|
Post by andypandy380 on Dec 20, 2021 11:58:28 GMT -5
Figured I'd start up a new thread as this year draws to a close. Would be interesting to hear how you guys felt about 2021 as a Merzbow fan/collector. For me, a couple of surprises, plenty of the usual in terms of Slowdown and rereleases. As far as new stuff goes , not a whole lot outside of a couple of cassette releases.
As for next year, a couple more rereleases that could potentially be quite nice to own, an expanded Noisembryo, possibly all ten 'Collection' albums in one box set. Maybe they're massively jumping the gun, but a new Merzbow/Richard Pinhas album is lined up for a release towards the end of next year. It's probably taking them that long to get the thing pressed to vinyl.
|
|
emgee
New Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by emgee on Dec 24, 2021 6:14:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Dec 24, 2021 8:07:20 GMT -5
Ahhh, I have two of them on tape and 3 on CD plus the selection on Merzbox but this collection is still tempting...
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Dec 24, 2021 12:06:27 GMT -5
Oh man they've made such a nice job of it! Not keen on the price, but I think I might have to
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Dec 24, 2021 13:05:17 GMT -5
Figured I'd start up a new thread as this year draws to a close. Would be interesting to hear how you guys felt about 2021 as a Merzbow fan/collector. For me, a couple of surprises, plenty of the usual in terms of Slowdown and rereleases. As far as new stuff goes , not a whole lot outside of a couple of cassette releases. Yeah, it's been a real mixed bag for me recently. There have been some great reissues, and it's wonderful to see all these archive recordings getting released - but the amount of new Merzbow full length albums (especially when you discount collaborations) has now slowed to a trickle, and has never been less. I'm hoping that when the Slowdown series finally reaches it's end, that we move out of this backwards-looking archival stage, and start getting regular new stuff again. When I first got into Merzbow there was pretty much a new album coming out every month, and it was exciting to follow that progression, so I do kind of miss those days.
|
|
|
Post by acsenger on Dec 24, 2021 17:56:24 GMT -5
The liner notes by Akita in the new ‘Collection’ box being only in Japanese is like a bad joke. Why on earth would there be no English translation?!
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Dec 28, 2021 11:26:47 GMT -5
It's been confirmed that the five original Merzbow albums released by Slowdown will indeed be released packaged as a 5CD box set. Could be one to look out for if you've not yet heard Kaoscitron, Kauertope, Indigo Dada or Suzumeiro parts 1 and 2. I wonder whether that wraps things up for Slowdown? Who knows...
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Dec 29, 2021 5:42:11 GMT -5
I think I'm going to hold off on that box for a little bit. I have a sneaky suspicion there might be a sequal to the '10x6=60CD' megabox at some stage, and it wouldn't suprise me if this set was included.
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Dec 29, 2021 12:33:39 GMT -5
That's a very good point, does kind of seem inevitable.
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Jan 9, 2022 13:10:41 GMT -5
|
|
emgee
New Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by emgee on Jan 22, 2022 13:18:49 GMT -5
I’ve been listening to the new Collection box. It’s nicely put together – almost identical in construction to the Metalvelodrome reissue, but with ten discs shoehorned in. I had never heard the entire Collection series previously and it’s nice to have them altogether. I didn’t know they comprised a few sessions in June 1981 and a couple from late October 1981 - plus a reworked session in 1982. It seems that as time went on, the balance between traditional musical instruments and machinery started to lean towards the latter, with the later sessions having more loops, effects and electronics, foreshadowing developments to come. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it, especially the later discs.
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Jan 29, 2022 10:49:36 GMT -5
Also recieved my copy a couple of days ago. First of the Urashima box sets I've picked up and pretty impressed by it. Really want to grab the K2 one too. I've got most of the Collection albums that have been given a rerelease so far but it's great to have the whole lot in one place. Very much looking forward to getting stuck in to it.
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Feb 2, 2022 13:06:32 GMT -5
Urashima have announced a 2LP reissue of Hybrid Noisebloom, due for release in a couole of weeks time
|
|
|
Post by acsenger on Mar 26, 2022 4:24:20 GMT -5
Important Records is reissuing 'Merzbeat' and 'Material Action 2 N.A.M.', and releasing a Merzbow/Arcane Device collaboration. All three releases will be on CD. The sound samples from the collab sound very promising (https://importantrecords.com/products/merzbow-arcane-device-cd-pre-order). It's strange to see 'Merzbeat' being reissued again. In June there will be a vinyl version as well as a second edition of the cassette version, but it seems there's still enough demand for a third CD edition.
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Apr 1, 2022 11:50:56 GMT -5
|
|
emgee
New Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by emgee on Apr 12, 2022 9:08:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Apr 12, 2022 19:07:06 GMT -5
Thanks for posting about that. Sample track sounds pretty good.
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Apr 13, 2022 5:08:15 GMT -5
Soundohm have a collection of the SlowDown records boxed sets since the 10x60CD box. www.soundohm.com/product/slowdown-records-box-setsOn it's website it says the series has finished but if you look at the SlowDown website there are CDs coming out from the 15th boxed set so it seems to still be going on.
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Apr 15, 2022 9:06:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on May 5, 2022 10:46:13 GMT -5
Got ourselves (an actual) brand spanking new Merzbow CD on the way from Cold Spring! coldspring.co.uk/csr314cdI've also just read on instagram that Urashima are preparing for a 2LP reissue of Magnesia Nova. Proper underrated 90's album in my opinion
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on May 5, 2022 15:25:59 GMT -5
Thanks for that. I listened to the samples and it sounds pretty good.
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on May 16, 2022 3:18:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on May 16, 2022 6:54:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the link. It sounds good but the collab with Lawrence English is the one I am looking forward to the most.
|
|
|
Post by acsenger on May 17, 2022 13:50:50 GMT -5
The double LP reissue of 'Magnesia Nova' is out at the end of May and features a 20-minute bonus track that can be listened to here: urashima.bandcamp.com/album/magnesia-nova. Urashima is also selling a Merzbow T-shirt.
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on May 25, 2022 8:41:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by andypandy380 on Jun 2, 2022 6:23:49 GMT -5
Old Europa Cafe are releasing a CD edition of Flesh Metal Orgasm in August/September
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Jun 25, 2022 12:36:40 GMT -5
Got my copy of this recently, and really enjoying it. Recommended.
|
|
emgee
New Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by emgee on Jun 25, 2022 15:19:20 GMT -5
I picked up the latest releases.
Animal Liberation - Until Every Cage Is Empty
It’s full on and unrelenting. At first, I thought it was a bit monotonous but close listening, with headphones, reveals an extra layer of detail buried beneath – I think I heard some animal samples somewhere. Towards the end, there’s more variation, with a few squelchy, synth-like sounds. I think it might be a grower.
Eternal Stalker with Lawrence English
It’s difficult to tell where the field recordings and the Merztronics start and finish. The sound is distant and indistinct and slow-moving. Gradually, it gets louder and closer, like walking into a jet engine from two miles away. It follows a sign-posted, linear path but there’s quite a lot of wide-eyed anticipation waiting to see what happens at each tumultuous peak. However, now I know, I’m not rushing to listen again.
Merzbow + Arcane Device
The Merzbow track is quite short (22 mins) but immediately it’s the most exciting. There’s almost a bombardment of different sounds from every direction. Not exactly, noisy but very interesting. It sounds like a digital version of track 1 from: ‘Merzbow Loves Emil Beaulieau’.
Patterns & Mechanisms with Eraldo Bernochhi
Virtually a fusion of the other three. It has the harshness of the Animal Liberation disc, its deep, bass-like drones resemble the compositional elements found on the Eternal Stalker cd, and it has the variety of the Arcane Device release.
One last thing: has Slowdown records finally slowed down?
|
|
|
Post by HaxanDub on Jun 30, 2022 4:04:49 GMT -5
The last Slowdown CD was released in March and that was in the middle of the 15th edition, so yeah I think they are taking a break. I haven't got the recent collaborations but have listened to the Animal Liberation CD a lot and it's a very good album.
|
|
fred
New Member
Posts: 56
|
Post by fred on Jul 16, 2022 8:15:08 GMT -5
Old Europa Cafe are releasing a CD edition of Flesh Metal Orgasm in August/September I consider this as a very good news
|
|