I tried to tally up the total number of releases by noise wizard Masami Akita, better known as Merzbow, and polymorphous metal trio Boris before I started writing about their new joint album, but it proved to be a fool’s errand. These Japanese artists are among the most prolific musicians in modern history, and their […]
Tag: Merzbow
Bandcamp Friday > Black Friday
Bandcamp Friday lets you be sure that basically all your money will reach the people who made what you’re buying.
Merzbow’s four-decade-plus reign of sonic terror continues with Screaming Dove
Japanese sound artist Masami Akita has been revolutionizing noise with his project Merzbow since 1979—he’s put out somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 albums, singles, and live recordings under that name, but who’s counting? Akita has bounced between electronics, tape manipulations, and scrap metal and contact mikes, both in his solo work and his collaborations […]
Drone Activity Chicago drowns out the noise of the city with an all-encompassing barrage of sound
Passing sirens, squealing brakes, fireworks, the metal-on-metal grind of el trains, the incongruously chirpy commercials preceding your streaming videos, and every damn noise coming out of everyone else’s phone on the bus. For people everywhere—but especially for those of us living in the city—unwelcome sounds assail us like a thousand irritating cuts. Drone Activity Chicago, […]
Chicago’s first Red Bull Music Festival is all over the map, with Pusha T, Makaya McCraven, Merzbow, and more
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 25, for Red Bull Music’s sprawling November festival of concerts, showcases, and lectures.
Deerhunter’s dreamily scuzzy Monomania and 14 more record reviews
Reviews of 15 current releases from all over the world of music: Deerhunter, Altar of Plagues, and lots more