Merzbient

Cover of the CD version

Box set by Merzbow

Released

October 26, 2010 (original)
September 10, 2012 (reissue)

Recorded

1987–1990 at ZSF Produkt Studio, Tokyo

Genre

Noise, ambient

Length

610:20 (original)
683:13 (reissue)

Label

Soleilmoon

Producer

Masami Akita

Merzbow chronology

9888A
(2010)

Merzbient
(2010)

ZaRa
(2011)

Alternative Cover

Cover of the LP version

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Foxy Digitalis	^[2]
Musique Machine	^[3]
PopMatters	^[4]
The Quietus	favorable^[5]

Merzbient is a boxed set album by the Japanese noise musician Merzbow, it is composed of previously unreleased raw material recorded 1987–90.

The original edition sold out within weeks of its release.^[6] Merzbow and Soleilmoon later announced that Merzbient would be reissued in an expanded LP edition.^[7]^[8]

Two sets of unreleased raw recordings, Merzphysics and Merzmorphosis, were released in 2012 by Youth Inc. This time featuring harsh noise from the mid-1990s.

Background

The tracks were originally made as raw material for other releases and were not intended for release themselves. While working on cassette reissues for Blossoming Noise in 2009, Masami Akita rediscovered the original four track master tapes, and found that they could be considered "completed works of improvisation music" of their own.^[7]

When Merzbow started playing live internationally in the late 1980s, it required the use of simple and portable gear, which then influenced Akita's studio sound, leading to the harsh noise style he became known for in the 1990s. But he also continued to use junk and acoustic instruments in the studio for a couple more years, including a "big handmade junk instrument made from a metal box with piano wires" played with a violin bow.^[9]^[10]

"RBA" is an acronym of Right Brain Audile, a name used by Akita for his soundtracks to bondage films produced by Right Brain, the term appears on the Music for Bondage Performance albums. Many of the track titles were taken from the identification written on the tapes or their brand names.^[7] HD by Denon; AXIA by Fujifilm (some of which are label "For CD"); Capsule Cologne and UD II-S by Maxell. "Matehnas" was made as raw material for the collaboration with H.N.A.S. member Christoph Heemann.^[7]

Packaging

The CD version comes in a hardcover box. Each disc comes in a full-color sleeve with photos on both sides, when arranged together they form completed pictures. Also included is a die-cast metal medallion with the words "動物解放" (dōbutsukaihō) meaning animal liberation and a double-sided insert.^[9] The outside of the box depicts a forested mountain landscape with clouds, while the inside shows Japanese wisteria hanging on a trellis. The sleeves show the pond at Kawasaki Daishi on one side, and a close-up of hanging wisteria on the other.

The LP reissue comes in a pair of custom-made boxes, each holding nine LPs. Each disc comes in a full-color sleeve and has full-color center labels. Also included are three inserts printed on textured paper. It is limited to 222 signed and numbered copies, the first 44 copies are pressed on translucent dark-red vinyl and are only available from Soleilmoon mailorder, the rest are pressed on black vinyl. Three test pressings were also made available.^[6] The reissue has different photography, depicting mountainous desert landscapes and plants taken at Cederberg.^[11]

On the reissue, the original set is presented on LPs one to fifteen—with some of the tracks edited due to the limitations of the format—while previously unreleased material is presented on the remaining three LPs.

Track listing

CD version

All music composed by Masami Akita.

CD 1
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1A" (1989)	45:45

CD 2
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1B" (1989)	44:36
2.	Untitled (not listed on sleeve)	12:41
Total length:		57:17

CD 3
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 2B" (1989)	45:59

CD 4
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Capsule Cologne Maxell" (1990)	46:07

CD 5
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8B" (1990)	46:32

CD 6
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8A" (1990)	46:41

CD 7
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 7+2" (1990)	31:29
2.	"RBA 7+1" (1990)	23:04
Total length:		54:33

CD 8
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Maxell UD II-S 90" (1990)	30:07
2.	"Mixer/Scratch AXIA for CD" (1990)	29:58
Total length:		60:05

CD 9
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Metal4ch" (1987)	43:10

CD 10
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Matehnas" (1987)	30:41
2.	"1988DECsolo" (1988)	23:48
Total length:		54:29

CD 11
No.	Title	Length
1.	"9011" (1990)	31:17
2.	"Violinsolo89" (1989)	15:39
Total length:		46:56

CD 12
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Gasstove4-90" (1990)	22:55
2.	"92288" (1988)	39:51
Total length:		62:46

LP version

All music composed by Masami Akita.

LP 1, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1A (1989) part 1"	20:35

LP 1, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1A (1989) part 2"	20:24

LP 2, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1B (1989) part 1"	20:27

LP 2, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 1B (1989) part 2"	20:28

LP 3, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 2B (1989) part 1"	20:26

LP 3, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 2B (1989) part 2"	20:31

LP 4, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Capsule Cologne Maxell (1990) part 1"	20:26

LP 4, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Capsule Cologne Maxell (1990) part 2"	20:25

LP 5, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8B (1990) part 1"	20:26

LP 5, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8B (1990) part 2"	20:25

LP 6, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8A (1990) part 1"	20:25

LP 6, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 8A (1990) part 2"	20:28

LP 7, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Metal4ch (1987) part 1"	20:25

LP 7, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Metal4ch (1987) part 2"	20:27

LP 8, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"92288 (1988) part 1"	20:27

LP 8, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"92288 (1988) part 2"	18:47

LP 9, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Gasstove4-90 (1990)"	20:26

LP 9, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Violinsolo89 (1989)"	16:00

LP 10, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"1988DECsolo (1988)"	20:25

LP 10, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 7+1 (1990)"	20:28

LP 11, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"MatHNAS (1987) part 1"	20:29

LP 11, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"MatHNAS (1987) part 2"	7:13
2.	"RBA Max2 (1990)"	13:00

LP 12, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 7+2 (1990) part 1"	15:14

LP 12, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA 7+2 (1990) part 2"	17:04

LP 13, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Maxell US II-S 90 (1990) part 1"	15:11

LP 13, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"RBA/Maxell US II-S 90 (1990) part 2"	15:47

LP 14, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"9011 (1990) part 1"	13:42

LP 14, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"9011 (1990) part 2"	18:29

LP 15, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mixer/Scratch AXIA for CD (1990) part 1"	18:05

LP 15, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mixer/Scratch AXIA for CD (1990) part 2"	12:33

LP 16, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nov 89 (1989) part 1"	18:45

LP 16, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nov 89 (1989) part 2"	19:07

LP 17, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Variation for Electric Fan Part 1 (1988)"	21:04

LP 17, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Variation for Electric Fan Part 2 (1988)"	20:00

LP 18, Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rubber Strings (1990) part 1"	18:09

LP 18, Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rubber Strings (1990) part 2"	10:01
2.	"Denon HD 54 B (1990)"	6:29

Notes

CD version

Digitally remastered from original cassette tapes March 2010

LP version

LPs 1–15 digitally remastered from original cassette tapes in 2010, re-edited for release on LP in 2011
LPs 16–18 digitally remastered from original cassette tapes in 2012

Personnel

Masami Akita – various scrap metals, various metals/tin box with piano wires, various percussion by small objects, paper, stone, woods, kitchen objects etc., contact mics, audio mixer, motor, electric fan, gas stove, guitar, violin, thermin, various effects. etc. but no synthesizer^[7]
Jenny Akita – photography on CD edition
Charles Powne – photography on LP reissue

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog	Quantity	Notes
United States	October 26, 2010	Soleilmoon	CD	SOL 171 CD	555
	September 10, 2012		LP	SOL 171 CD	44	Dark red vinyl
					178	Black vinyl
					3	Test pressing

References

↑ Anderson, Rick. Merzbow: Merzbient > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
↑ Bird, Travis. "Review: Merzbient". Foxy Digitalis. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
↑ Batty, Roger. "Review: Merzbient". Musique Machine. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
↑ Schiller, Mike. "Review: Merzbient". PopMatters. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
↑ Stubbs, David. "Review: Merzbient". The Quietus. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
1 2 "Press Release Detail [LP]". Soleilmoon Recordings. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
1 2 3 4 5 Batty, Roger. "Calm Before the Storm". Musique Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
↑ Announcement of the reissue on Soleilmoon's Facebook page
1 2 "Press Release Detail [CD]". Soleilmoon Recordings. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
↑ Woodward, Brett (1999). Merzbook: The Pleasuredome of Noise. Extreme. ISBN 0-646-38326-4.
↑ "Merzbient LP Photo Collection". Soleilmoon Recordings. Retrieved July 11, 2012.

Merzbow

Full discography
Forthcoming

1980–1989 (selected discography)

Studio albums

1981	Remblandt Assemblage Metal Acoustic Music Material Action for 2 Microphones E-Study Collection 004 Collection 005 Collection 009

1982	Normal Music Tridal Production Solonoise 1 Lowest Music 2

1983	Material Action 2 N.A.M. Dying Mapa I Dying Mapa II Dying Mapa III Kibbutz Mechanization Takes Command Worker Machine Le Cuisinier

1984	Sonic Command Dadavida Aka Meme Age of 369 Chant Pornoise/Extra

1985	Sadomasochismo The Lampinak Ushi-Tra Live Performance Feb. 85

1986	Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets Antimonument

1987	Ecobondage Enclosure Vratya Southward

1988	Storage Crocidura Dsi Nezumi

1989	Flesh Metal Orgasm Scissors for Cutting Merzbow Severances

Live albums

Paradoxa Paradoxa (1982)

Box sets

Pornoise/1kg (1984)

Collaborations

Aerovivanda #1 (1984)

1990–1999

Studio albums

1990	Steel Cum Cloud Cock OO Grand Rainbow Electronics

1991	Music for Bondage Performance Hannover Interruption

1992	Metal Mad Man Recycled

1993	Batztoutai with Material Gadgets

1994	Venereology Noisembryo Flare Gun Hole

1995	Dadarottenvator Pinkream Green Wheels Magnesia Nova

1996	Music for Bondage Performance 2 Pulse Demon Spiral Honey Mercurated Oersted Electric Salad Project Frequency Rainbow Electronics 2

1997	Space Metalizer Hybrid Noisebloom Psychorazer Music of True Romance for Hyper Meat Performance

1998	1930 Tauromachine Maschinenstil Aqua Necromancer New Takamagahara Vibractance

1999	Blues Maggots Paradise Pachinko Tentacle Door Open at 8 am

Extended plays

Artificial Invagination (1991)
Neo Orgasm (1993)
Rod Drug 93 (1993)
Nil Vagina for Mice (1993)
Electroploitation (1994)
White Blues (1994)
Original Body Kingdom/Gala Abe Sada 1936 (1994)
Electroknots (1995)
Wakantanka / Aboriginie of Anniversary 50 Years After War (1995)
Music for the Dead Man 2: Return of the Dead Man (1995)
Red 2 Eyes (1997)
Tint (1997)
Happenings 1000 Years Time Ago (1999)

Live albums

Great American Nude / Crash for Hi-Fi (1991)
Dutch Tour 1989 (1992)
Noizhead (1995)
Akasha Gulva (1996)
Live at 20000V 30 Sep 1995 (1996)
Mort Aux Vaches: Locomotive Breath (1998)

Video albums

Live at Middle East Cafe Boston 21 Sep 1990 (1990)
Live July 5th, 1995 (1996)

Box sets

Metalvelodrome (1993)

Remix albums

Scumtron (1996)

Compilation albums

Age of 369/Chant 2 (1996)
Merzbox Sampler (1997)

Collaborations

Music for Man with No Name (1994)
Plays (1996)
Sound Pressure Level (1998)
She (1999)

2000–2009

Studio albums

2000	Collapse 12 Floors

2001	Hard Lovin' Man Dharma Frog Puroland

2002	Amlux Fantail Ikebukuro Dada Merzbeat A Taste Of... Merzzow

2003	Cycle Animal Magnetism SCSI Duck

2004	Tamago Offering Yoshinotsune Electro Magnetic Unit Merzbird Sha Mo 3000 1633

2005	Bariken Dust of Dreams Rattus Rattus Merzbuddha Sphere Early Computer Works Scene Senmaida Merzbuta

2006	Minazo Vol. 1 Bloody Sea F.I.D. Minazo Volume Two Metamorphism

2007	Merzbear Coma Berenices Zophorus Peace for Animals Higanbana

2008	Here Arijigoku Dolphin Sonar Eucalypse Anicca Protean World Dead Leaves Tombo Hodosan

2009	Camouflage Somei... Hiranya Don't Steal My Coat Microkosmos \| Volume 1

Extended plays

Hummingbird (2001)
Mini Cycle / Yoshino Tamago / Yonos Bigfoot (2004)
Black Bone, Part 5 (2006)
Tempi / Matatabi (2009)

Live albums

Live at Radio 100 (2000)
Live Magnetism (2003)
Live in Geneva (2005)
Live Destruction at No Fun 2007 (2007)

Video albums

Live in Germany 1996 (2001)
Equilibratura Elettronica (2005)

Box sets

Merzbox (2000)
24 Hours – A Day of Seals (2002)
Timehunter (2003)
Last of Analog Sessions (2004)
Houjoue (2005)
Turmeric (2006)
13 Japanese Birds (2009)

Remix albums

Ikebana: Merzbow's Amlux Rebuilt, Reused and Recycled (2003)
Frog Remixed and Revisited (2003)

Collaborations

湯島の白梅 (2001)
不味苦 (2001)
Satanstornade (2002)
Live CBGB's NYC 1998 (2003)
Partikel (2004)
04092001 (2005)
In Real Time (2005)
Sun Baked Snow Cave (2005)
Merzdub (2006)
Partikel II (2007)
Walrus / Groon (2007)
Rock Dream (2007)
SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth (2008)
Keio Line (2008)

2010–present

Studio albums

2010	Graft Ouroboros 9888A

2011	Jigokuhen April 1992 Kamadhenu Variations for Electric Fan Yaho-Niwa Dead Zone Surabhi Lop Lop

2012	Gman//HJYUGTF2 Uzu Me Ku Merzbuddha Variations Kibako

2013	Takahe Collage Samidara Grand Owl Habitat Tamayodo

2014	Nezumimochi

2015	Wildwood Konchuuki

2016	Kakapo Hatobana

Extended plays

ZaRa (2011)
Ko To No O To (2012)
Pulse Vegan (2014)

Live albums

Kookaburra (2013)

Compilation albums

Another Merzbow Records (2010)

Box sets

Ecobag/13 Birds in a Bag +1 (2010)
Merzbient (2010)
Merzphysics (2012)
Merzmorphosis (2012)
Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983 (2012)
Duo (2013)

Collaborations

Klatter (2011)
Mer Mar (2012)
Cuts (2013)
Partikel III (2013)
Full of Hell & Merzbow (2014)
Cuts of Guilt, Cuts Deeper (2015)
Merzxiu (2015)
Flying Basket (2015)
Gensho (2016)
An Untroublesome Defencelessness (2016)

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