Merzbow
Masami Akita was born in 1956 in Tokyo, Japan. Akita is a graduate of Tamagawa University, Art Department, and majored in Painting & Art Theory. Akita formed the premier Japanese Noise group Merzbow in 1979. Merzbow have released over 300 recordings, on tape, LP and CD, to date, working with many different media such as video, film and CD-ROM, both in the directorial and soundtrack role.
Masami Akita was born in 1956 in Tokyo, Japan. Akita is a graduate of Tamagawa University, Art Department, and majored in Painting & Art Theory. Akita formed the premier Japanese Noise group Merzbow in 1979. Merzbow have released over 300 recordings, on tape, LP and CD, to date, working with many different media such as video, film and CD-ROM, both in the directorial and soundtrack role.
Paradoxa Paradoxa + Material Action for 2 Microphones
Tip! * 25 copies, exclusive Soundohm blue shell cassette / white shell cassette * "Paradoxa Paradoxa": first ever live performance of Merzbow, recorded live at Kid Ailack Art Hall, Tokyo, 22 March 1981. First time ever re-issue on cassette since 1988. An incredible visceral performance, remastered by Masami Akita himself. An incredible chance of owning this very sought-after material. + "Material Action for 2 Microphones", originally released as a cassette on Lowest Music & Arts, Japan in 1981, …
Inside Richard Serra Sculptures
Pedro Vian and Merzbow release their first joint work, an unbounded expression of creativity and experimentation. Over the album's forty-minute duration, listeners can experience a blend of field recordings made by Pedro Vian at the DIA Bacon Foundation, specifically inside Richard Serra's sculptures. These recordings are interwoven with the ambient percussion and melodies characteristic of Vian's work, alongside the piercing and sharp frequencies produced by Merzbow, one of the most acclaimed a…
Tsubame: 13 Japanese Birds Pt. 12
This is December 2009's Bird CD from Merzbow. Tsubame is the 12th and 2nd to last in the series. Merzbow's 13 Japanese Birds is a 13 month series of releases inspired by Olivier Messiaen's Catalogue D'Oiseaux
PiaNoise
For decade, this collaboration was supposed to happen with Dapnom. Now, we enter a new dimension with my own piano ! We worked on this piece of crazy art last year, when the planet started to get wronger and wronger. This album is an ode to our ruin ! Even the most experienced ear will not come out of PiaNoise unscathed. Consecrating the meeting of two consummate artists, this release confronts their universe like a massive head-on shock in the eye of a sound storm by which we sometimes feel tot…
Oersted
*Limited Edition of 299 copies. Black vinyl * Masami Akita's exploration of noise as a musical form has influenced generations of artists and reshaped the way we perceive sound in the context of contemporary music. Oersted stands as a testament to Merzbow's ongoing artistic evolution and his unwavering commitment to pushing sonic boundaries. This limited vinyl reissue, expertly remastered by the wizard of mastering, James Plotkin, with 299 copies available on black vinyl, is a must-have for coll…
Ouroboros
2024 stock. Ouroboros is an ancient symbol dating back more than 4000 years. A snake or dragon eats its own tail, and represents eternity, or the circularity of life. A more modern interpretation might suggest that mankind will eventually consume itself once it finishes consuming all the life and resources on Earth. Snake species are in decline just about everywhere. Agriculture, pesticide use, roads that separate breeding populations, habitat loss, decreased food supply and predation by other a…
Merzbient
From deep within the Soleilmoon warehouse, and just in time for its 10 year anniversary, come the leftover/extra copies of the LPs from the “Merzbient” LP box sets, originally released in 2012.
Noise Matrix
Tip! Noise Matrix unleashes material from the same sessions as noisembryo and counterpart 'hole' and selected recordings from the time period. Originally released as a bonus disc on the definitive ’Noisembryo' 2xcd edition noise matrix absolutely can’t be missed for fans of this period of noise deity Merzbow. When people ask where to start with merzbow or the entire 90’s noise movement in japan - this is an answer! Masami Akita’s surrealism of the past stands prominently relevant to this day co…
Klatter
Available on LP for the first time outside of Japan, experimental rock pioneers Boris & noise mastermind Merzbow present Klatter, the third collaboration between the two groups.
Mechanization Takes Command
"Mechanization Takes Command" was first released on Music-Cassette by Masami Akita on his own ZSF label back in 1983 and this, after 40 years, is the very first re-edition into CD format. A very special and historical album. The large part of sounds on this album have an analogue origin. Masami on this album plays Drums (?) and Guitar (?)... But also many other instruments and sound-surces such as TV ands Vocal samples. And of course Electronics, Loops, Effects, Drum-Machines... The overall is v…
Tsubute Mosaic
Merzbow (aka Masami Akita), animal rights activist, writer, and musician, an Iconic figure in International noise scene. Renowned for his pioneering contributions to the noise music genre, Merzbow has solidified his position as one of its most significant and recognizable figures. From his groundbreaking utilization of tape loops to craft expansive industrial landscapes in the late 1970s, to his transition to laptop-generated static noise at the turn of the century, Merzbow has consistently push…
Extinct
Cold Spring is proud to present a unique collaboration between Industrial Breakbeat pioneers Meat Beat Mamifesto (Jack Dangers) and the undisputed king of Japanese noise, Merzbow (Masami Akita).
Coronado
In their first collaborative album, pioneering Japanese sound artist Merzbow and prolific outsider outfit Sissy Spacek unite to unleash an unstoppable firebomb of frenzied electronics and raging percussion across two 45-minute discs in this monumental set. Assembled July–September 2023, it features a lineup of Masami Akita, Charlie Mumma, and John Wiese, with a special appearance by Phil Blankenship (The Cherry Point). Beautifully packaged in a metallic gatefold digipak with artwork by John Wies…
Project Frequency
* Limited edition of 105 copies * Originally recorded and mixed at ZSF Produkt Studio 1995. This second re-issue comes in green vinyl and with an updated artwork by Masami Akita. Remastered at Munemihouse in 2019 by Masami Akita.
Cafe OTO
A documentation of prolific Japanese noise master Merzbow's double show at London's Cafe OTO in October 2016.
MONOAkuma
*2023 stock* "I think the first time I heard Merzbow must have been in 1994. I was a compulsive cassette trader back then and I was sent a tape from a fanzine editor I traded with in the USA. It had two long form pieces on it that just said Merzbow//Noise. I remember at the time not really knowing what to make of it. It was effortlessly deep and aggressive, but also very emotive and almost lyrical in the way the waves of sound would erupt and decay. In those days it wasn’t so easy to discover in…
Hatomatsuri
*200 copies limited edition* Unfettered harsh noise from the legendary Japanese noise artist Masami Akita aka Merzbow. Tirelessly churning layers of distortion are punctuated across two tracks with glistening, jagged feedback and thrashing pulsations that lash at the ears and utterly invigorate the senses.
Plays
Available for the first time as the artists originally intended!
XCIII
More than 25 years after their first partnership, international collaborators Smegma and Merzbow reunite for an all-new album that pushes the conceptual springboard of random composition generation even further. Consisting of two movements spread over 93 tracks, XCIII presents a collage of abstract electronics, unconventional instruments, reel to reel tape manipulation, loops and effects, best experienced in unique combinations on shuffled play.The first movement, Climactic Gruesome Costumes (wh…
Space Metalizer
**Limited Edition of 199 copies. Reissue for the first time, this album stands as a testament to Merzbow's artistic vision and his relentless pursuit of pushing the folds of noise. Space Metalizer is a must-listen for enthusiasts of noise music and anyone seeking a transformative and immersive sonic experience. Comes with original cover collage plus a bonus postcard and poster with amazing colored new and old collages by Masami Akita.** Noise music emerged as a distinct genre in the late 20th ce…