never heard of this band. So it came as a shock to find out that there is a box set for this band. It came as a bigger shock to find out that it was $495. It’s available at Amoeba music in hollywood. just thought i would share.
Late,
grmpysmrf
Hehehe that must be the Merzbox, which has like 50 CDs in it.
Merzbow totally rules but I think getting the whole Merzbox is a bit overkill.
Hehehe that must be the Merzbox, which has like 50 CDs in it.
Merzbow totally rules but I think getting the whole Merzbox is a bit overkill.
what do they sound like?
Late,
grmpysmrf
Absolute and extreme noise. No real “beats” or “breaks” or verse/chorus/verse stuff… Hell… I don’t even think I’ve heard much of any Merz with vocals in it. It’s just straight out trash and computer noise. Most of it is just irritating, but there is a fair deal of it that’s worth hearing. Very innovative and experimental stuff. Oh… And it’s not a band. It’s just one guy named Merzbow.
Peace!
Krowe
Wow, you’ve REALLY never heard of it? Huh. For something at least somewhat accessible, check out Alec Empire vs. Merzbow, Live at CBGB’s. Great album.
What Krowe said isnt entirely true since there are a few Merzbow releases which do have beats and drones and other (relatively) conventional musical elements. This is becoming more common nowadays, after Masami has moved onto making digital noise (he used to do everything by analogue means till the late 90s). The guys name isnt Merzbow, its Masami Akita…
Get Sphere and Merbuta - easiest to get into.
Masami is probably the youngest 50 year old I have ever seen.
noise music hugh? Is Pink Anvil in the same vien as Merzbow. I always figured that music like that was on par with picture collages, only with sound.
Late,
grmpysmrf
No, Pink Anvil is very conventional and traditional compared to the sort of stuff that Merzbow does. Think chaotic harsh noise collages without any repeating motives whatsoever 
Some of these posts are kind of misleading…
“Repeating motifs” characterize many Merzbow tracks…these repeating sounds are what often hold the tracks together and give them that bizarre rhythmic feel.
Merzbow is not simply a random sound collage…there is a lot that you can grasp onto with each song and the songs do have some familiarity.
The best advice I can give is listen to it before forming an opinion. Listen to a few tracks, but don’t listen too closely if you get what I mean. The best environment is to have Merzbow in the background aS you drink with friends or get high. You will be talking to your buddy and suddenly you notice how fascinating the music is.
If you just sit there and attempt to listen too closely or directly to it the first few times, it may seem irritating.
It’s definitely an acquired taste. Like others said the recent stuff is more accessible…
Check out Merzbuta, Merzbuddah, Tauromachine
Pulse Demon was my first and is probly the most widely available at the moment, but it is a bit more random and lacks the repetition that I love about Merzbow.
A friend sent me a song, which I didn’t like at all. Can’t remember the title.