Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983

Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983 is a box set compilation by the Japanese noise musician Merzbow, it is composed of recordings from the earliest years of Merzbow. It is released on ten LPs. Some material was partially included in the Merzbox.[1][2]

Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983
Box set by
ReleasedOctober 25, 2012 (2012-10-25)
Recorded1980–1983
GenreNoise, improvised, industrial
Length488:35 (with 7")
LabelVinyl On Demand
ProducerMasami Akita
Merzbow chronology
Uzu Me Ku
(2012)
Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983
(2012)
Kibako
(2012)

Packaging

All editions include ten LPs, a booklet of artwork, and hand-numbered certificate. All packaged in a black varnished, silkscreened wooden box. The members edition is for those who subscribed to the label, it includes a bonus 7" record with tracks from the first Merzbow tape and a T-shirt. The friends edition includes the 7", a long sleeve T-shirt, and a bonus cassette. Plus all of the records are pressed on red vinyl.

Track listing

Hyper Music 2

Previously unreleased recording in the style of Metal Acoustic Music.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Hyper Music Part 1"26:28
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Hyper Music Part 2"27:16
Notes
  • Recorded in 1980

Metal Acoustic Music

This is side B of the original cassette, side A was included in the Merzbox.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Balance of Neurosis Pt. 2"22:49
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Balance of Neurosis Pt. 2 Continued"21:45
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed in 1980
  • Originally released as C90 cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts in 1981

Merz Collection 007

Part of the ten volume Collection series. Includes previous studio and live sessions plus raw material.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Merz Collection I"11:18
2."Merz Collection II"1:57
3."Merz Collection III"8:27
Total length:21:42
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Merz Collection IV"15:47
2."Merz Collection V"5:55
Total length:21:42
Notes
  • Recorded at various locations between 1980–1981, mixed in 1981 at Merzbau, Machida studio
  • Originally released as C46 cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts in 1981
  • Partially included in the Merzbox

Tridal Production

Includes previous studio and live sessions plus raw material.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Tridal Production I"6:58
2."Tridal Production II"3:08
3."Tridal Production III"7:49
Total length:17:55
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Tridal Production IV"22:38
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at various locations between 1981–1982, mixed on 13 January 1982
  • Originally released as cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts in 1982
  • Re-released in 1989 on ZSF Produkt
  • Partially included in the Merzbox

Mechanization Takes Command 1

Original cassette spread across two LPs.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Mechanization Takes Command Part I"14:16
2."Mechanization Takes Command Part II"5:55
Total length:20:11
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Mechanization Takes Command Part III"11:03
2."Mechanization Takes Command Part IV"10:54
Total length:21:57
Notes
  • Recorded at home between 1981–1982, mixed in 1983
  • Originally released as C90 cassette on ZSF Produkt
  • Re-released in 1989 on ZSF Produkt
  • Partially included in the Merzbox

Mechanization Takes Command 2

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Mechanization Takes Command Part V"5:44
2."Mechanization Takes Command Part VI"3:16
3."Mechanization Takes Command Part VII"14:13
Total length:23:13
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Mechanization Takes Command Part VIII"10:14
2."Mechanization Takes Command Part IX"12:05
Total length:22:19

Solonoise Vol. 1

The title is taken from Georges Bataille's book The Solar Anus.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Solonoise Part I"23:55
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Solonoise Part II"23:42
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at various locations between 1981–1982, mixed on 13 January 1982
  • Originally released as cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts in 1982
  • Included in the Merzbox

Solonoise Vol. 2

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Solonoise Part I"22:17
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Solonoise Part II"22:37
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at various locations between 1981–1982, mixed on 13 January 1982
  • Originally released as cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts in 1982
  • Partially included in the Merzbox

Yahatahachiman

Yahatahachiman and Escape Mask are two tapes featuring atonal guitar and drum machine rhythms. Masami Akita didn't like them for the past thirty years since they had too much "guitar rock appeal".[2]

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Yahatahachiman Part I"12:42
2."Yahatahachiman Part II"4:54
3."Yahatahachiman Part III"9:59
Total length:27:35
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Yahatahachiman Part IV"24:45
2."Yahatahachiman Part V"5:23
Total length:30:08
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at ZSF Produkt in December 1983
  • Originally released as C60 cassette on ZSF Produkt in 1983

Escape Mask

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Escape Mask Part I"6:37
2."Escape Mask Part II"9:36
3."Escape Mask Part III"13:18
Total length:29:31
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Escape Mask Part IV"15:32
2."Escape Mask Part V"8:07
Total length:23:39
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at ZSF Produkt in 1983
  • Originally released as C60 cassette on ZSF Produkt

Fuckexercise

Note: 7" only available in the members and friends editions

From Merzbow's first release, only few copies were distributed in 1980. While some tracks later appeared on tapes like Tridal Production and the Collection series, these tracks have never been reissued.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Fuckexercise"7:25
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Fuckexercise (Cont.)"7:51
Notes
  • Recorded and mixed at home
  • Originally released as part of C60 cassette in 1980

Lowest Music Vol. 1

Note: cassette only available in the friends edition

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Lowest Music – Part 1–6" 
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Lowest Music – Part 7–14" 
Notes
  • Originally released as cassette on Merzbow Lowest Music & Arts, 1982
  • Recorded and mixed at home 1982

Personnel

  • Masami Akita – composer, performer, artwork
  • Kiyoshi Mizutani – plays various instruments on source live materials on Merz Collection 007 and Tridal Production; violin and electric piano on "Solonoise Part I" on Solonoise Vol. 1

Notes

  • Digitally re-mastered from original cassettes on July 2012 at Munemihouse, Tokyo

Release history

Region Date Label Format Quantity Catalog Notes
Germany 2012 Vinyl On Demand LP 500 VOD108 standard edition
unknown VOD108 members edition
99 VOD108 friends edition

References

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