Merzbow

Cat Of Shell was recorded in 1996 and originally intended for release under the same title, but remained unreleased until now. According to Akita's notes, the DAT master index lists both "Cat Of Shell" and "1930" - indicating these recordings relate to the celebrated 1930 album (Tzadik). The repetitive sounds playing in clever, ear-catching balance suggest techno influences, while cracked sounds reminiscent of metal pronunciation and tremendous sonic depth characterize the sessions.

At the time, Akita was also obsessed with modern architecture - particularly Tokyo's post-earthquake reconstruction - and many artworks from this period featured building photographs. The artwork for this edition uses photographs of structures taken by Akita around 1998, including lighting fixtures at Isetan Shinjuku, echoing the 1930 aesthetic.

Credits: All Music by Masami Akita
Recorded & mixed at ZSF Produkt, 1996
Remastered at Munemihouse, Tokyo 2019