Merzbow 87230 225819379 2008-07-15T15:31:37Z EVula 683453 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Time for action|Time for action]] ([[User talk:Time for action|talk]]) to last version by AdultSwim {{Infobox musical artist | Name = Merzbow | Img = Masami Akita 5267969.jpg | Img_capt = Masami Akita A.K.A. Merzbow at Moers Festival 2007 | Img_size = | Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | Birth_name = Masami Akita | Alias = Merzbow | Born = 1956 | Died = | Origin = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] | Instrument = [[Magnetic tape]], [[guitar|homemade guitars]], [[synthesizer]], [[effect pedal]]s, [[percussion instrument|percussion]], [[laptop]] | Genre = [[Experimental Music|Experimental]], [[Noise music|noise]], [[dark ambient]]<ref name="Allmusic"/> | Years_active = 1979–present | Label = | Associated_acts = | URL = [http://www.merzbow.net/ www.merzbow.net] }} {{nihongo|'''Merzbow'''|メルツバウ|Merutsubau}} is a [[noise music]] project created in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] in 1979 under the direction of musician {{nihongo|'''Masami Akita'''|秋田 昌美|Akita Masami}}. Since 1979, he has formed two record labels and has contributed releases to numerous [[Independent record label|independent record label]]s. As well as being a prolific artist, he has also written a number of books and has been the editor of several magazines in Japan. He has written about a variety of subjects, mostly about [[art]], [[avant-garde]] music and [[post-modern]] culture. His more renowned works have been on the topics of [[BDSM]] and [[Fetish subculture|fetish culture]]. Other artforms Akita has been interested in include [[Film director|directing]] and [[Butoh]] dance.<ref name="Extreme Records">{{cite web | title = Merzbow | publisher = [[Extreme Records]] | url = http://www.xtr.com/artists/merzbow/ | accessdate = 2008-04-01 }}</ref> {{cite web | title = Merzbow | publisher = [[Extreme Records]] | url = http://www.xtr.com/artists/merzbow/ | accessdate = 2008-04-01 }}</ref> The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist [[Kurt Schwitters]]' artwork, ''Merzbau''. This was chosen to reflect Akita's [[dada]] influence and junk-art aesthetic. In addition to this, Akita has cited a wide range of influences from various [[progressive rock]] artists such as [[Frank Zappa]] and [[King Crimson]]<ref name="Merzbook 4">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne|isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=40}}</ref> to [[Japanese bondage]].<ref name="Merzbook 5">{{cite book |title=''Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise"'' |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne|isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=27}}</ref> In 2000, [[Extreme Records]] released the 50 CD [[box set]] known as the [[Merzbox]]. From 2004 onwards, he has been a supporter of [[PETA]] (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which has influenced a number of animal-themed releases as well as Akita becoming [[vegan]].<ref name="Musique Machine">{{cite web |author=Batty, Roger| title = Animal instincts | publisher = Musique Machine | url = http://www.musiquemachine.com/articles/articles_template.php?id=73 | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> Akita's work has been the subject of several [[remix album]]s and at least one [[tribute album]]. Akita is a prolific musician and has produced over 200 releases since 1980.<ref name="Extreme Records"/> This, among other achievements, has helped Merzbow to be regarded as the "most important artist in noise music".<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |author=Couture, François| title = Biography | publisher = Allmusic Guide | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hxfexqr5ld6e~T1 | accessdate = 2008-04-01 }}</ref> ==Life and musical career== ===Pre-Merzbow (1956–1979)=== Masami Akita was born in Tokyo in 1956. He listened to [[psychedelic music]], [[progressive rock]], and later [[free jazz]] in his youth, all of which have influenced his music.<ref name="Allmusic"/> In high school he became the drummer of various high school bands which he left due to the other members being "grass-smoking [[Frank Zappa|Zappa]] freaks".<ref name="Merzbook"/> By this time he and high school friend Kiyoshi Mizutani had started playing improvised rock at studio sessions which Akita describes as "long jam sessions along the lines of [[Ash Ra Tempel|Ashra Tempel]] or [[Can (band)|Can]] but we didn't have any psychedelic taste".<ref name="Merzbook">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne|isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=10}}</ref> He later attended [[Tamagawa University]] to study fine [[art]] from which he majored in painting and art theory.<ref name="Extreme Records"/> While at university he became interested in the ideas of dada and surrealism and also studied [[Butoh]] dance.<ref name="Merzbook"/> This is where he learned of [[Kurt Schwitters]]' ''Merz'', or art made from rubbish, including Schwitters' ''Merzbau'', or "Merz building" which is the source of the name "Merzbow".<ref name="Esoterra">{{cite web |author=Hensley, Chad| title = The Beauty of Noise | publisher = EsoTerra | url = http://www.esoterra.org/merzbow.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> ===Lowest Music & Arts (1979–1984)=== Merzbow began as the duo of Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani who met Akita in high school. He started releasing noise recordings on [[compact audio cassette|cassettes]] through his own [[record label]], Lowest Music & Arts, which was founded in 1979 in order to trade cassette tapes with other underground artists. The first tape made for the label was [[Metal Acoustic Music]] and was sold exclusively by mail order. Various other releases were made before the first real release which included ''[[Collection Era Vol. 1]]'' and a very limited release of ''[[Remblandt Assemblage]]''.<ref name="Merzbook 2">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne|isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=84-85}}</ref> The Collection Era series was originally ten cassettes that were going to be distributed through an independent label called ''YLEM'' but when it became defunct and cancelled the series, Akita decided to release them through Lowest Music & Arts.<ref name="Merzbook 3">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=85}} </ref> His earliest music was made with [[tape loop]]s and creatively recorded percussion and metal. "I threw all my past music career in the garbage. There was no longer any need for concepts like 'career' and 'skill'. I stopped playing music and went in search of an alternative". - Masami Akita on Lowest Music and Arts.<ref>Pouncey, Edwin (August, 2000). "Consumed by Noise". The Wire, p. 30.</ref> 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. The early releases were [[xerox]]es of [[collage]]s made out of [[manga]] and porn magazines he found in trash cans in the Tokyo subway. Akita explained this as trying to "create the same feeling as the secret porn customer for the people buying my cassettes in the early '80s".<ref name="Merzbow Biography">{{cite web |author=Brennan, Gerald| title = Merzbow Biography | publisher = Enotes | url = http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/merzbow-biography | accessdate = 2008-05-13 }}</ref> In 1984 he founded a second record label called ZSF Produkt. ===ZSF Produkt (1984–1990)=== ZSF Produkt was founded in 1984 to release music by similar artists within the [[Industrial music|industrial]] movement but eventually became the successor to Lowest Music & Arts.<ref name="Extreme Records 2">{{cite web | title = Merzbow - Age of 369/Chant 2 | publisher = [[Extreme Records]] | url = http://www.xtr.com/catalog/XLTD-002/ | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> Numerous releases were made in the ZSF Produkt studio with ''[[Mechanization Takes Command]]'' being the first.<ref name="Merzbook 6">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4 |pages=95}}</ref> The studio continued to be used until 1999 when Akita started producing home recordings from his bedroom studio.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} During this era, Merzbow found much wider recognition and began making recordings for various international labels.<ref name="Merzbook 8">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=53}}</ref> He also started touring abroad with the help of various collaberators. Merzbow toured Russia in 1988, USA in 1990, Korea in 1991 and Europe in 1989 and 1992.<ref name="Angbase">{{cite web |author=Pozo, Carlos| title = Expanded Noisehands - The Noise Music of Merzbow | publisher = Angbase | url = http://www.noiseweb.com/merzbow/bio.html | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> 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. Akita's work evolved from tape loops and improvised use of instruments of early works into utilising more [[electronic instrument]]s and [[electric guitar]]s.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Around this time he started crediting the name "Abtechtonics" (or variations of this) on his recordings under artwork. He explained in the Merzbook that this name is used for him publishing his own artwork which he attempts to do as much as possible.<ref name="Merzbook 7">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=45}}</ref> ===Digital era (1990–2000)=== Merzbow's first digital work was the CD release ''[[Cloud Cock OO Grand]]'' in 1990.<ref name="Merzbook 10">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=117}}</ref> With a higher international profile in the 90's, Merzbow started working on more ambitious projects such as the Noisembryo. The Noise Embryo was a Merzbow CD released in a limited edition of one copy sealed in the CD player of a BMW sedan which was rewired to play the cd whenever the car was started. The CD was also released normally on the same label.<ref name="Merzbook 9">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=33}}</ref> Recordings from the mid-1990s onwards are mostly of extreme volume, some mastered at levels far beyond standard (Noisembryo, Pulse Demon).<ref name="Noise/Music">{{cite book |title=Noise/Music - A History |last=Hegarty |first=Paul |year=2007 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group Inc. |location=London, New York |isbn=0826417272|pages=156}}</ref> From 1996, plans were made to release a "10 (or maybe 12)" CD box set on [[Extreme Records]]<ref name="Merzbook 11">{{cite book |title=Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise" |last=Woodward |first=Brett |year=1999 |publisher=[[Extreme Records|Extreme]] |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-646-38326-4|pages=vi}}</ref>. In 2000, [[Extreme Records]] released the ''[[Merzbox]]'', a fifty CD set of Merzbow records, twenty of them not previously released. The set also included [[sticker]]s, [[postcard]]s, a [[poster]], "merzdallion", book, CD-ROM, and [[T-shirt]]; initial copies included extra posters and double album.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} ===Laptop era (2000–present)=== Since 2000, Akita began to use computers more in his recordings. At live performances, Akita has produced noise music from either two laptop computers or combination of a laptop and analog synthesizers.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Reiko Akita, formerly Reiko Azuma, left Merzbow during this time and now has a solo career. Since 2001, Jenny Akita (formerly Kawabata) started being credited for artwork on various releases. In 2002, Akita 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<ref name="Dusted">{{cite web |author=Tausig, Ben| title = Noise with a Beat | publisher = Dusted Magazine | url = http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/404 | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref>, though some reviewers pointed out that it sounded very similar to ''[[Aqua Necromancer]]'' (1998) which features samples of [[progressive rock]] drumming. <ref name="Allmusic 2">{{cite web | title = Merzbeat - Review | publisher = Couture, François | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:j9ftxqwald6e | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> <ref name="Stylus Magazine">{{cite web | title = Merzbeat | publisher = Howard, Ed | url = http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/merzbow/merzbeat.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> ''[[Merzbird]]''(2004) and ''[[Merzbuddha]]''(2005) followed in a similar vein with sampled beats combined with Merzbow's signature harsh noise. Since 2004, Akita has been a supporter of [[PETA]] (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which is reflected in his animal-themed releases.<ref name="Allmusic 3">{{cite web |author= Anderson, Rick|title = Merzbird | publisher = Allmusic Guide | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:k9foxqlsldde | accessdate = 2008-04-01 }}</ref> Releases such as ''[[Bloody Sea]]''<ref name="Musique Machine 2">{{cite web |author=Batty, Roger| title = Merzbow - Bloody Sea | publisher = Musique Machine | url = http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=849 | accessdate = 2008-04-02 }}</ref> , ''[[Houjoue]]''<ref name="Musique Machine 3">{{cite web |author=Batty, Roger| title = Animal instincts | publisher = Musique Machine | url = http://www.musiquemachine.com/articles/articles_template.php?id=73 | accessdate = 2008-04-14 }}</ref> and ''[[F.I.D.]]'' <ref name="Musique Machine 4">{{cite web |author=Batty, Roger| title = Merzbow - F.I.D | publisher = Musique Machine | url = http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=870 | accessdate = 2008-04-14 }}</ref> among others promote vegetarianism and other animal-rights issues. Merzbow's most recent phase has an added political dimension, being explicitly related to animal rights and similar themes.<ref name="Belsona">{{cite web |author=Bailey, Thomas| title = My Cruelty-Free Noise | publisher = Belsona Strategic | url = http://www.belsona-strategic.com/crueltyfree_noise.html | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> An example of this is ''[[Minazo Vol. 1]]'' and ''[[Minazo Vol. 2|Vol. 2]]'', dedicated to an [[elephant seal]] he visited often at the zoo, <ref name="Important Records">{{cite web |author=Akita, Masami| title = MERZBOW - Minazo Vol 1 | publisher = Important Records | url = http://www.importantrecords.com/releases/imprec097_release_page.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> and ''[[Bloody Sea]]'', a protest against [[Whaling in Japan|Japanese whaling]].<ref name="Vivo Records">{{cite web | title = Merzbow - Bloody Sea | publisher = Vivo Records | url = http://www.vivo.pl/merzbow/ | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> He has even produced several works centered around recordings of his pet chickens <ref name="Alien8 Recordings">{{cite web | title = Merzbow: Animal Magnetism | publisher = Alien8 Recordings | url = http://www.alien8recordings.com/releases/22/Animal-Magnetism | accessdate = 2008-05-14 }}</ref>(notably ''[[Animal Magnetism (Merzbow album)|Animal Magnetism]]'' and ''[[Turmeric (album)|Turmeric]]''). ==Side projects== {{Expand-section|date=May 2008}} *Tibeta Ubik *Flying Testicle *Bustmonster *Abe Sada *Sponge *Maldoror *Masami Akita (solo work) *MAZK *SCUM *Merzbow/Null *Boris with Merzbow *Kikuri (Masami Akita & Keiji Haino) ==Musical style== {{Expand-section|date=May 2008}} ==Writings== Since completing his degree in fine arts, Akita has become the editor of various magazines in Japan. He frequently writes on a variety of topics including S&M, [[Japanese bondage]] (some excerpts appear in his [[Music For Bondage Performance]] albums), noise music and architecture. He is a prolifc writer and has written thirteen books and countless magazine articles. {{Expand-section|date=April 2008}} ==Selected discography== {{main|Merzbow discography}} *''[[Metal Acoustic Music]]'' (1981) *''[[Material Action 2 N.A.M.]]'' (1983) *''[[Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets]]'' (1986) *''[[Music For Bondage Performance]]'' (1991) *''[[Noisembryo]]'' (1994) *''[[Venereology (album)|Venereology]]'' (1994) *''[[Green Wheels]]'' (1995) *''[[Pulse Demon]]'' (1996) *''[[1930 (album)|1930]]'' (1998) *''[[Aqua Necromancer]]'' (1998) *''[[Merzbox]]'' (2000) *''[[24 Hours - A Day of Seals]]'' (2002) *''[[Amlux]]'' (2002) *''[[Merzbeat]]'' (2002) *''[[Animal Magnetism (Merzbow album)|Animal Magnetism]]'' (2003) *''[[Timehunter]]'' (2003) *''[[Tamago]]'' (2004) *''[[Last of Analog Sessions]]'' (2004) *''[[Merzbird]]'' (2004) *''[[Merzbuddha]]'' (2005) *''[[Sphere (album)|Sphere]]'' (2005) *''[[Houjoue]]'' (2005) *''[[Turmeric (album)|Turmeric]]'' (2006) *''[[Metamorphism (Merzbow album)|Metamorphism]]'' (2006) *''[[Minazo Vol. 1]]'' (2006) *''[[Bloody Sea]]'' (2006) *''[[Merzbear]]'' (2007) *''[[Arijigoku]]'' (2008) ==Bibliography== * ''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 <ref name="Merzbow Biography"/> * ''Cruelty Free Life'' (2006)<ref name="Belsona"/> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Further reading== *Hegarty, Paul. ''Noise/Music: A History'' (2007). ISBN 0826417272. *Woodward, Brett. ''Merzbook "The Pleasuredome of Noise"'' (1999). ISBN 0-646-38326-4. ==External links== *[http://www.merzbow.net Merzbow official website] *[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=11:hxfexqr5ld6e Merzbow] at [[Allmusic]] *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Merzbow Merzbow] at [[Discogs]] *[http://www.last.fm/music/Merzbow Merzbow] at [[Last.fm]] *{{MusicBrainz artist|id=2841d983-f8c3-432a-af02-7407a84580a8|name=Merzbow}} *[http://www.jsynthlib.org/merzbow/index.html The Internet Merzbow Database] *[http://www.ubu.com/sound/tellus_13.html Merzbow - Gamma-Titan (6:05) "] published on the [[Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine]] *[http://black-narcissus.com/ecobondage1.html Article on Merzbow and Japanese bondage] *[http://www.musicandmeaning.net/issues/showArticle.php?artID=2.4#sec_4_4_3 Analysis of Merzbow's use of noise as music] <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME=Merzbow |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Akita, Masami |SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[Musician]], [[Record producer|Producer]] |DATE OF BIRTH= 1956 |PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Tokyo, Japan]] |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1979]] [[Category:Japanese musical groups]] [[Category:Japanese vegans]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Noise music]] [[Category:Noise musicians]] [[Category:People from Tokyo]] [[Category:Relapse Records artists]] [[de:Merzbow]] [[fr:Merzbow]] [[hr:Merzbow]] [[nl:Merzbow]] [[ja:秋田昌美]] [[nn:Merzbow]] [[pl:Merzbow]] [[pt:Merzbow]] [[ru:Merzbow]] [[fi:Merzbow]] [[sv:Merzbow]]