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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Merzbow

Merzbow is the stage name of Japanese musician Masami Akita. Now, the first time I saw a YouTube video of Merzbow he was smashing his forehead into his stage equipment, screaming as if in agony, and thrashing about on stage yelling into a broken microphone.

At first I thought this might have been an odd night then I realized no... that's pretty much Merzbow. He's essentially the God of a genre of music known as harsh noise. Noise music is characterized by dissonant sounds, bizarre instrumentation, and cacophonous noises being used as tools to create what to some would be an abomination of music and sound, but to others is incredible in it's complexity and depth.

I'm still not sure which group I'm in.



Now, some people would ask "Is this music?" According to the textbook definition of music it is, music is sound arranged through time. Sometimes you have to suspend what you think you know about music and give something a shot. And with Merzbow you have a pretty big target.

258 studio albums
65 live albums
4 compilation albums
30 EPs
13 soundtracks
2 tribute and cover albums
221 compilation tracks
25 split albums
99 appearances with other artists

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

33 comments:

  1. Geeeeez! When i played the youtube video I almost blew out the speakers in my headphones! It might be 'considered' music but i feel it is more of a call for attention.

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  2. not sure what i would call that.

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  3. I cant listen for this longer than 30 seconds it´s no music it destroys my speakers!!

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  4. I don't know why, but the youtube player doesn't work for me.

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  5. The bizarre instruments really come out well. But it's too freaky for me ;).

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  6. There is quite a following for this genre. I remember my first expedition into the 'noise' scene. I was thinking it was somehow an inside joke that I wasn't privy to. Great post, keep 'em coming!

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  7. I don't think that is music...

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  8. good music!! i like that kind of "nois" music

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  9. merzbow is like actress, super weird and out there... usually hipsters are all about him.

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  10. ...the fuck? That is not music, that is ear rape :/

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  11. This is some different noise than I'm used to, I'd have to see how his theatrics go with it. The most noise I get into is like Tom Morrello showing his guitar who's boss and making noises that you swear any sane guitar player could never recreate

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  12. I don't really understand why people like this, but whatever, good post! Followed! :)

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  13. I guess they just exhausted every other idea related to music...

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  14. some people say noise music is like free verse poetry, I think it's more like watching static.

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  15. My speakers are crying now. Wow, that was just horrible!

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  16. Do you have any connections with promoters?!

    Man, if so, no BS, please tell them to send promos to us!

    KXUA 88.3 FM
    A665 Arkansas Union
    Fayetteville, AR 72701

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  17. wow that's... weird °° I think can be defined music, because they have made it programming sequencers,setting up synths, ecc, the result cannot be appreciated from the most, but is the product of an artistic effort, isn't it?

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  18. I don't like/get it. :/
    This is what came to mind eh..
    http://i53.tinypic.com/2eahuo4.jpg

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  19. And don't listen to the poll. It needs more bizzare genre coverage! :)

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  20. Played the video and waited for about a minute for the actual song/chorus to play when I realised that was it. I don't know whether I should be creeped out or what.

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  21. 258 albums? How the hell can you even get that many albums? That's pretty impressive in and of itself.

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  22. my ears started to bleed. Sweet

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  23. i cant really consider it to be music, it just seems to be random sounds blasted at high volume.

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  24. oww my ears...not my thing haha

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  25. you forgot the Merzbox. It is trans am he tricked out with midi triggers connected to the odometer and speedometer. it plays his "music" as you drive, and gets more intense the faster you go. limited edition of one.

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  26. I wish hipsters would start listening to such "music". Just because it's SO alternative.

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  27. 258 albums? wtf, sorry but this isn't 'music' for me. haha

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