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Post by andypandy380 on May 6, 2018 16:05:38 GMT -5
Interested to hear that theres gonna be 12 CDs from slowdown. Theyre really going all out. Haven't heard of those collaborators but thats good to know. I've ended up buying a 3RENSA box off discogs. Looking forward to hearing the full set of remixes.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 8, 2018 5:17:40 GMT -5
Further details and samples of upcoming CDs - Cretin Merz and Telecom Live have been published on Slowdown's website. Cretin Merz sounds especially good/strange, with a loud and continual keyboard part which sounds like something straight out of a horror/sci-fi themed Sega Megadrive game, with layers of other prepared guitar sounds and noises - I don't know if an entire album of that might get a bit much but it's an interesting piece nonetheless, and there's every chance the album could explore a multitude of ideas. Telecom live is a raw unedited tape, much like the material from the box sets we had back in 2012. It's quite minimal, lo-fi and very much an experiment in sound collage, with what sounds like tapes of subway trains, power tools (possibly) metallic scraping, dissonant organs and strings. Apparently the tape provided the original source material for another album in Slowdown's series of six, but it's not clear which.
The collage style artwork for these two is fairly nice too.
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Post by davebowman on May 8, 2018 9:14:26 GMT -5
As far as I can understand (via Google Translate over the various descriptions for these releases), my reading is that this entire series (HyperMusic/23November1979/Por#1&2/CretinMerz/TelecomLive') consists of unedited source material from previously-released Merzbow albums.
"In the first phase of this series, cassette tape sound sources from 1979 to 1981 are recorded over six CDs. All of these were studio live session sound sources by Masami Akita and Mizutani Ai, which had been edited / recycled as a material of another work, but this release is the first in a complete "original state" release. In this sense, this recording series can be said as disclosure of self-archive / self material."
Presumably these recordings would have been chopped about, looped, and run through various FX to make various early releases. It would be nice if we knew exactly which releases they ended up on, though maybe that info is lost, and I guess they may have been used multiple times and combined, so it may not be as simple.
I wonder if we'll end up getting a boxset of these at the end, same as they did with the 3RENSA stuff? The cost of importing this stuff from Japan is still making me hesitate, but maybe that would work out a better postage saving.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 8, 2018 10:26:02 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I think you're right. I think something got lost in translation when I read about that last CD, but it does seem all six are source material for other albums. I bet they were chopped and screwed with to the point that the original sound was almost unrecognisable, it is strange how listenable some of these releases are though, all things considered... Duo, Merzbient etc included. I've also been wondering about a possible box set, It's certainly not out of the question and something I too would like to see. The 3RENSA box (containing all five albums across six CDs) cost me about the same price it would have done to import just two of them separately - Looks like it's packaged the same as Day Of Seals or the Kapotte Musik box set, so it's kind of a nice little thing and I don't feel like I'm missing out on too much from having the standalone albums - I do know that Cold Spring are in contact with Slowdown so I do still have my fingers crossed for that.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 25, 2018 10:05:15 GMT -5
They've announced another two re-releases. This time its Collection 010 and Yantra Material Action. Official release date is 20th July.
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Post by acsenger on May 27, 2018 12:00:33 GMT -5
Do these CDs have European distribution yet? I wanted to send the label an email about this, but they don’t have their email address listed on their website. “Yantra Material Action” is included in the “Merzbox”, so at least I won’t have to get that one.
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Post by merzphysics on May 29, 2018 16:11:32 GMT -5
Is the 12 CD set going to contain unreleased recordings? If so, this will be an amazing box set.
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Post by pronk on May 30, 2018 15:31:30 GMT -5
Does anyone know which release the new songs on his soundcloud are from? (https://soundcloud.com/merzbow)
They sound really good.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 31, 2018 11:37:42 GMT -5
I don't honestly know. They share quite a unique jittery and percussive sound that I can't say I've heard before in his work, although it could partly be a continuation of the sort of experimentation that appeared on Hyakki Echo. Part of me gets the Impression he's also been inspired by re-listening to his earliest recordings and incorporated elements of those, but that's just speculation on my part. Assuming these are new recordings, it could be a good indicator that we'll get some brand new material this year as well as all the re-releases. The title of 'Excerpt from....' is the biggest tease ever, I'm eager to know more.
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Post by venereologist on Jun 1, 2018 7:44:28 GMT -5
Unless he's gotten his hands on an expensive hardware unit, it sounds as though he's been rediscovering software lately. I hear a lot of what seems, to me unmistakably, like granular synthesis all over these soundcloud tracks, as well as Hyakki Echo.
I've been playing around with granular synthesis a lot myself over the past several months (Apologies to the elitist university/art gallery crowd; I know it's considered "passé" in your illuminated circles these days!), and have achieved some strikingly similar jitter/glitch effects, using even very old software (GranuLab).
EDIT: I feel even more certain about this now. I just remembered that he mentioned Strange City was recorded using granular synthesis. In fact, now that I think about it, I do believe reading that was what what prompted me to look back into granular synthesis, after years of not touching GranuLab.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jun 20, 2018 16:05:14 GMT -5
August's additions to Slowdown's reissue series have been announced. 'Expanded Musik (2)' and 'Musick For Screen'
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Post by trollh on Jun 21, 2018 14:39:51 GMT -5
Holy fuk!
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Post by kanyewest on Jul 1, 2018 9:43:30 GMT -5
So, just to make sure that I understood this, though these Slowdown CDs are all of old recordings some of them have been previously released and others not, right?
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Post by davebowman on Jul 1, 2018 11:31:29 GMT -5
So, just to make sure that I understood this, though these Slowdown CDs are all of old recordings some of them have been previously released and others not, right? Yes - it appears that some are straight re-releases of long-deleted old cassettes, while others are previously unissued 'source material' that was used for previous releases. Not having heard/compared any, I have no idea how 'familiar' the source material will be, and whether large chunks of it will be recognisable from previous releases, or sound completely new. Going by Google translate for the notes on the site, I *think* it works out as following
Hyper Music 1 Vol 1: Previously unreleased 'source material'
23 November 1979: Previously unreleased 'source material'
Por #1 & #2 Vol 1: Previously unreleased 'source material' Por #1 & #2 Vol 2: Previously unreleased 'source material'
Cretin Merz: Previously unreleased 'source material'
Telecom Live: Previously unreleased 'source material'
Collection 10: Re-release (previously available on cassette and partially on CD in Merzbox)
Yantra Material Action: Re-release (previously available on cassette & CD in the Merzbox)
Expanded Musick 2: Re-release (previously available on cassette & *I think* CD in the Merzbox under the title 'Expanded Music')
Musick For Screen: Re-release (previously available on cassette)
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Post by kanyewest on Jul 6, 2018 19:22:19 GMT -5
Thanks davebowman! That will really come in handy
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 25, 2018 12:53:39 GMT -5
Some good news regarding (lots more) uproming releases from Slowdown records.
- We were right to speculate about a possible early material boxset - they have now announced a 6CD box set 'Merzbow - The Early Sessions' featuring the first six of their archival releases.
- There is to be another remix album in the form of '3RENSA fb05. I assume its more of the same and a continuation of the series. It seems this will be the final instalment of it though.
- 'Redrum', the debut album by 3RENSA the band is also getting a release from Slowdown (I assume on CD) it has some nice and incredibly striking/strange artwork... the entracte vinyl edition like almost all of their releases merely has a plain cover with the catalogue number in large print. Make of that what you will...
- There is to be a rerelease of 'Age Of 369' I don't know whether there is a difference in versions, but it's had a previous CD release already.
- Merzbow/Lotus Club - 'Le Sang Et Le Rose' is getting a rerelease. I'm not at all familiar with this one but apparently its aldo from the early 'duo period' and heavily influenced by early industrial and techno. The label seem to be giving it a lot of praise. There is another barking mad sound clip on the website, I'm looking forward to hearing more.
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Post by trollh on Jul 25, 2018 16:48:31 GMT -5
WOW!!!
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Post by trollh on Jul 28, 2018 8:53:32 GMT -5
Expanded Musik (2) Slowdown CD reissue. Scheduled for August 2018 Musick for Screen Slowdown CD reissue. Scheduled for August 2018 Redrum Entr'acte LP as 3RENSA with Nyantora and Duenn. Scheduled for August 2018 Redrum Slowdown CD as 3RENSA. Scheduled for September 2018 Early Sessions 1979–1981 Slowdown Boxset of 6 CDs. Scheduled for September 2018 3RENSA fb05 Slowdown Remix CD. Scheduled for September 2018 Age of 369 Slowdown CD reissue. Scheduled for September 2018 Le Sang Et La Rose Slowdown CD reissue. Scheduled for September 2018 Collection 006 Menstrualrecordings CD reissue Collection 008 Menstrualrecordings CD reissue
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Post by acsenger on Jul 31, 2018 12:17:59 GMT -5
That 6xCD box set sounds great, although it'll probably be expensive to get a copy, since it seems there's still no European distribution for Slowdown.
That "Redrum" artwork is indeed strange and great!
I tried using Google translate to read the text about the "Age of 369" reissue, but it's still not clear if there's any difference to the previous "Age of 369/Chant 2" 2xCD reissue.
I've never heard about that "Lotus Club" release and it's not clear if it's Merzbow proper or some other project, but it seems intriguing (although I've yet to listen to the sound samples).
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Post by andypandy380 on Sept 6, 2018 7:36:24 GMT -5
Some of you folks probably saw it coming, but the second set of six Slowdown albums has been confirmed as the 'Early Cassettes' box set. -Collection 010 -Musick For Screen -Yantra Material Action -Lotus Club – Le Sang Et La Rose -Expanded Musik (2) -Age Of 369
No details on the Slowdown website, but seems Soleilmoon in America already has them for sale.
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Post by andypandy380 on Sept 17, 2018 7:21:45 GMT -5
Some might be interested to know that Cold Spring have announced a re-release of 'A Perfect Pain', The collaboration between Merzbow and Genesis P-Orridge. They've given it the vinyl treatment with a couple of different options available, plus another CD edition in digipak rather than the jewel case of the original. It's a weird and wonderful album for anyone who's not heard it, definitely among the more interesting and successful collaborative efforts.
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Post by merzphysics on Sept 19, 2018 23:25:27 GMT -5
- We were right to speculate about a possible early material boxset - they have now announced a 6CD box set 'Merzbow - The Early Sessions' featuring the first six of their archival releases. WOW! YESYESYES!
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Post by acsenger on Sept 22, 2018 16:04:29 GMT -5
Some might be interested to know that Cold Spring have announced a re-release of 'A Perfect Pain', The collaboration between Merzbow and Genesis P-Orridge. They've given it the vinyl treatment with a couple of different options available, plus another CD edition in digipak rather than the jewel case of the original. It's a weird and wonderful album for anyone who's not heard it, definitely among the more interesting and successful collaborative efforts. Curiously, I’d never heard this album, only a sample or two, so I decided to finally listen to it today. Unfortunately I was right about what I was expecting: GPO’s vocals are a turnoff for me. I just can’t get into them. I rarely like spoken vocals though, so it’s not GPO in particular. It’s a real shame, as Merzbow’s music was rather unique. I wish there was a version with just his part. On another note, I guess Cold Spring expects this reissue to sell well and make a profit, because otherwise there’s hardly a reason to reissue it: the previous CD version is still easily available. I just keep hoping that instead of all the (what I consider) unnecessary reissues (like Pulse Demon, Age of 369, Ecobondage etc.), one day a label will reissue what I consider the holy grail: Dadarottenvator.
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Post by andypandy380 on Sept 23, 2018 14:41:47 GMT -5
Yeah, I can understand that. Gen's voice sounds very 'alien' but I think the pairing works quite well. I agree that Akita's work on that album is unique among a lot of his work, it sounds calculated, as if he spent a lot of time getting his parts just right. There are quite a lot of eccentric and unusual characters like that in the British underground of industrial and experimental music. People like David Tibet of Current 93... for ages I couldn't connect with anything he was doing, with his vocal style, the subject matter he delves into, but years later I'm actually digging it a lot more. I genuinely know very little about what he's saying in his songs, to me it's like a stream of consciousness that keeps it interesting. I still can't get into Coil or Psychic TV, maybe that'll fall into place one day, who knows.
Yeah, some of these reissues are a little baffling to me, I wonder what is really being achieved at the end of the day... just more vinyl that people aren't going to listen to. Dadarottenvator would be most welcome though!
On another note about upcoming releases... That KK Null/Merzbow reunion happened the other night. I jokingly put on KK's facebook page that I had my fingers crossed that they'd release it as a live album... he replied something like 'Absolutely! the only question is what record label is going to put it out?' He also replied to someone else after the gig confirming that they had recorded the show.... I dunno about you, but I'm pretty much calling that confirmed!
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Post by venereologist on Sept 23, 2018 20:59:54 GMT -5
Yeah, I can understand that. Gen's voice sounds very 'alien' Haha, yes. Manchester is very "alien", practically another planet! I am just teasing. I like Gen's voice, though, despite the accent being very stereotypically/generically Mancunian (right down to the nasal quality of it), and I recognize this, even being from Mississippi. This is funny to me. Anyway, I think it's a good album. Don't care at all for pointless vinyl reissues, though. In today's market, the "vinyl treatment" for common, dime-a-dozen, 90's-era CD releases is typically little more than a means of cashing in on a cultural fad. All things considered, CD audio is fine for my underdeveloped, terrestrial ears. Bearing in mind I've done zero research into the reissue's technical specs (let alone the original recording's), it wouldn't surprise me at all to discover the label is simply using the original CD masters for the vinyl pressing, making a vinyl edition even more pointless (the only virtue vinyl has in my opinion being the higher range of possible--though effectively inaudible--frequencies).
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Post by acsenger on Sept 25, 2018 11:41:38 GMT -5
Cold Spring says this new edition has been "remastered for both CD and vinyl by The Cage Studios." I wonder how big the difference is. As for formats, I personally think the optimal medium for Merzbow's music is the CD. That said, a well-done vinyl release probably sounds just as good, or close to it.
Haha, David Tibet is an eccentric alright. I know very little of Current 93's output. I liked his first two albums, "Dogs Blood Rising" and "Nature Unveiled" the couple times I've heard them (great covers and track titles, too). The music on them is really dark and nightmarish. The only album I owned by C93 was "Black Ships Ate The Sky". I think there were parts on it I really liked and others that I didn't. As for C93's themes, I know Tibet has very intriguing interests: Gnosticism, Coptic Christianity, apocalyptic themes and so on. I guess like many strange musicians and artists, he has a worldview and beliefs which are pretty bizarre for almost everyone else.
Musically, "esoteric" music like Psychic TV, Coil etc. is not my cup of tea. Granted, I've heard little. While I sometimes like the covers and titles of releases by bands/musicians of this kind, this kind of music doesn't work for me. It'd be interesting to hear more C93 though, since I did like some of what I've heard by them.
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Post by andypandy380 on Sept 25, 2018 14:07:53 GMT -5
I'm actually going to see Current 93 and Nurse With Wound at their London show in a couple of weeks time. Seen NWW a handful of times before and have been a fan for some time. A lot of people think the two bands go hand in hand with one another, but I've never quite seen it like that despite the two having worked very closely together. I was surprised when I first heard those first couple of albums by just how nightmarish they sounded, Nature Unveiled especially is really good. I like a lot of their more recent albums too, especially Aleph At Hallucinatory Mountain which has a sort of heavier, darker sound in places. There are still countless albums of theirs I haven't yet listened to though.
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Post by acsenger on Sept 25, 2018 15:28:50 GMT -5
NWW and C93 have a number of albums together, although I don’t know how many are collabs and how many are splits (if any). But I’d also imagine they’re different bands musically. I’ve heard a couple NWW albums and to me it’s a bit puzzling that they’re such a legendary band. I guess I’d have to dig deeper in their discography, although I heard “Salt Marie Celeste” recently and it didn’t encourage me to explore further. It starts out great, but the same theme keeps repeating for the entire duration without any variation whatsoever, so it became terribly boring quite quickly. Regarding David Tibet, I think it’s really surprising that he’s co-written a Whitehouse track: www.discogs.com/Whitehouse-Thank-Your-Lucky-Stars/release/73577.
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Post by andypandy380 on Sept 26, 2018 4:03:57 GMT -5
Honestly that album doesn't do a great deal for me either, I've not heard it in ages but it really did drag on from what I rememeber. A lot of their albums have a real mixed bag of sounds and styles explored between tracks, so I find there are standalone tracks that I often revisit... The Bottom Feeder, Journey Through Cheese, She And Me Fall Together In Free Death, In Swollen Silence, Close To You... among others.
I never realised Tibet had any involvement with Whitehouse. I find it even stranger that the album was produced by Steve Albini.
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fred
New Member
Posts: 55
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Post by fred on Sept 26, 2018 4:25:12 GMT -5
For Current 93, I recommend Christ And The Pale Queen Mighty In Sorrow, Thunder Perfect Mind, Imperium, Swastikas For Noddy, The Star On Their Horsies among others... For Nurse With Wound, listening to Spiral Insana (my favorite one so far), Merzbild Schwet, Homotopy To Marie, The Sylvie and Babs Hi-Fi Companion... is a good start. For Psychic TV, I am really not fan but I love Dreams Less Sweet. Maybe others are very good as well but I don't know them. For Coil mostly everything For a good start, please have a try to Horse Rotorvator, Love's Secret Domain, Musick To Play In The Dark 1 and 2... My teenage years !!
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