Merzbow

The "Collection" series holds legendary status in Merzbow historiography—a cornerstone of the project's early catalog that established methodologies Akita would refine for decades. Between 1981 and 1982, he released ten volumes on his own Lowest Music & Arts label, each created by mixing multiple tapes into dense sonic collages. Collection 010 represents the culmination of this early methodology.

Originally recorded on October 26, 1981—the same fertile year that produced Yantra Material Action—this definitive edition was newly remastered at Munemihouse in Tokyo during February 2018. The "Collection" methodology—mixing multiple source tapes into new configurations—anticipated sampling culture and established Merzbow's collage-based approach to composition. The melt of noise, performance, and rhythm in this work crystallizes the "nonsense of music" characteristic of early Merzbow—truly a valuable record in the history of noise music.

Credits: Masami Akita: Tapes, Merztronics, Guitar, Microphone, Synare 3, Rhythm Machine, Percussion, Effects
Kiyoshi Mizutani: Bass, Guitar, Microphone
Remastered from Original Cassette Tape, February 2018 at Munemihouse, Tokyo