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chamberry wrote: I'll post my first impressions of Merzbow . . . . Ouch!. That band I think ruined my ears. I mean, this is a very hard band to get into and I don't think I'm not going to be able to make that journey. At least Merzbuddha I found it a little bit enjoyable, but only a little (like a grain of salt). I would like to see some thoughts on them also. Someone in here find them enjoyable, if so, how? and why?I'm sorry if it sounded like I was ranting (wich I think it was), but this is only my first impression of them and I wanted to see if people shared my feelings when they first heard them or actually liked them the first time around.

Well what can I say there were definately warnings about this band

I have only gotten around to listening to "Merzbuddha" so far, listened to it twice on repeat last night. I can truely stay I found this quite a captivating listening experience. I would say most people will be turned off you the three note electronic drum beat persiting for the entire hour the album runs for. I think this is one of those albums you have to set the right mood for, I think this album in particular shows something about my personality, I didn't find the experience negative whatsoever. I listed to this album up quite loud in the dark while lying my bedroom floor, setting up the surround sound accordingly. It is certain something which pushes surround sound to the fullest extent. I found the album was quite successful in what it was ment to do. I am asuming from the title of the tracks on this album (mantra) it is meant to take the audience into a different state of mind, which I personally thought it did. I was captivated by the whole mood of the album and hence effected me with positive feelings. Throughout the album there was a strong sense of that other worldly experence.

I'm not sure whether other people are going to be interested in an album like this, I think people more into the drone side of music are going to get more of a positive listening experience out of this. Along with people interesting in pushing your mind into higher mental states.

I have yet to listen to the other albums. I heard "Sun Baked Snow Cave" is pretty much a drone experiment so this could either be terrible or very good. When discussing this type of music there can be a very fine line between trash and a materpiece. Also I rather like Boris so I'm look forward to listen those albums.

Hope this helpped and made some sense, Chamberry
    

Edited by Black Velvet - July 17 2006 at 23:04

Well I know you like Caravan and that's rather tame in comparison to Merzbow!

You can't listen to technical, avant-garde music all your life Adam!  It's nice to listen to some chilled jazz every so often.

I think it may grow on you with further listens.  It's not a bad album at all, you know that, but I guess because you listen to more extreme forms of music, you find it harder to enjoy.

I wonder what Joren and Assaf thought of it...

Any thoughts on Polar Bear yet guys?

Just curious!

Thanks.

I've tried to listen to Nurse With Wound but never known where to start. Heard a few random 30 seconds samples that I didn't enjoy, but can't judge much for such a vast number of releases and large span of time (which likely couples with many styles). Wish I could help, but I think we're all in the same place with this one.

I was hoping someone here is going to be able to help me with this question. After doing research on several of the rare albums I have come across during my adventures in Avant-garde music. I kept coming across the infamous:

THE NURSE WITH WOUND LIST... which can be found here, there are many well known bands but there are also some very hard to track down rarities. This site will also explain what the list is about.

myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ultimathule/nww/nwwlist.html

So I decided to look up the band to see what all the fuss is about, and while browsing my local store catalogue today could not help notice there are numerous album available on shelf at the moment. The bands first album was brough out in 1979 and they constantly been releasing album after album right up to this day. So there catalogue is massive and I have no idea where I should start.

So does anybody have any knowledge of this band or where a good place to start is?

Are there samples or streams of songs from them? All this talking about Merzbow being unlistenable and very inaccesible is making me curious.

I know what you mean, from the few songs I have heard from Wolf Eyes it is something that takes a lot of effort to get into. The live song I heard sort of reminded me of very intense black metal to be truthful. It was just that wall of white noise, but somehow possess this shear intensity which at this time I am finding hard to grasp. They have a few of their records at my local store and at one stage I was thinking of picking some of their stuff up, but was warned about their sound which I am thankful for.

Oh here is some information on Merzbow. I would try and explain myself but that would be rather hard, just know they are a Japanese band so expect anything

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merzbow

Edited by Black Velvet - July 16 2006 at 17:08

Well that is the first I have looked over their unoffical site, and needless to say the Discography is a little more complete than rateyourmusic; who had "Glamour Girl 1941" being an EP or something strange like that. I find it interesting they called themselves a noise band!

So what is "The Mad Excitement, the Barbaric Pulsations, the Incomparable Rhythms of...Smegma" like, I would interested to hear from you if it is along similar lines to the album I have? Also I noticed, brought out in the same year they did a split album with Merzbow where they have done their takes on each others pieces. I think this would be very interesting, as I have been somewhat farmilar with some of Merzbow's material.

Joren wrote: Black Velvet wrote: Joren wrote: Black Velvet wrote: Thanks James I will have a look at those links soon and hopeful be able to have a few samples again of their music. Also I have been meaning to ask you something Joren. I know the band Smegma are hopefully being added to the database which I am very happy about, I love their album "Glamour Girl 1941". I got sent this album just a little while back "Smegma - Schrammel Oi!" and I was wondering whether this is the same band or not as it is an abrupt changing in styles if it is? Yeah I've heard "Schrammel Oi" as well... Assaf owns it. It definitely is a different band. If you search for the cover on google you'll soon find out. They're a bunch of skins/oi! punks from Germany I believe. *phew* This comes as good news, I really was hoping the fantastic band who recorded "Glamour Girl 1941" had not fallen to these depths. By the way, what did you think of the band? (the Avant-jazz one)      I think you don't know because of whom it is that we're all talking about Smegma now. Well, because of me, actually. About a year and half ago, I stumbled upon this album called "Smell The Remains" by Smegma. I decided to give it a try just because of the band's name. I got slightly addicted to the strange music, so I ordered the "Glamour Girl 1941 + Pigface Chant" compilation and soon after I found "The Mad Excitement, The Barbaric Pulsations, The Incomparable Rhythms Of Smegma" on the internet, being sold second hand. I have been walking around with the idea of including them on PA for a long time (about a year I think), but I had always thought that nobody would agree with their inclusion. That is, until the RIO/Avant-team was founded. When I heard David's and Assaf's reactions, I was pleasantly surprised. And now a bunch of people is even discussing them in the prog lounge! who would've thought...? Anyway, I suppose you've seen their (unofficial) website as well?:http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Gala/8418/smegdex1.htmlPS I would like to take the opportunity to state that I would really like to add Smegma myself. Of course I will finish Zorn's discography first (and maybe write a Boredoms bio...?), but after that, Smegma are on the top of my list. So: all RIO-team members: hands off!

Yes it is definately interesting that we are now discussion this band hear at prog archives. When I first came hear I truthfully didn't think anybody else would have heard of them (I have been listening to them for longer than you may think, discover them in about Dec/Jan 05/06), and then saw them being discussed by the RIO. Unforunately I have not tracked down any of their other material, then when I was sent that other album I got quite a shock and was praying it was not the same band . So I am happy you have suggested them to the team, and I agree with their inclusion!

They have always reminded me sound wise of the Swedish Jazz improv band Förklädd Gud, but with far tighter structure and compositions which I guess gave the band there more proggy sound.   
    

Also I cannot wait for the Boredoms to be on this site I think people already know my opinion of these guys by now.