Jamie Saft & Merzbow — Merzdub

Merzdub is  one of the more defined and musically ‘normal’ albums from Merzbow in  a long time, since the chain beat records released by important records . There is defined musical  melody and beats here and also defined Instruments, such as piano Synth, bass ect. It’s all brought to life with the help of  Jamie Saft.

I have to say I’m in two minds about this album, on one level it’s and interesting and challenging diversion nay departure for Merzbow. On another level  it just doesn’t seem to click with me, sadly much like many of the beat albums, didn’t. I think my main bug bear is the lack of denser texture, lack of depth. Merzbow really spends most of the time here painting on contrast of noise, shade and depth of sound to the normal instruments. But that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this I did- it just didn’t hit me the way I was expect from Merzbow.

The opening track Conquerer is one of the highlights here mixing black & white movie haunted house piano, low down dub fluctuations and some nice textured and moving banks of static. Updub pits organ fed dub ,against taught static beat punches, and fazer electronics that soar  to some wonderfully painful heights. Towards the end the track, it all threatens to  fall apart, as the static beat body hits get more pronounced and echoed.

An intriguing experiment which I’m still not hundred per cent sure about, but never the less another rewarding and different side to Merzbow. Special mention much be giving to the wonderful designed and eye catching artwork, that leaps at you!, to hear samples go to here.