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• Industrial,Ambient,Noise,Experimental,Neofolk
• Of - The Awful Cloud melodies from mars

Merzbow - Hodosan - 15-Jan-09 12:47 PM
Hodosan is as much of a digital noisefuck as it is a free drumming work out. It is the flavor of Merzbow as of late - the most recent Merzbow works have featured drumming almost unheard of since his 80s work. Perhaps his intent is to add some accessibility to his work, or, more likely, he simply wishes to put his drumming muscle in the limelight. Either way, this release has me coming back for more. On the first two tracks we get not only some delicious digi-hybrid arhythmic noise, but also we get to hear Akita trying to keep up with the noise in the form of free drumming, and with plenty of success. The third near twenty minute track begins with rhythmic noise pulse, and as soon as you are given a sense that the pulse is not going away, in comes Merzbow on the drums, this time with a rigid, probably 4/4 pattern. This patterned drum versus noise battle wages on for the entirety of the track. Though less studio-oriented than Merzbeat (the drums on Merzbeat are processed and looped, unlike Hodosans seemingly continuous live drum playing), this album brings the release to mind in its percussive orientation, as well as his free drumming of old. Though the accessibility may or may not actually be improved by the drumming, the release is sure to give longtime Merzbow fans a little something new to hear, as well as newcomers something to grab onto in terms of conventional sound. Hodosan has become one of my Merzbow favorites.

Nobukazu Takemura - Hoshi No Koe - 25-Mar-07 04:58 PM
I love love love this album! Nobukazu is the man! This is spring music to me- it reminds me of the days where it finally gets warmer and you can open all your windows and let the breeze in. Much of it is beautiful, even the noisier bits- to me, anyway. Nobu at his best!

Merzbow - 1930 - 07-Jul-06 12:14 AM
This CD really caught me off guard. I bought it with the expectation of it being pretty alright. But what this CD was... It was spectacular, a masterpiece, as far as noise will go. Instead of being one flat gristly tone, I was rewarded with a multi-layered, dynamic release. I think part of this albums - and probably the rest of Merzbows work - is that it is so busy. There are always little sounds and passages going on, even amidst the static you can find sounds, possibly ones that the noise had stemmed from. After a while, the pure static noise is actually beautiful sounding. I swear that toward the end of The Degredation of Tapes it becomes very relaxing, a relaxed sensation that continues throughout the last track. The first minutes of Iron, Glass, Blocks and White Lights gives me a distinct guitar solo sound...
This album is a wonderful, beautiful thing.

Oval - 94 Diskont - 28-Mar-06 02:56 PM
This album is so completely perfect! Absoulutley beautiful! I cannot believe I havent stumbled upon Oval until now... However it feels right that I found him when I did. That is the kind of feeling he gives you. That metaphysical, everything has its place feel. Then everything seems interesting and akward and kind of a bustle, while you sit back and watch it go by, relaxed and eternally at ease. That is what this album sounds like to me.

Brotha P Touch - C64 SID 6581 Massive - 23-Feb-06 02:34 PM
This is coming from one who enjoys the Chip/Bitpop/8-bit music movement. This album really isnt anything too special. Its mostly mostly uninteresting, with a few parts that stick out but nothing that is as good as other 8 bit stuff out there. Not to say its a bad album, I just thought it was rather uninspired, and I myself didnt like it. If your looking for something 8-bit try 8 bit weapon, Bit Shifter, Nullsleep or other artists that truly bare the mantle of the Chiptune movement.
Sad too, this is a Tigerbeat release.

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