Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Merzbow - Konchuuki [Essence Music - 2015]

From late summer 2015 here’s Konchuuki- an album of new material from one of the noise scenes most renowned & respected names. The release comes in the form of a CD, which offers up four tracks & just less than sixty five minutes of play time. The release title means ‘insect  machine’, and the theme of the release is the study of insects.

Before we get into the sonic nuts & bolts of this release, we must discuss the packaging it’s self, as I must say it’s one of the more arty & cleverly designed releases I’ve seen this year. The CD comes in a mini gatefold that on it’s outside features a detailed colour painting of various insect; but the real surprise comes when you go to open up the gatefold as in the middle  is a card pop-up of a moth.  There was also a ltd edition version of the release(which has now sold out)- this featured the gatefold inside a handmade/ hand drawn box  adorned with more insects illustrations, and a second CDR with two bonus tracks.

The four tracks here I guess can best be described as Merzbow in an 'electronica meets psychedelic noise' setting. With each track focusing in on a few set rhythmic electronic pluses or textures, to which Merzbow adds on shifting  layers of forking, laser-like, or sustained searing noise craft. Running time wise the tracks are between ten & twenty minutes a piece. And while none of these tracks really cover any new or fresh ground for the project; each  twist & turn in  fairly eventful & rewarding.  I can’t really say any one track stood out here for me, but each is satisfying enough in it’s own right with enough worthy shifts along each of their lengths.

So in summing if you enjoy Merzbow, when he’s in a more set electronica meets seared psychedelic noise texturing setting, you’ll certainly find Konchuuki enjoyable enough. And the classy package really adds to the release too…so this is certainly worth picking in a physical form.

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Merzbow - Konchuuki
From late summer 2015 here’s Konchuuki- an album of new material from one of the noise scenes most renowned & respected names. The release comes in the...
100226   Necrotik Fissure - Atrophy
100226   Vacant Algin - 2626
080226   400 Lonely Things - Creature ...
060226   PBK & Howard Stelze - She Thi...
060226   Wilt - Mold The Earth
060226   Andreas Rönnquist - The Fou...
060226   Vampire Zombies…from Space ...
060226   This Is What I Hear When You ...
060226   Niacinamide - The Eyes Of Ages
060226   Aberdeen Abattoir - Only Pain...
Latest Articles

Crude ‘n’ Hope-corroding Wall...
Back in 2024, I got my first taste of Absurd Reality, and I was so impressed by how crude and nasty its take on walled noise was. Behind the project is South...
290126   Crude ‘n’ Hope-corroding ...
231225   Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
221225   Best Of 2025 - Music, Sound &...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom