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 - 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 |
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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, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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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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Merzbow - Turmeric | 2006 | CD, Album, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Tomarigi | 2017 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Dead Leaves | 2008 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Merzbient | 2012 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Vinyl, LP, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - Mechanization Takes Command | 1983 | Cassette, Album |
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Merzbow - Jinrinkinmouzui | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Antimonument Tapes | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Agni Hotra (2nd Mix) | 2019 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Door Open At 8 AM | 2021 | Cassette, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Special Edition, Stereo |
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Merzbow - Tauro-O1 | 2020 | CD, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Aka Meme | 1986 | Cassette, Reissue |
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Merzbow - Coma Test | 2021 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Mukomodulator | 2021 | File, MP3 |
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Merzbow - Merzbow (2): 1998-2000 | 2002 | CD, CD-ROM, Compilation, Unofficial Release |
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Merzbow - Merzbow (3): 2000-2001 | 2002 | CD, CD-ROM, Compilation, Unofficial Release |
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Merzbow - ((VIBRA)) MMVII | 2019 | File, FLAC, Album |
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Merzbow - Kakapo | 2016 | File, MP3, Album |
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Merzbow - Arijigoku | 2015 | File, MP3, Album |
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Merzbow - Offering | 2010 | File, MP3, Album |
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Merzbow - Tentacle | File, MP3, Album | |
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Merzbow - Ikebana: Merzbow's Amlux Rebuilt, Reused And Recycled | 2003 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Higanbana | 2007 | CD, Album |
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Merzbow - Black Bone Part.5 | 2006 | CD, Minimax, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Protean World | 2008 | Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Gman // HJYUGTF2 | 2012 | Cassette, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Yantra Material Action | 2018 | CD, Album, Reissue |
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Merzbow - Hanakisasage | 2021 | CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue |
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Merzbow - 27 August 2006 | 2021 | CD, Album |
No Image | Merzbow - Paradoxa Paradoxa | Cassette | |
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Merzbow - Door Open At 8 AM | File, MP3, Album | |
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Merzbow - Noisembryo | File, MP3, Album | |
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Merzbow - Pinkream | 1997 | CD, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Metalvelodrome (Exposition Of Electro-Vivisection) | 1993 | CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Crocidura Dsi Nezumi | 1988 | Cassette, Album |
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Merzbow - Screaming Dove | 2020 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Live Performance Feb. 85 | 1985 | Cassette |
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Merzbow - Merzbient | 2012 | Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Vinyl, LP, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered |
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Merzbow - The Lampinak | 1985 | Cassette, Album |
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Merzbow - Age Of 369 | 1984 | Cassette, Limited Edition |
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Merzbow - Dharma | 2001 | CD, Album, Promo |
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Merzbow - Noisembryo | 1994 | CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered, Special Edition |
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Merzbow - Yahatahachiman | 2019 | File, MP3, Album, Remastered |
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Merzbow - Merz / Lowest Music | 1982 | Cassette, Album |

Images - Coming soon...