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Post by davebowman on Jun 26, 2021 12:03:43 GMT -5
Managed to pick up a copy of the Merzbow/Racebannon 12" for a decent price. I kept forgetting this even existed, as it's listed in Discogs under 'Merzbannon' as a band name (I'd argue that's more likely the name of the record, but whatever). Anyway, the drums are a ted repetitive, but overall a short but fun release.
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Post by andypandy380 on Jun 27, 2021 3:26:33 GMT -5
I was always disappointed that it's little more than the drum intro to one of their albums looped for 20 minutes, there's not a whole lot of creative input from either side but maybe I'm due anither listen of it with fresh ears. I have to thank that release for introducing me to Racebannon though, they did some amazing albums in their time, as far as I know they called it a day some time ago and it's a shame they get little recognition these days.
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Post by acsenger on Jun 30, 2021 9:08:01 GMT -5
Didn't know where to write this, so I chose this topic based on the recent mention of the Merzbow/Cock ESP collab. I've just listened to the Merzbow/Slugbait and Merzbow/John Watermann collab CDs. I hadn't heard them for a long time, and it was nice to revisit them. Both are satisfying listens, although, like pretty much all Merzbow collaborations in my view, hardly essential. Still, if you're a fan, you can't go wrong with buying them if you don't have them already. The Merzbow/Slugbait album is from 1996 and the Merzbow/Watermann is from 1995, it seems (no dates are given with that one). The first album is a more traditional noise album (with one long track by both artists, reworking each other's material), while the second one (which has one long Merzbow track, a long collab track and a short Watermann track) is more varied. Here Merzbow uses a violin as well as a rock song sample in his solo track, and the collaborative track is mainly fast-changing cut-up stuff. Watermann's track is also cut-up musique concrete-type music. Both releases are a nice addition to the classic '90s Merzbow style.
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Post by HaxanDub on Aug 18, 2021 6:15:50 GMT -5
Recently bought a new copy of Electric Salad CD from Soleilmoon in USA. They found some spare copies or something. Even with US postage costs it was still cheaper than I could see 2nd hand and it's brand new. Superb album.
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fred
New Member
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Post by fred on Aug 19, 2021 2:19:15 GMT -5
Recently bought a new copy of Electric Salad CD from Soleilmoon in USA. They found some spare copies or something. Even with US postage costs it was still cheaper than I could see 2nd hand and it's brand new. Superb album. I recently spent some times with this album and yes I find it is a superb one from that period. Great listening experiences.
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Post by HaxanDub on Aug 25, 2021 4:00:05 GMT -5
Just listened to Kikuri album 'Pulverised Purple' (Merzbow & Keiji Haino). Really strong and varied album, full on noise to a track which goes back to the experimental sounds of Merzbow's 80s period and course lots of superb Haino guitars. Picked it up from actuellecd.com in Canada (along with Merzbow & Pan Sonic CD) as that was the cheapest postage to UK.
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Post by davebowman on Aug 25, 2021 4:43:27 GMT -5
Recently got the 2011 'Katowice' limited edition live CD, still available from the label. This looked like it might be some kind of cheap and nasty home made thing on Discogs, but the little card cover inlay is actually pretty cool, and the recording is a solid show.
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Post by andypandy380 on Aug 25, 2021 10:40:09 GMT -5
Strange packaging on that one isn't it. I recall liking the really heavy synthesizer sounds on it.
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Post by HaxanDub on Sept 25, 2021 4:46:08 GMT -5
10x6=60 CD box arrived yesterday. Got from soundohm and didn't get any customs fee which helped. Will get into the CDs next week but the box looks lovely. No extras of any kind if anyone was wondering.
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fred
New Member
Posts: 55
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Post by fred on Sept 26, 2021 1:22:40 GMT -5
10x6=60 CD box arrived yesterday. Got from soundohm and didn't get any customs fee which helped. Will get into the CDs next week but the box looks lovely. No extras of any kind of anyone was wondering. I am waiting for my parcel of 10x6=60 to arrive on the next few days. Can't wait.
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emgee
New Member
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Post by emgee on Oct 3, 2021 14:14:30 GMT -5
Would love to get the 10X6 set but I’ve got too many of them already. I think the best boxes are Loop & Collage and Metallic, I also like the Laptop Noise collection a lot.
I recently got some more Slowdown releases:
Kumo No Zettaichi (recorded 2011) – this is a 10/10 release. It’s very different for Merzbow with little of his signature sounds. In fact, it’d probably beat anyone in a blindfold test. With its chugging rhythm and sirens it made me think of Steve Reich’s Different Trains - although they’re not really comparable. There is a longer sample (than the usual short Slowdown snip) on the Merzbow Soundcloud page. The second track has a few more discordant moments but it’s still all drones, pulses and sirens. I love it!
Yono’s Journey (rec 2007) – is more familiar Merzbow. The first track has a melodic loop which plays for most of the duration. Over the top is a dense mix of feedback, wah-wah static, squelchy synths, alarms and industrial percussion. It all builds to a nice crescendo before imploding. Track 3: Bloody Sea Of TAIJI is an apocalyptic piece which easily matches its title. You’d be hard-pressed to be disappointed with this disc.
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Post by HaxanDub on Nov 19, 2021 8:10:18 GMT -5
A while ago I saw on Placenta Recordings bandcamp page they had newly discovered copies of Merzbow - Samidara LP and cassette. Bought a cassette and waited. Just a warning to anyone on here who might be interested - they never bothered to send me anything they just tried to take my money. Got refund through Paypal. I wouldn't recommend that label.
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Post by andypandy380 on Nov 20, 2021 3:43:26 GMT -5
I thought those guys were poor as well. The whole Samidara thing didn't go particularly smoothly in the first place, pre-ordered a copy at the time and it wasn't manufactured and dispatched until a year later. People were getting a bit irate about it, understandable really.
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Post by davebowman on Nov 20, 2021 17:10:38 GMT -5
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Post by HaxanDub on May 26, 2022 5:23:17 GMT -5
Got the new Animal Liberation CD which is a really strong album, highly recommended. Also managed to get Merzbuddha for £3 on ebay which was good.
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Post by HaxanDub on Nov 9, 2022 10:51:07 GMT -5
Received the new Pinhas/Merzbow - Coda album. Really great album, my favourite of their collaborations I have heard so far (I have Keiko line and the Metal 2xCD - that one doesn't have Merzbow in the title but he plays on 3 30 min tracks with Wolf Eyes). Got it for 12.90 Euros including postage to UK from corticalart.com
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Post by andypandy380 on Nov 9, 2022 12:59:40 GMT -5
Cheers for the heads up! Hadn't managed to find it for sale anywhere. Glad to hear it's a good'un
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Post by HaxanDub on Jan 18, 2023 6:21:09 GMT -5
Managed to get some good Merzbow releases from Tokyo. Got the Fantail Visions boxed set (luckily was small 10% new years sale discount) and Age of 369 / Chant 2 2xCD from Disk Union and then found a very strange music shop called Los Apson which has loads of Merzbow in stock. Found Dead Lotus tape and Electro Magnetic Unit CD.
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Post by davebowman on Jan 19, 2023 7:52:21 GMT -5
Electro Magnetic Unit was actually released by Los Apson, so I guess the label has their own shop? Remember this being tricky to find in the UK at release time, and having to import it from Japan.
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Post by HaxanDub on Jan 19, 2023 11:18:09 GMT -5
Yes that's how I found the shop from looking up about the label as I was finding it hard to get that cd at a decent price.
The shop is very unique. There is just stuff everywhere. Not in a messy way but lots of little models in between some tapes, artwork everywhere, you can look down at a little shelf and there's some random boxed sets. It's a tiny shop but so many releases in there. I will definitely go back there next time I'm over there.
He has a load of Merzbow imports at good prices. The yen is quite low against the pound so got some good deals. Dead lotus tape was 1200 yen which is about £7.50.
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emgee
New Member
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Post by emgee on Feb 4, 2023 14:33:27 GMT -5
Wow! Record shopping in Tokyo - that's the dream. What do you think of the Fantail Vision discs? I've been listening to them a fair bit. I'd say that, on the whole, the albums from 2020-22, including these and also Screaming Dove and the latest, Hope, tend to focus on the upper, trebly, end of the sound spectrum giving a much colder feel - like stepping into an Arctic blizzard. I like them but not essential in my book. The preceding Dead Lotus has more contrast and is better IMO.
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n
Newbie
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Post by n on Jul 21, 2023 16:19:28 GMT -5
Don't know if this would be an interesting thread, to maybe shed a little light on more random releases than just the newly released stuff? 2023 starts with Animal Liberation and Green Wheels…Magnesia Nova came in (alongside Miki Yamanaka, Harri Ansorge). Magnesia Nova: Really odd vibe, disturbing somehow…would seem too unfocused if it didn't seem to come out of an inexplicable fugue. Loud (Feb-May 1995) Green Wheels: Crappy and muddy, '96/'97 speedcore-y, frenetic & hardcore…builds such momentum, he gets to operating at a frontier where composition/narrative barely holding together (Mar-May 1995) Dead Zone in spring (alongside Susanne Brokesch, Fanny). Got Eternal Stalker in Hollywood, got CATalysis 猫媒. (Fabric club series, Giancarlo Toniutti coming in throughout 2023 H1.) Dead Zone: Cut-up, stuttering/stilted, processed style foreshadows Hyakki Echo, maybe Kaerutope or Suzume 1 & 2 (12 March 2011) Summer: Got Fantail Vision. Fatigued ears from unrestrained Slowdown era so starting slow…second half of Fantail Vision is grabbing me…more obviously fresh/new than the first half (at a glance). Animal Matiere: Major keys, minimalist, unhurried & rich…tight…almost happy/blissed at times, tinny drones to muddy ocean roar, touches on ton of styles in a low-key/organic way (2020-2022) Animal Liberation: Depressive/hopeless, ambient, blackened, fresh vibe/"open" (2022, 2021) CATalysis 猫媒: Open or "empty" sort of like Animal Liberation & Matiere, cheery, not not-feline, great enviro-banging (2022-2023)
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