MERZBOW – Life Performance CD

Over an hour of best analogue material from the King of Japanese noise. Reissue of an extremely rare cassette, dating back to 1985, originally released by Merzbow’s own label ZSF Produkt, and in France by Le Syndicat. All tracks made for “Nil-Vagina Mail-Action February 85”. Recorded at Merz-bau Studio, and not ‘live’ as the title would suggest. All material taken from the original master tapes and remastered for 2016.

Track listing:

1. Nil Vagina Mail Action Pt. 1 (15:56)
2. Nil Vagina Mail Action Pt. 2 (15:28)
3. Nil Vagina Mail Action Pt. 3 (14:24)
4. Nil Vagina Mail Action Pt. 4 (12:00)
5. Nil Vagina Mail Action Pt. 5 (4:46)

Reviews:

“Life Performance was originally released in 1985… yet, these pieces could’ve been made this morning… these things live in their own universe, with their own timeline, and only ever intersect with our cosmology if and when their demented creator deems it appropriate” (Heathen Harvest)

“…an early version of the King of Japanese Noise doing what he does best… A definite time capsule from the beginning of a master’s oeuvre, Life Performance captures Merzbow starting to work more with heavy, distorted noise and punishing textures… a very important piece of the early noise puzzle, and a welcome release from Cold Spring” (4/5, Musique Machine)

“Merzbow has always maintained a curious relationship with ‘normal’ music. On Life Performance he exhibits a reckless distaste for idle musical disobedience. Melodies are eaten alive by the swams of synthesizer and feedback, shredded until they comply with Merzbow’s standards for acceptable sonic disfigurement.” (Rock-A-Rolla)

“Life Performance”, uno de los trabajos menos conocidos y más impactantes de esta primera etapa del, por derecho propio, rey del ruido nipón (9/10, Mentenebre)

“This release is so far from the usual representation of noise of a monolithic mass of sound without movement that remind of the motivations for whom this kind of music is even able to approach art galleries. A piece of history” (Chain D.L.K.)