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Post by andypandy380 on May 19, 2019 15:30:40 GMT -5
Having released no less than 24 archival albums already, it looks as if Slowdown are already starting a 5th series of albums in July with 'Cloud Cock OO Grand (another mix)' and 'Crash For Hi-Fi Tapes' They've moved into the early 90's now... I'm wondering just how extensive this is going to be, it's pretty much become the equivalent of doing another Merzbox.
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Post by merzphysics on May 19, 2019 18:47:37 GMT -5
Hoping for some alternate mixes or even outtakes from Pulse Demon or Tauromachine.
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Post by davebowman on May 19, 2019 20:20:33 GMT -5
'Slowdown' is certainly an appropriate label name - I'm never going to catch up if they don't ease up on the amount of releases!
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Post by andypandy380 on May 20, 2019 2:28:09 GMT -5
Hoping for some alternate mixes or even outtakes from Pulse Demon or Tauromachine. I reckon it'll get to that eventually - or something similar. They've certainly put out a huge amount of stuff, soon to be 30 archival albums, 5 original albums, 5 remix albums. The only way I could ever hear it all is if they continue to release each set of six as a box set, but in all honestly I've hardly listened to the first two
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Post by acsenger on May 20, 2019 3:19:39 GMT -5
I wonder if they’ll keep releasing box sets collecting the previous six or so CDs. It seems there have been two so far, each collecting the preceding six CDs, but since then another batch of six CDs have been released without a box following them. I have yet to buy any of these releases, but I’d certainly prefer CD boxes to individual releases. I also hope they delve into ‘90s archives. I’m already excited for the Crash for Hi-Fi tapes, since that’s an outstanding piece in my view.
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Post by davebowman on May 20, 2019 6:51:45 GMT -5
Having released no less than 24 archival albums already, it looks as if Slowdown are already starting a 5th series of albums in July with 'Cloud Cock OO Grand (another mix)' and 'Crash For Hi-Fi Tapes' They've moved into the early 90's now... I'm wondering just how extensive this is going to be, it's pretty much become the equivalent of doing another Merzbox. Here's an idea - maybe Slowdown could release 'Merzbox - Alternate Mix', and we can get an entire new 50 CD boxset as well? More seriously, I'm not complaining that all these Slowdown releases as coming out. I think it's great! It just slightly sucks that as a UK listener it costs so much to import these things from Japan (I've only just managed to get a copy of 'Kaoscitron', and that's a couple of years old now), but that's hardly their fault.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 20, 2019 10:36:11 GMT -5
I'm also hoping they'll continue the box sets, I don't see why they wouldn't, as a fan it's definitely a more cost effective way of doing it and they're rather nicely presented. - those albums individually seem to be quite pricey no matter who's selling them. I've been quite lucky on Discogs and have found that a lot of Japanese sellers have quite reasonable international shipping costs.
Haha, I really wouldn't put it past someone to do a Merzbox 2. I really like all of the new albums Slowdown have put out, the archival stuff is all well and good but it seems Akita is getting quite playful recently with different sounds, really taking the project into some wildly different territores... I thought the Kaoscitron tracks 1-3 were really great actually. I'm more eager to hear what he's been up to lately - a lot of that stuff hasn't been the easiest to get hold of either.
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Post by andypandy380 on May 26, 2019 10:56:49 GMT -5
Just noticed on Discogs (apologies if it was already mentioned somewhere on Merzphysics' posts regarding the Russian tour... Seems there was a cassette released and sold only at the venue simply titled 'Merzbow & Balazs Pandi' (But written in Russian) Limited to 50 copies. I don't know what sort of content is on the cassette but I'd assune it's a live recording of another event.
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Post by trollh on Jun 28, 2019 14:35:57 GMT -5
New Slowdown releases for august (16th) will be: "Travelling" and "Untitled 1991 Vol. 1" They are unreleased works from 91 and 92....
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Post by nofun on Jul 6, 2019 11:20:26 GMT -5
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Post by merzphysics on Jul 6, 2019 11:38:31 GMT -5
Wow! Nice release here. I'll have to give it a listen soon. Thank you No Funeral!
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Post by merzphysics on Jul 6, 2019 11:39:30 GMT -5
Are these old recordings or are they brand new?
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Post by nofun on Jul 6, 2019 12:42:47 GMT -5
Brand new. Recorded 2018-2019. First time released today.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 7, 2019 10:56:26 GMT -5
We like surprises! Ordered one and given it a first listen. It's good, some of it is along similar lines to albums like LopLop or Konchuuki. I love the end bit of Part 3 and the final track 'Spirulina Blue' is absolutely beautiful!
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Post by acsenger on Jul 8, 2019 10:41:32 GMT -5
I’ve just listened to it and it’s pretty good indeed!
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 13, 2019 15:47:01 GMT -5
Two more reissues have been confirmed...
Menstrual recordings are putting out a 3CD reissue of the three Dying Mapa tapes from the early 80s. These appeared in the Merzbox, but split across only two CDs so in a way this reissue makes sense. I hope they make a decent job of it though, Haven't been completely happy with the quality of much of their releases (CDs crammed into flimsy plastic wallets etc.) It's listed on their website but I doubt it'll surface for some time.
Urashima are doing a reissue of Metalvelodrome
"Remastered and revised without the two tracks live and with four bonus tracks at Munemihouse in 2019 by Masami Akita. This reissue comes in awesome silver wooden box with laser engraving of original artwork cover on front (and inside) and Urashima logo on back. Each single CD inside wooden box comes in cardboard wallet with new artwork by Masami Akita plus foldable and individually numbered certificate in 500 copies."
Part of me thinks it's a strange decision to re-release this one, but it's logical since all the albums from around the same time are getting similar treatment, it's a bit of a fan favourite too. I get the feeling that special packaging could come with a price tag to match, but I think a lot of people could be delighted by this one since the original album is pretty hard to get hold of at a sensible price.
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Post by acsenger on Jul 14, 2019 13:34:40 GMT -5
It seems all three “Dying Mapa” tapes are included in the “Merzbox”, so unless Menstrual’s CD box has bonus material, I won’t have to buy it (which is good for my wallet).
A few years ago for a while their website listed one or two upcoming Merzbow/Null reissues. They disappeared a long time ago, so I guess they won’t be happening. What a shame!
As for “Metalvelodrome”, I think it makes perfect sense to re-release it, since it’s one of Merzbow’s best releases ever, but it’s hard to come by and expensive. What bothers me with this reissue though, as well as with the recent reissues of “Venereology” and “Noise Mass” (assuming it’s partly the same as “Hole”, which I don’t know for sure yet), is that the original releases are altered. In my view, the ideal way to do a reissue is to re-release the same release. Maybe some minor revision of the artwork is fine, but the music should remain the same (remastering aside, although in many cases it’s probably unnecessary). The new version of “Venereology” omitted a track from the original album (what’s more, apparently for the ridiculous reason of Akita’s ex-wife playing on it) and added others that have no apparent relation to it. Now the same seems to have been done to “Metalvelodrome” (granted, the bonus tracks could be from the same sessions; we don’t know yet), and in this case, even the artwork is new. I’ll probably fork out for it for the bonus tracks, but I hope this way of reissuing Merzbow material will stop (it probably won’t, haha).
By the way, I’ve emailed Akita asking him to reissue “Dadarottenvator”. I finally got to hear it a few months ago (it’s on YouTube now), and it’s a surprising and awesome album!
On another note, Urashima will also reissue a T. Mikawa cassette from 1989. That sounds interesting!
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 14, 2019 15:58:56 GMT -5
I'd forgotten about that, it is a shame those tapes won't see the light of day. There's an absolute ton of those Merzbow/Null cassettes too, would be great to see some re-releases. To my knowledge Deus Irae is the only one that got a CD release (in the early 90s), it's on Null's own label 'Nux Organization' too - I wonder why the decision was made to put out a reissue of that album, and only that album.
Yeah, I agree, the reworking and altering of these albums is strange and not something I'm particularly keen on either, although I wasn't really interested in owning those albums on vinyl since I have the original CDs. Rather than bonus tracks I'd quite like to see more Merzbow 'odds n ends' collections in the same vain as 'Another Merzbow Records'. In a way I'm surprised that album is the only example of that - there must be hours and hours of compilation tracks that have got buried over time.
That would be great! and that raises a good point actually, it hadn't crossed my mind that Dadarottenvator or even Project Frequency might be in for the same treatment. If this is to continue, I feel like Green Wheels is the next logical step it would go in. I'll give Dadarottenvator a listen at some point. I noticed that the album '1633' has made it's way on to Youtube too, that's always remained a mysterious album for me... who was putting out ultra limited edition vinyl exclusives in 2004?
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Post by trollh on Jul 18, 2019 10:50:36 GMT -5
1633 was been released by En/Of by my friend in Germany.
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Post by acsenger on Jul 24, 2019 9:55:58 GMT -5
A Merzbow/Vanity Productions collaborative LP on Ideal Recordings called “Coastal Erosion” is out now. Boomkat has two samples, and while nothing earth-shattering, they sound decent. It would seem Merzbow brings the noise, on top of which V. P. plays atmospheric synth.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 24, 2019 14:16:05 GMT -5
Quite like the sound of those actually, the atmosphere and general sound of it is something a little different for Merzbow but it works. Too bad I can't seem to find a digital download of it, although a digital copy comes with purchase of the LP. I don't know if I'm right to assume this is a studio recording and that we are still due a live album from the duo via Editions Mego at some point in time.
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Post by acsenger on Jul 24, 2019 14:45:31 GMT -5
I might grab it if I can get it for cheap. The guy behind Vanity Productions is also in Damien Dubrovnik, by whom I have two LPs. I haven’t heard them in years, but I remember liking them, partly because they had atmospheric synth parts too.
I think you’re right that aside from this new record by Merzbow & V. P., there should be another one out sometime on Editions Mego.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 25, 2019 9:23:43 GMT -5
Ah cool, I admit they're names I'm not familiar with but I'll try delve into that at some point.
The next two slowdown albums for September are to be 'Untitled 1991 - volumes 2 and 3' which doesn't give us a lot to go by as yet, I'm sort of concerned that we haven't had more news regarding possible box sets, but fingers crossed they'll continue with that.
I'm wondering whether 2019 will end up being the year with the single most Merzbow releases thus far... we're halfway through and there's already been 19 original albums (i think) with a whole load more announced. Granted, the majority have been archival releases. I don't really know where I'd draw the line if I were to try work it out properly, 1996 and 2009 were pretty big contenders, and some of the early 80s probably more so with huge amounts of cassette releases, especially if we were to include the likes of Merzbow Null into it.
Has anyone received copies of Noise Mass, Dead Lotus, or Yahatahachiman yet? Either I've got confused with the exact release dates or they're being held by the inconceivably useless UK customs office for no reason, which is somewhat likely. Edit: Noise Mass and Dead Lotus were posted two weeks ago, they really ought to be here, I don't think Yahatahachiman has been sent out yet.
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Post by acsenger on Jul 25, 2019 10:46:13 GMT -5
Yeah, I also hope Slowdown Records will continue with the box sets. I’d definitely get these ‘90s materials.
I’m getting a bit concerned that I haven’t received “Noise Mass” yet, given that I got an email from the label on 9 July that it was on its way to me. However, it’s coming from Australia, and the Hungarian post might well be sitting on it as well, so I’m hoping it hasn’t got lost.
As far as “Yahatahachiman” is concerned, I’m not sure of the status of my copy, but since the CD seems to be out, I guess it’s either on its way or will be very soon.
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Post by nofun on Jul 25, 2019 13:36:52 GMT -5
Has anyone received copies of Noise Mass, Dead Lotus, or Yahatahachiman yet? Either I've got confused with the exact release dates or they're being held by the inconceivably u Edit: Noise Mass and Dead Lotus were posted two weeks ago, they really ought to be here, I don't think Yahatahachiman has been sent out yet. For dead lotus - Did you order a tee ? Did you get an order confirmation? I've sent all but one package out. If it doesnt arrive next week, send me an email.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 26, 2019 10:54:23 GMT -5
Nofun - Cheers for the reply, I ordered just one of the cassettes via bandcamp and had a shipping confirmation from you back on 8th July - So I think it's just a case of waiting for international shipping to do it's thing. I spoke a bit too soon because Noise Mass did actually arrive this morning.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 26, 2019 11:31:57 GMT -5
I've been wondering about that Russian Merzbow/Pandi cassette. Can't seem to find any further info on it other than the fact it appeared on Discogs one day, it's not listed on the Wiki discography page, nor does there seem to be anywhere online with further details. I don't know a huge amount about the music scene in Russia, but it isn't uncommon to see unusual Russian editions and bootlegs of things online and It appears to be the only release the label has put out, which would lead me to believe it's an unofficial release - but surely it can't be given that it was supposedly sold at the show. I wonder what kind of recording is on the tape... I own a handful of very strange and unplayable hacked video games from Russia, which I know is a different point entirely, but the elusive nature of this cassette feels like a similar sort of a thing to me.
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Post by acsenger on Jul 26, 2019 16:42:02 GMT -5
Great news: Urashima will reissue “Dadarottenvator” at the end of the year! I can’t wait!
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Post by andypandy380 on Jul 27, 2019 2:37:13 GMT -5
That's amazing!
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Post by davebowman on Jul 27, 2019 11:31:59 GMT -5
Cool - but will it have the same track-listing as the original?
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