Merzbow
Merzbow (
Japanese; メルツバウ) is the name used by
Japanese
musician Masami Akita (秋"昌美
Akita Masami) (born
1956) for most of his experimental
noise records, and is considered by many to be the earliest project
among others in what has become known as the 'Japanese noise scene'. He has released many CDs, LPs and cassettes since the early 1980s.
Masami Akita was born in
Tokyo in 1956. He listened to
psychedelic music,
progressive rock and later
free jazz in his youth, and all have influenced his music; his album
Aqua Necromancer, for instance, samples progressive rock
drum lines, while
Doors Open At 8am samples free jazz. Later he went to
Tamagawa University to study
art. It was there that he learned of
Kurt Schwitters'
Merz, or art made from rubbish, including Schwitters'
Merzbau, or "Merz building". This is the source of the name Merzbow.
Early days
His earliest music was made with
tape loops and creatively recorded percussion and metal, and has been compared to
Throbbing Gristle and
Nurse With Wound (an acknowledged influence). Early methods included what he referred to as "Material Action", in which he would closely amplify small sounds so as to distort them through the microphone; later, he made several albums of "SCUM" ("Scissors Cutting Up Music"/"Scissors For Cutting Merzbow"), for which he would cut up previous Merzbow albums until they resembled something new. His tendency to work in themed phases recalls his training as a visual artist.
He released his music on
cassettes through his own
record label, Lowest Music & Arts, which was founded in 1979. In the early
1980s, after meeting the Italian avant-gardist
noise artist Maurizio Bianchi/M. B. in
Milano, he founded a second label,
ZSF Produkt.
 |
Merzbow playing at CBGB, New York |
Later recordings
He later began to use more
electronic instruments and
electric guitars, but his music still consisted of what most people would think of as "noise". In the past few years, Merzbow has begun to use
digital technology more in his music. At a live performance these days, it is normal for him to produce all his music with two laptop computers. Though this has dismayed some of his fans, the resulting music makes more apparent his roots as an improvising jazz drummer.
In 2000, the
Extreme record label released
Merzbox, a 50 CD set of Merzbow records, 20 of them not previously released. The set also included
badges,
postcards,
posters a medallion, a
T-shirt and various other Merzbow collectibles.
In 2002, he released "Merzbeat"; which was seen as a significant departure from his trademark abstract style in that it contains beat-oriented pieces. This has sparked some controversy among fans, though some older Merzbow recordings, including some discs from the Merzbox, are also rhythmically focused. Still, the album was more so than anything Merzbow released in the past 10 or 15 years, and was more widely available than the earlier recordings. 2004's "Merzbird" and 2005's "Merzbuddha" followed in a similar vein. Though his albums have frequently moved in themed stages (such as a group of synth-based albums, one of 'collage' music, one based on samples of rock and jazz records), Merzbow's most recent phase has an added political dimension, being explicitly related to PETA and animal themes. He has even produced several works centered around recordings of his pet chickens (notably
Animal Magnetism and
Turmeric).
Merzbow began as the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani (who has become an accomplished composer in his own right). Early collaborators include Japanese artists such as Reiko A., S-Core, Agencement, and most productively K. Kishino, aka
KK Null of the bands YBO2, ANP and
Zeni Geva. For studio recordings, Merzbow continued to be Akita alone, but for most of the late 1980s through the 1990s, Merzbow live was a trio including Reiko A. on electronics and Bara on voice and dance. Currently, Merzbow live is simply Akita alone again.
Some other artists who have collaborated with Merzbow include
Zbigniew Karkowski (for a duo called MAZK), Consumer Electronics, Total,
Genesis P-Orridge,
Alec Empire, avante music legend
Mike Patton, Le Syndicat,
Masonna, Smegma,
Jazzkammer, Slugbait, P16.D4, Achim Wollschied/SBOTHI,
The New Blockaders,
The Haters,
Eliot Sharp,
Heiko Daxl, Kim Cascone,
Richard Ramirez,
Gore Beyond Necropsy,
Kapotte Muziek, and recently
Sunn O))) and
Boris -- among many others. Merzbow has also appeared on the Ulver remix/compilation album
1993-2003- First Decade in the Machines, submitting the song "Vow Me, Irbizu."
Akita is also a prolific author. He has written books and articles mostly on topics typically labeled "subculture" or "deviant" -- noise music itself, for instance, or Japanese bondage (some notes on which appear in his
Music for Bondage Performance albums). His book
Noise War is considered a detailed and respectable summary of the noise-music movement through the Eighties, although it is not available in English.
1979
*''
Om Electrique (unreleased)
1980
*
Metal Acoustic Music (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Fuckexercise (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Remblandt Assemblage (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
E-Study (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
1981
*
Material Action For Two Microphones (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Live at Kid Airak Hall (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 001 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 002 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 003 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 004 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 005 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 006 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 007 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 008 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Collection 009 (Lowest Music and Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Normal Music (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
1982
*
Collection 010 (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Tridal Production (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Le Compte (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Expanded Music (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Expanded Music 2 (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Paradoxa Paradoxa (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette, first released as
Live At Kid Airak Hall)
*
Solonoise (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Solonoise 2 (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Lowest Music (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Lowest Music 2 (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Le Consinior (Stratosphere Japan, cassette)
1983
*
Material action 2 N.A.M. (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, LP)
*
Erotrograph (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Yantra Material Action (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Dying Mapa Tape 1 (Aeon USA, cassette)
*
Dying Mapa Tape 2 (Aeon USA, cassette)
*
Dying Mapa Tape 3 (Aeon USA, cassette)
*
Musick For Simulation World (Lowest Music & Arts Japan, cassette)
*
Kibbutz (ADN Italy, cassette)
*
Musick For Screen (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Yahatahachiman (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Dadavida (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Worker Machine (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Escape Mask (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Mechanisation Takes Command (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Sexplan Project 3 (Magisch Theatre Productions Belgium, cassette)
*
Merzbow Life Performance Series Vol 1 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Merzbow Life Performance Series Vol 2 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
=Merzbow/Null
=
*
Darh Eroc Evil (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Falso 800 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Mondo Bizzaro with Tetsuo Furidate (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Babilonia (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Numen Quad Habitat Simulacro split with Tibeta Ulik - Punka Overie (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
=Other collaboration
=
*
Will with
Hunting Lodge (SM Operation USA, LP)
1984
*
Merzbow Life Performance Series Vol 3 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Merzbow Life Performance Series Vol 4 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Merzbow Life Performance Series Vol 5 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise/1kg Vol 1 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise/1kg Vol 2 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise/1kg Vol 3 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise/1kg Vol 4 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise/1kg Vol 5 (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Dadavida (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Merzbow/Secrets (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Aka Meme (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
=Merzbow Null
=
*
Live documental (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Zeekfeedz Acme (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Deus Irae (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Das (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Sonic command & sculpture with Hideharu Suzuki (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Tokyo 260384 (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
B-Semi Live (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Merzbow Null Production (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Disembody (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
=Tibeta Ulik (Masami Akita/KK Null duo)
=
*
Tibeta Ulik 2 (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Tibeta Ulik 3 (ZSF produkt Japan, cassette)
=Other Collaborations
=
*
Mail collaboration with the Hanatarashi (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Vol. 1 with
NORD (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Vol. 2 with
NORD (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Vol. 3 with
NORD (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Regelade with
L'Eponge Synthetique (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
1985
*
Sadomasochismo (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Lampinak (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Pornoise extra (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Ushi-tra (Cause and Effect USA, cassette)
*
Life Performances (Le Syndicat, France, cassette)
*
Chant (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Chant 2 (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
=
*
Distruct with
P16D4 (Selektion Germany, LP)
1986
*
Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets (RRRecords USA, 2LP)
*
Antimonument (ZSF Product Japan, LP)
*
Nil Vagina Mail Action (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
==
*
Impossible Humane with
Mixed band philanthropist (Selektion Germany, LP)
1987
*
Ecobondage (ZSF Product Japan, LP)
*
Enclosure (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Vratya southward (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
=
*
Mail Collaboration and solos with
The Haters (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
* Mail Collaboration
with S. Core (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
A Collaboration Tape with
S. Core (Afflict Japan, cassette)
* Merzbow Kapotte Muziek
with Kapotte Muziek (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
1988
*
Live in Khabarovsk, CCCP (ZSF Produkt Japan, LP)
*
Storage (ZSF Produkt Japan, LP)
*
Crocidura dis nezumi (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
*
Flesh Metal Orgasm (ZSF Produkt Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
=
*
Collaborative with
SBOTHI (Extreme Australia, LP + 7")
* Lowell/Tokyo
with Due Process (RRRecords USA, LP as part of anniversary box set)
1989
*
Scissors For Cutting Merzbow (ZSF Product Japan, 2LP)
*
Dutch Tour (V2 Holland, 2 x cassette)
*
Scum/severances (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
Live at I.C.O.N.E. (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
=
*
Je Rumpelsturz desto Burzelblock with
Runzelstim & Gurgelstock and
Due Process (RRR USA/Schimpfluch, LP)
* Acred Acme with P16D4 (Selektion Germany, CD)
* History Is What Was with KapotteMuziek (IF Holland, LP)
* Live Recordings'' with
Condom,
The haters and
THU 20 (Sounds for consciousness rape, 2 x cassette)
1990
*
Cloud Cock 00 Grand (ZSF Product Japan, CD)
*
Rainbow Electronics (
Alchemy, CD)
*
Axx/Spooning (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
*
SCUM/Steel Cum (ZSF Product Japan, cassette)
=Collaborations
=
*
Fifty with
SBOTHI and
P16D4 (RRRecords USA, LP)
* Live with THU 20 (Midas Music Holland, LP)
* Utilities with KapotteMuziek (ABO USA, LP)
* History is what was'' with
KapotteMuziek (IF Holland, LP)
1991
*
Great American Nude/Crash For Hi-Fi (Alchemy Japan, CD)
*
Music For Bondage Performance (Extreme Australia, CD)
*
Antimonument (Art Directe Sweden, CD, reissue of LP from 1986)
*
Hanover Interruption (Dradomel Germany, LP)
=Collaborations
=
*
Documentation/Collaboration with
Kapotte Muziek (Korm Plastics, ND, LP)
*
Chicago Performance with
Emil Beaulieau (RRR USA, LP one side only)
*
Grav with
PGR and
Asmus Tietchens (Silent USA, CD)
*
Merzbow + THU 20 with
THU 20 (V2 Holland, LP)
=Split releases
=
*
Live Deformation/Holland split with
THU 20 (Midas Music, LP)
1992
*
Artificial Invagination (Vanilla Japan, mini-cd)
*
Metal Mad Man (Stinky Horse Fuckers UK, cassette)
*
Steel Cum (Verticle USA, 7")
=Collaborations
=
*
Eleven live collaborations with
Achim Wollshied (Selektion Germany, CD)
*
Latex Gold/Latex Black with
Masonna (ZSF/Coquettes Japan, acetate 7")
1993
*
Batztoutai With Memorial Gadgets (
RRRecords, 2CD)
*
Metalvelodrome, exposition of electro-vivisection (Alchemy Japan, 4CD)
*
Continuum: with Kapotte Muziek (Cheese International UK, LP)
*
Nil Vagina For Mice (Banned USA, 7")
*
Neo orgasm (Vertical, 7")
*
Rod Drug (The Way Out Sound USA, 7")
*
Yantra material action (Anomalous USA, cassette)
*
Pornoise 1kg (RRRecords USA, 5 x cassette reissue)
=Collaborations
=
*
Sleeper Awakes On The Edge Of The Abyss with
Christoph Heemann (Streamline Germany CD)
*
Deus Irae with
KK Null (Nux organisation Japan CD reissue of earlier cassette)
*
Continuum with
Kapotte Muziek (Cheeses International UK LP)
*
Macbeth with
Tetsuo Furidate (SSE Japan, CD)
1994
*
Noisembryo: Psycho-Analytic Study Of Coital Noise Posture (The Releasing Eskimo, CD)
*
Venereology (
Release USA, CD)
*
Now (Self abuse, 7")
*
Kinbakubi (Cine Magic Japan, CDROM)
*
Electroploitation (Hax Lunhair, 7")
=Collaborations
=
*
Music for man with no name with
Cock ESP (Fusetron/Stuart USA, 7")
*
Abe Sada with
SMUT (Stomach ache, 7")
*
Untitled with
John Goff (Way out sound USA, 1-sided 7")
*
Three Projects with
P16D4 (RRRecords USA, CD)
*
Verder with
KapotteMuziek (Harsh Dept Greece, CD)
=Split releases
=
*
Metaanalgaaaam with Black Leather Jesus (Deadline USA, 7")
1995
*
Dada Rotenvator (Praxis Dr. Bearmann Germany, LP)
*
Flare gun (Ten bob swerver, LP)
*
Live at 20000V (Blackbean USA, 1-sided LP)
*
Hole (Heelstone Germany, CD)
*
Ecobondage (Distemper, CD reissue)
*
Noizhead (Blast First UK, CD)
*
Music for the dead man 2 (Robot, USA, 7")
*
Electroknots (Cold Spring/Dirter Promotions, UK, pic disc 7")
*
Watantanka (Syntactic, pic disc 7")
*
Pulse Demon (Relapse USA, CD)
*
Pinkream (Dirter Promotions UK, 2 x 10")
*
Electric Salad (Etherworld USA, CD)
*
Mort Aux Vaches - Locomotive Breath (Staalplaat Holland, CD)
*
Green Wheels (Self Abuse Records USA, CD + 5")
=Collaborations
=
*
The science of dissecting society with
Richard Ramirez (Plaxis Dr. Bearmann Germany, LP)
*
Horn of the goat with
Consumer Electronics (Freek UK, CD)
*
Rectal Grinder with
Gore beyond Necropsy (Mangrove, 7")
*
04092001 with
Boris (Inoxia Japan, LP)
1996
*
Project Frequency (A.I.P.R. Germany, LP)
*
Music For Bondage Performance 2 (Extreme, Australia, CD)
*
Age Of 369/Chant 2 (Extreme Australia, 2CD)
*
Rainbow Electronics 2 (Dexter's Cigar USA, CD)
*
Tint (Vinyl Communications USA, cd single)
*
Oersted (Vinyl Communications USA, CD)
*
Pulse Demon (Release USA, CD)
*
Akasha Gulva (Alien8 Canada, CD)
*
Scumtron (Blast First UK, remix CD)
*
Magnesia Nova (Genital Grinder Greece, CD)
*
Spiral Honey (Work In Progress UK, CD)
*
Mercurated (Alchemy Records Japan, CD)
*
Red 2 Eyes (V2 Holland, 10")
*
Pinkream (Dirter UK, CD)
=Collaborations
=
*
Brisbane Tokyo Interlace with
John Watermann (Cold Spring UK, CD)
*
Ich Schnitt Mich in der Finger with
Russell Haswell, Reiko Azuma, Tetsuo Sakaibura (Mego Austria, 12")
*
Merzbow loves Emil Beaulieau with
Emil Beaulieau (Pure USA, CD)
*
Dang Dong with
Hanayo (Media Remoras Japan, CD single)
=Split releases
=
*
Voice Pie with
Bastard Noise (Release USA, LP / CD)
*
Plays with
Smegma (Tim Kerr, CD / LP)
*
Arctic Twilight with
Slugbait (Dirter Promotions UK, CD)
*
First Rock And The Great Deceiver with
Lasse Marhaug (Jazzassin, 7")
*
Drain with
MSBR (Self abuse, 7")
*
Efface with
Xome (Gentle Giant, 7")
*
Untitled with
Smell & Quim (Stinky Horse Fuckers, 7")
1997
*
Space Metalizer (
Alien8, CD)
*
Hybrid Noisebloom (Vinyl Communications USA, CD)
*
Merzbox Sampler (Extreme Australia, CD)
*
Pinkream (Dirter Promotions, CD)
*
Hyper Meat Performance (Memburm Debile Propaganda , pic disc LP released under the name True Romance)
=Collaborations
=
*
Rectal Anarchy with
Gore Beyond Necropsy (Release USA, CD)
*
Decomposition with Eugene Thacker and Shane Fahey (Extreme Australia, 2CD included with initial copies of Merzbox)
*
Devour with
Discordance Axis (label? USA, LP)
*
Necropolitan with
Discordance Axis (HG Fact Japan, EP)
*
Inalienable Dreamless with
Discordance Axis (mp3)
=Split releases
=
*
Soft with
Kadef (Dreizehn, 10")
*
Milanese Bestiality with
The Haters (Old Europa Cafe Italy, LP)
*
Balance with
Ladybird (Human Wreckords, CD, one band in each speaker)
1998
*
Aqua Necromancer (Alien8 USA, CD)
*
New Takamagahara (OHM Norway, CD)
*
Tauromachine (Release) USA, CD
*
Psychorazer (Kubitsuri Tapes Japan, CD)
*
1930 (
Tzadik, CD)
*
Vibractrance (E(r)ostrate France, CD)
*
Maschinenstil (Dual Plover Australia, CD)
=Collaborations
=
*
A Perfect Pain with
Genesis P-Orridge (Cols Spring UK, CD)
=Split Releases
=
*
Tower of Ghost with
AMM (Fat Cat UK, 12")
1999
*
Tentacle (Alchemy Records Japan, CD)
*
Doors Open at 8am (Alien 8 Canada, CD)
*
Paradise Pachinko (Tocht Alph Germany, CDR)
*
Collapse 12 Floors (OHM Records Norway, CD)
*
Last Of Analog Sessions (Important Records, 3CD)
*
Blue Maggots (
ZSF Produkt, CD)
*
Happenings 100 years time ago (Ideal Recordings, 7")
=Collaborations
=
*
Maldoror - She (with
Mike Patton) (
Ipecac, CD)
=Split releases
=
*
Music for the man with no name with
Cock ESP (Black Bean, CD)
2000
*
Merzbox (50CD Box Set) (Extreme Australia, 50 x CD)
*
Live At Radio 100 (ERS, CD)
=Split releases
=
*
Switching Rhetorics with
Shora (Bisect Bleep Industries, CD)
*
Necro 2000 with
Statik (Klanggallerie, 7")
*
Subsidia Pataphysica with
DJ Shadow (Manifold USA, 10")
2001
*
Dharma (Double H Noise Industries US, CD)
*
A Taste Of... Merzbow (Mego Austria, CD)
*
Hard Lovin' Man (Anoema Recordings, CD)
*
Puroland (OHM Records, CD)
*
Hummingbird (LSD Organisation, 7")
=Collaborations
=
*
Live at Molde International Jazz Festival with
Jazzkammer (Smalltown Supersound, CD)
=Split releases
=
*
untitled with
Kouhei (Tigerbeat 6 USA,CD)
*
Unknown Tape with
A Torture Mechanism (Crucial Blast CD)
*
Crash of the titans with
Napalmed (Merciless Core, CD)
*
Spilt ver 0.5 with
Struggle for pride (Less than TV, CD)
*
Spilt ver 1.0 with
Struggle for pride (Less than TV, CD)
2002
*
Amlux (Important Records, CD)
*
Merzzow (Opposite Records, CD)
*
Merzbeat (Important Records, CD)
*
Frog (Misanthropic Agenda, LP)
*
24 Hours - A Day of Seals (Dirter Promotions, UK, 4 x CD)
*
Timehunter (Ant-Zen, 4 x mini CD in leather organiser)
*
Ikebukuro Dada (Circumvent, CD)
*
Puroland (OHM Records, CD)
*
Fantail (Clu Clux Clam)
=Collaborations
=
*
Megatone with
Boris (Inoxia Japan, CD)
* "
Flight of the Behemoth" with
Sunn O))) (
Southern Lord)
=Split releases
=
*
Mode for Value and Intention with
Kouhei (Cross fade entertainment, 12")
2003
*
Frog+ (Misanthropic Agenda USA, 2CD)
*
Frog Remixed And Revisited (Misanthropic Agenda USA, 2CD)
*
Animal Magnetism (Alien8 Recordings USA, CD) (features samples of Merzbow's pet chickens)
*
Live magnetism (Caminate USA, CD)
*
Cycle (Very Friendly USA, CD)
*
Offering (Tantric Harmonies, CD)
*
SCSI Duck (Fourth Dimension, CD)
*
Yoshinotsune (Clu Clux Clam, CD)
=Collaborations
=
*
V (live with
Pan Sonic) (Victo Canada, CD)
*
Live at CBGBS (with
Alec Empire) (Digital Hardcore, CD)
2004
*
Merzbird (Important Records, CD)
*
Merzbuddha (Important Records, CD)
*
Sha Mo 3000 (Essence Music, CD)
*
Tamago (Plan DX-17, CD)
*
Electro Magnetic Unit (Los Apson, CD)
*
Dust Of Dreams (Thisco, CD)
*
Scene (Waystyx, CD)
*
Early Computer Works (Waystyx, CD with boxset version of Scene)
*
1633 (En/Of, LP)
=Collaborations
=
*
Rondo 7 phases blowback (with Kim Cascone) (Cold Spring, CD)
*
Partikel (with Nordvargr) (Cold Spring, CD)
*
The ten foot square hut (with
The new blockaders) (Hypnogogia, CD)
2005
*
Bariken (Blossoming Noise)
*
Sphere (
Tzadik USA, CD)
*
Ikebukuro Dada (Circumvent Recordings, CD)
*
Merzbuta (Important Records, CD)
*
Scene (Waystyx Russia, CD)
*
Senmaida (Blossoming Noise, CD)
*
Rattus Rattus (Scarcelight Recordings, CD)
=Collaborations
=
*
Sun Baked Snow Cave (with
Boris) (
Hydra Head, CD)
2006
*
Houjoue (Dirter Promotions, 6CD)
*
Black Bone Part 5 (Blossoming Noise, included in the boxed version of Turmeric but also available separately)
*
Turmeric (Blossoming Noise) (made in collaboration with
PETA and featuring samples of Merzbow's pet chickens)
*
Live in Geneva (Walnut and Locust, France, CD)
*
Minazo Vol.1 (Important Records) (tribute to the only male
elephant seal in
Japan, Minazo, who had sadly passed away)
*
Bloody Sea (VIVO Records) (album released in protest of Japanese
whaling)
*
F.I.D. (Fourth Dimension UK, 2CD) released in association with
PETA=Collaborations
=
*
Tranz with Elliott Sharp (Caminante, USA, CD)
*
Merzbow vs. Tamarin (
Artificial Music Machine, CD)
*
Multiplication with
John Wiese (Misanthropic Agenda, USA, CD)
*
Sound Pressure Level (OR) (1998)
*
Untitled (Tigerbeat6) (2001)
*
Untitled (Noise Asia) (2001)
*
In real time (Ytterbium) (2005)
As Masami Akita
*
Mirror Pulse (with
John Duncan) (
Extreme 1990)
*
The Prosperity Of Vice The Misfortune Of Virtue (i 1996)
*
Ich Schnitt Mich In Den Finger (with
Reiko Azuma,
Russell Haswell and
Tetsuo Sakaibara (
Mego 1997)
*
Satanstornade (with
Russell Haswell) (
Warp Records 2002)
One of the most complete Merzbow discographies is available
at the Opposite Records website..
*Merzbow Live at Middle East Cafe, Boston, 21 Sep 1990 (
Vanilla Records,
Japan) (1990)
*
Testament (RRR-TV-11) (
RRRecords,
USA) (1991)
*Oh! Moro 5 (
Kansai New Art Video Magazine, Japan) (1992)
*
Kingdom Of Noise (Endorphine, Japan) (1993)
*Good Alchemy Video (
Alchemy Records, Japan) (1995)
*Live in Germany July 5, 1995 (
Selektion,
Germany) (1995)
*Live in Germany 1996 (
Ars Macabre, Germany) (2001)
*
The Anagram Of Perversion (1988) Seiku-sha
*
Ikei No Mannerism (1989) Seiku-sha
*
Fetish Fashion (1990) Seiku-sha
*
Touge No Chaya/Conversation of Underground Folklore (1990) Parole-Sha
*
Club & Saloon (l990) NTT Publications
*
The Birth of Sex Symbol (1991) Seiku-sha
*
Noise War (1992) Seiku-sha
*
Terminal Body Play (1993) Seiku-sha
*
Body Exotica (1993) Suisei-sha
*
Sei No Ryo-ki Modern (1994) Seiku-sha
*
Scum Culture (1994) Suisei-sha
*
History of Kinbaku Pictures (1995) Jiyu Kokumin-sha
*
Nude World Vol. 1~3 (1995) Suisei-sha
*
Anal Baroque*
Cruelty-Free Life*
Vintage Erotica*
Love Position*
Media:Merzbow Dharma.ogg - an excerpt of "I'm coming to the garden..... no sound, no memory" from Merzbow's album
Dharma (2001) (
ogg format, 12 seconds, 94KB)
*
Mostly complete discography*
Internet Merzbow Database*
Merzbow official website*
1999 interview to Esoterra magazine*
Masami Akita's latest book*
Torben Sangild on Merzbow (part of academic article)*
Pictures of Masami Akita at discogs.com
