Merzbow
Masami Akita (秋田 昌美, Akita Masami, born December 19, 1956), better known by his stage name Merzbow (メルツバウ, Merutsubau), is a Japanese noise musician. He is best known for his style of harsh, confrontational noise exemplified on his 1996 release, Pulse Demon. Since 1980, he has released over 400 recordings.
The name Merzbow comes from the German dada artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork Merzbau (German pronunciation: [ˈmɛʁtsˌbaʊ̯]), in which Schwitters transformed the interior of his house using found objects. The name was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic. In addition to this, Akita has cited a wide range of musical influences from progressive rock, heavy metal, free jazz, and early electronic music to non-musical influences like dadaism, surrealism, and fetish culture. Since the early 2000s, he has been inspired by animal rights and environmentalism, and has become a vegan.
As well as being a prolific musician, he has been a writer and editor for several books and magazines in Japan, and has written several books of his own. He has written about a variety of subjects, mostly about music, modern art, and underground culture. His more renowned works were on the topics of BDSM and Japanese bondage. Other art forms Akita has been interested in include painting, photography, filmmaking, and Butoh dance.
In 2000, Extreme Records released the 50 CD box set known as the Merzbox. Akita's work has been the subject of several remix albums and at least one tribute album. This, among other achievements, has helped Merzbow to be regarded by some as the "most important artist in noise".
Releases
Sleeve | Title | Year | Format |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー | 1991 | Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 和漢短歌/戦後五十年の先住民 = Wakantanka / Aboriginie Of Anniversary 50 Years After War | 1995 | Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Special Edition |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー | 1991 | Vinyl, LP |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー | 1991 | Vinyl, LP, Repress |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 和漢短歌/戦後五十年の先住民 = Wakantanka / Aboriginie Of Anniversary 50 Years After War | 1995 | Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Special Edition |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 和漢短歌/戦後五十年の先住民 = Wakantanka / Aboriginie Of Anniversary 50 Years After War | 1995 | Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc |
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メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー | 1991 | Vinyl, LP |
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Merzbow - 1930 | 1998 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Frog+ | 2003 | CD, Reissue, CD, Enhanced, All Media, Album |
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Merzbow - Puroland | 2001 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - White Blues | 1994 | Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Venereology | 2019 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Variations For Electric Fan | 2011 | Cassette, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Hatobana | 2016 | CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Untitled Nov 1989 | 2010 | Cassette, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Le Cuisinier | 2017 | CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Collection 006 | 2018 | CD, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Paradoxa Paradoxa | 1982 | Cassette |
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Merzbow - Agni Hotra (2nd Mix) | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Solonoise · 1 | 1982 | Cassette |
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Merzbow - Batztoutai Mix | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Live At 同志社大学 | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Plasma Door | 2020 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Feedback Purple Yellow | 2021 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Pi-Eggplant | 2021 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Arijigoku (Test Mix) | 2021 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Worker Machine | 1983 | Cassette |
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Merzbow - Yahatahachiman | 1983 | Cassette |
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Merzbow - Dead Lotus | 2019 | Cassette, Album, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Ko To No O To | 2012 | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM |
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Merzbow - 1.10.16 | 2017 | File, MP3 |
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Merzbow - Collection:008 | 1981 | Cassette, Album |
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Merzbow - Noisembryo | File, MP3, Album | |
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Merzbow - Space Metalizer | 2018 | File, MP3, Album, Reissue |
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Merzbow - StereoAkuma | 2020 | File, AAC, Album |
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Merzbow - Paradoxa Paradoxa (Sound Assemblage And Performance) | 1984 | Cassette, Reissue |
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Merzbow - Merzbient | 2010 | CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Magnesia Nova | 2022 | Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Mort Aux Vaches: Locomotive Breath | 1996 | CD, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Metamorphism | 2006 | CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Life Performance | 2016 | CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Jigokuhen | 2011 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Untitled 1991 Vol. 1 | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Necro 2000 | 2020 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Lowest Music.2 | 1983 | Cassette, Album, Reissue |
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Merzbow - Pornoise/Extra | 1984 | Cassette, Album |
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Merzbow - Rainbow Electronics | CD, Album, Repress | |
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Merzbow - Ikebukuro Dada | 2002 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Merzbox | 2000 | CD, Album, CD, CD-ROM, Box Set, Compilation, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Great American Nude / Crash For Hi-Fi | 1991 | CD, Album |

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