Merzbow

This archival treasure captures Merzbow in its original duo formation—Masami Akita alongside Kiyoshi Mizutani—during a pivotal moment in the project's genesis. Recorded on May 4, 1980, one year after Merzbow's founding and a full three years before the official debut album Material Action 2 N・A・M (1983), these sessions document the raw experimentation that would eventually reshape global underground music.

The original cassette index bore the title "Pornoise 1 & 2," though the tape itself was labeled simply "MPor #1" and "por#2." To avoid confusion with later Merzbow works using the "Pornoise" designation, Slowdown Records has adopted the abbreviated title for this release. This attention to archival precision characterizes the entire series.

The session finds Akita on guitar with Mizutani handling tabla and drums—an instrumentation that reflects their roots in free improvisation and the Tokyo underground scene. Only the final tracks incorporate additional elements like tape manipulation and flute, suggesting possible overdubbing rather than purely live performance. These early experiments already demonstrate the duo's commitment to pushing beyond conventional musical boundaries.

Credits: Masami Akita: Tapes, Merztronics, Guitar, Microphone, Synare 3, Rhythm Machine, Percussion, Effects
Kiyoshi Mizutani: Bass, Guitar, Microphone