Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983

Lowest Music & Arts 1980–1983
Box set by Merzbow
Released	October 25, 2012
Recorded	1980–1983
Genre	Noise, improvised, industrial
Length	488:35 (with 7")
Label	Vinyl On Demand
Producer	Masami Akita
Merzbow chronology

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]

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.	Title	Length
1.	"Hyper Music Part 1"	26:28

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Balance of Neurosis Pt. 2"	22:49

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Mechanization Takes Command Part I"	14:16
2.	"Mechanization Takes Command Part II"	5:55
Total length:		20:11

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Solonoise Part I"	23:55

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Solonoise Part I"	22:17

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Fuckexercise"	7:25

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
1.	"Lowest Music – Part 1–6"

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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

"Merzbow - Lowest Music & Arts 1980 - 1983 (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
"VOD108: MERZBOW Lowest Music & Arts 1980-83 10Lp-Box". Vinyl On Demand. Retrieved April 22, 2013.

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[1] "Merzbow - Lowest Music & Arts 1980 - 1983 (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs. Retrieved October 28, 2012.

[vod-2] "VOD108: MERZBOW Lowest Music & Arts 1980-83 10Lp-Box". Vinyl On Demand. Retrieved April 22, 2013.