Project Name:	Merzbow
Album:	Tamago
Record Company:	Plan DX-17
Catalog Number:	MZ1
Year:	2004
Categories:	laptop, loops, psychadelic, harsh, guitar, drums, ambient, pulse
Line-up:	Masami Akita
Collaborators:	Chorus by Yoshino
Track List:	1. Bronzo Part.1 8:27 2. Bronzo Part.2 14:14 3. Kangaroo Tracks Part.2 5:14 4. Bronzo Part.3 10:53 5. Tamago 7:15 6. Kangaroo Tracks Part.1 11:29
Related Albums:	Space Metalizer, Hybrid Noisebloom, Timehunter, Merzzow, Merzbeat
Comments:	Plan DX17 say: This release was especially commissioned for Plan-DX17 and it is all new material. We asked Merzbow to provide us with a psychedelic noise experience and he more than delivered. The music on the CD is structured, varied, harsh (at times), hypnotic and sometimes rhythmic. In some ways it is Merzbow's take on Japanese Psyche rock. A recent release but an instant rarity, pressed only in an edition of 350 copies with a promise of never being repressed. The presentation is top notch, with a white cardboard sleeve in the shape of an egg and a yolk-yellow cd, kept together with two small pieces of velcro. Recorded & mixed at Bedroom, Tokyo, April & May 2003. Mostly psychadelic/trance inducing loop based audio with some harsh build ups. Generally quite relaxing, but not without some abrasive challenging moments. The material is quite strong but the individual tracks have a nasty habit of cutting off right at what feels like the start of a climax; I'd like to hear more of where Kangaroo Tracks Part.2 was going when it ends abruptly. The opening of the title track sounds like it might be sampled chickens? Would fit the egg/tamago theme. The chicken sounds are joined by a processed guitar solo that goes crazy just after the 5 minute mark. The two Kangaroo Tracks tracks wouldn't be too far out of place on the Merzbeat album, as they feature looped drums and processed guitars. They fit in well with the other tracks here; more evidence of Merzbow's slow drift away from harsh noise into ambient territory. Despite that much of this cd still packs a satisfying abrasive punch, albeit a mellow one compared to the heights of Noisembryo and Pulse Demon. This cd is certainly worth acquiring at first opportunity; even if you don't personally enjoy it, it's what the kids these days call "eBay-gold." Wish I had thought of that before it went out of print and I had to spend a fortune buying it from amazon.com. As it is, I'm quite glad I do have it.
Related Links:	Plan-DX17 Release Page, Plan-DX17 Tamago Photo Page
Reviews:	Collective Zine
Images:	Front Cover   hi | low Inside Cover   hi | low 159 / 350   hi | low