - Régalade [C60 Tape]

A unique collaboration between French act L'Eponge Synthétique and the master of noise Merzbow.

"Régalade" was released by Active Production and ZSF Produkt in 1984.

Get it here : L'Eponge Synthétique + Merzbow - Régalade

Merzbow - Live Performance, Feb.85 [C60 Tape]

Another noise assault from Japanese legend Merzbow.

"Live Performance, Feb.85" was released by Le Syndicat in 1985.

Get it here : Merzbow - Live Performance, Feb.85

Merzbow - Kibbutz [C45 Tape]

On this tape, Merzbow is Masami Akita on guitar, drums and effects, and Kiyoshi Mizutani on keyboards. Recorded at Kitijoji Music Studio in Tokyo, in July 1983.

This is the first ever release from Italian label ADN Tapes.

"Kibbutz" was released by ADN Tapes in 1983.

Get it here : Merzbow - Kibbutz

Merzbow + Jazzkammer - Live At Molde International Jazz Festival

A stunning collaboration between the legendary noise pioneer Merzbow and Jazzkammer, recorded live in Molde, Norway, in July 2001.

"Live At Molde International Jazz Festival" was released by Smalltown Supersound in 2001.

Get it here : Merzbow + Jazzkammer - Live At Molde International Jazz Festival

Japanese Avant-Garde

From Allmusic.com : "Amidst the many compilation albums on Japanese experimental music, this CD is surely another kind of creature. First, the project stemmed from an event related to another medium. In March 2002, the Brussels Festival of Fantasy Film brought to Belgium Takashi Miike and Shinya Tsukamoto, two experimental filmmakers. Their works and the discussions that followed their presentation gave the Sub Rosa team the idea to put this album together over the notion of opposites -- after all, isn't Japan the land of 1,000 contradictions? So this CD presents a portrait of Japanese avant-garde music as an exploration of all extremes, from the harsh noise of Merzbow and the guerilla live collages of Ground Zero to the prettiness found in the music of Aki Onda and Haco. The track selection seems to be very personal, spans almost all of the '90s, and includes material previously released on Sub Rosa (Bisk, Multiphonic Ensemble), Softl (Yoshio Machida), and Gentle Giant (a Ground Zero 7"). One standout cut is Koji Asano's "Vs Calla," a rare, short piece from this master of the marathon and a typically disturbing processed sound file. Other points of interest include Merzbow's "Lux Automobile," Onda's "Fish Don't Know It's Raining," and Sachiko M's sine-wave piece "2808200," surprisingly gentle on the ear. The latter is the only example of the turn-of-the-century "onkyo" movement, which is surprising since the extremely quiet has never been explored this deeply. The last two tracks present excerpts from interviews with the filmmakers, in Japanese-English translations, along with an essay by David Toop. Japanese Avant-Garde provides an awkward, mixed-up cross section of its subject, much like Sub Rosa's An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music."

Tracklisting :
01. So Takahashi - Made In U.S.A.
02. Koji Asano - Vs Calla
03. Merzbow - Lux Automobile (Krokodil Rock Mix)
04. Haco - Re:Mosquito Illusion
05. Bisk - Smooth-Skinned Woman
06. Sachiko M - 2808200
07. Multiphonic Ensemble - Electronic Music Box
08. Otomo Yoshihide - DT-2.01
09. Aki Onda - Fish Don't Know It's Raining
10. Yoshio Machida - Afterimage
11. Ground Zero - Live 1992
12. View Masters - Pachinko Mandala 00
13. Takashi Miike - Interview
14. Shinya Tsukamoto - Interview





"Japanese Avant-Garde" was released by Sub Rosa in 2002.

Get it here : Japanese Avant-Garde

Merzbow - Music For Bondage Performance

From Discogs.com : "Merzbow is an extreme experimental music project created in Tokyo in 1979 under the direction of musician Masami Akita and is recognized as being one of the earliest projects in what has become known as "Japanese noise". Highly prolific, Merzbow has released hundreds of recordings since 1979. The name is derived from Kurt Schwitters's "Merzbau", and is meant to be pronounced the same way."

Track 1 (1991) : For Asako.
Track 2 (1989) : Made for female prisoner in bondage & seppuku Japanese style. B&D performance by Ruka Mikami in Homo Fixas Studio, Yotsuya.
Track 3 (1990) : Made for bondage & pipe in western style. B&D performance by Santomi Fuji in Kannon Studio, Shinjuku.
Track 4 (1989) : Made for office girl in bondage in Yokohama. B&D performance by Youri Sunohara.
Track 6 (1989 & 1990).

"Music For Bondage Performance" was released by Extreme in 1991.

Get it here : Merzbow - Music For Bondage Performance

Das Dreidimensionale Möbiusband [2 x CD + CD-ROM]

"Das Dreidimensionale Möbiusband" is the first release from the Flying Swimming label which is headed by Kouhei Matsunaga.

CD 1 :
1-01   Achim Wollscheid - Radio Piece
1-02   Asmus Tietchens - Böszopfler (= An Evil Man With A Tress)
1-03   Conrad Schnitzler - 00/143 (1-15)
1-04   Das - Kreis Der Fünf
1-05   Darius Ciuta - Near By One
1-06   Es - Kukat Ovat Hyriä Kuuntelijoita
1-07   Felipe Caramelos - Que Su Cante Me Lastima
1-08   Frans de Waard - Klankschap #7
1-09   Ilpo Väisänen - Vihan Päivä
1-10   John Watermann - Unfaithful Moments

CD 2 :
2-1A   Trevor Wishart - Fanfare
2-1B   Trevor Wishart - Contrapuntus
2-02   The Animist Orschestra - Non Title
2-03   Spectre - Soaring To The Depth
2-04   RLW - Rappel Das - Or: Dealing With Indiscipline
2-05   Merzbow - Earth Nazareth
2-06   Liddikoatight - Ka-Cho-Fuh-Getsu
2-07   Leif Elggren - The Paving Stone Is The Weapon Of The Proletariat No. 5
2-08   Juozas Milasius - Tenderness
2-09   Kouhei Matsunaga - Star Point

The pack includes the audio part as well as the CD-ROM part, with photos and artists profiles.

"Das Dreidimensionale Möbiusband" was released by Flying Swimming in 2003.

Get it here : Das Dreidimensionale Möbiusband

Merzbow & Christoph Heemann - Sleeper Awakes On The Edge Of The Abyss

"Sleeper Awakes On The Edge Of The Abyss" is a gorgeous collaboration between Christoph Heemann (HNAS) and Merzbow (aka Masami Akita).

Despite the presence of Merzbow this is not a noise album, rather it is an ambient work.

The cover artwork was designed by Jim O'Rourke.

"Sleeper Awakes On The Edge Of The Abyss" was released by Streamline in 1993.

Get it here : Merzbow & Christoph Heemann - Sleeper Awakes On The Edge Of The Abyss

PGR / Merzbow / Asmus Tietchens - Grav

"Grav" is a unique collaborative work between PGR (aka Kim Cascone), Merzbow (aka Masami Akita) and Asmus Tietchens.

"Grav" was released by Silent Records in 1991.

Get it here : Grav