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".

Wikipedia

Releases

Sleeve Title Year Format
メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー 1991 Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Numbered
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
メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー 1991 Vinyl, LP
メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー 1991 Vinyl, LP, Repress
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
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
メルツバウ* = Merzbow - 干渉ハノーバー 1991 Vinyl, LP
Merzbow - 1930 1998 CD, Album
Merzbow - Frog+ 2003 CD, Reissue, CD, Enhanced, All Media, Album
Merzbow - Puroland 2001 CD, Album
Merzbow - White Blues 1994 Vinyl, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered
Merzbow - Venereology 2019 Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Merzbow - Variations For Electric Fan 2011 Cassette, Limited Edition
Merzbow - Hatobana 2016 CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition
Merzbow - Untitled Nov 1989 2010 Cassette, Limited Edition, Numbered
Merzbow - Le Cuisinier 2017 CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Merzbow - Collection 006 2018 CD, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered
Merzbow - Paradoxa Paradoxa 1982 Cassette
Merzbow - Agni Hotra (2nd Mix) 2019 CD, Album, Remastered
Merzbow - Solonoise · 1 1982 Cassette
Merzbow - Batztoutai Mix 2019 CD, Album, Remastered
Merzbow - Live At 同志社大学 2019 CD, Album, Remastered
Merzbow - Plasma Door 2020 CD, Album
Merzbow - Feedback Purple Yellow 2021 CD, Album
Merzbow - Pi-Eggplant 2021 CD, Album
Merzbow - Arijigoku (Test Mix) 2021 CD, Album
Merzbow - Worker Machine 1983 Cassette
Merzbow - Yahatahachiman 1983 Cassette
Merzbow - Dead Lotus 2019 Cassette, Album, Limited Edition
Merzbow - Ko To No O To 2012 Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Merzbow - 1.10.16 2017 File, MP3
Merzbow - Collection:008 1981 Cassette, Album
Merzbow - Noisembryo File, MP3, Album
Merzbow - Space Metalizer 2018 File, MP3, Album, Reissue
Merzbow - StereoAkuma 2020 File, AAC, Album
Merzbow - Paradoxa Paradoxa (Sound Assemblage And Performance) 1984 Cassette, Reissue
Merzbow - Merzbient 2010 CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered
Merzbow - Magnesia Nova 2022 Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered
Merzbow - Mort Aux Vaches: Locomotive Breath 1996 CD, Limited Edition, Numbered
Merzbow - Metamorphism 2006 CD, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition
Merzbow - Life Performance 2016 CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Merzbow - Jigokuhen 2011 Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Merzbow - Untitled 1991 Vol. 1 2019 CD, Album, Remastered
Merzbow - Necro 2000 2020 CD, Album, Remastered
Merzbow - Lowest Music.2 1983 Cassette, Album, Reissue
Merzbow - Pornoise/Extra 1984 Cassette, Album
Merzbow - Rainbow Electronics CD, Album, Repress
Merzbow - Ikebukuro Dada 2002 CD, Album
Merzbow - Merzbox 2000 CD, Album, CD, CD-ROM, Box Set, Compilation, Limited Edition, Numbered
Merzbow - Great American Nude / Crash For Hi-Fi 1991 CD, Album

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