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 - Hanakisasage [Old Captain - 2016]

Hanakisasage is another recent addition to this Japanese noise legend truly huge discography. The release comes in the form of a CD, and offers up two length slices of dense & shifting noise craft that brings together elements psychedelic & roasting electronics, layers of squalling & searing harsh noise, and often a feeling of lose jam based composition.

This release appears on Ukraine  based noise & post industrial label  Old Captain. The CD comes in a glossy four panel digipak, which takes pictures of trees, and layered tree foliage type montage. The release apparently takes its name from rare tree, that can only be found in a few areas in Japan. The CD comes in an edition of 300 copies.

First up we have the title track, which is the longest work here at just over the thirty four minute affair. The tracks an extremely thick, swirling & morphing layer affair that brings together: simmering-yet-droned-out synth & electronic scapes. Stretching & pulsing noise textures. Scrubbing & searing Merz-guitar drifts, and the odd hint at slight more harmonic & moody electro trails. There is really no  rhythmic base or fixed repetitive element at play though-out, though  elements do reappear. I guess you’d say it’s Merzbow in a more jam like setting. On the whole, as latter day Merzbow goes it’s not too bad, and it managed to keep my attention held though-out.

The second track is entitled “Kakapo 2”, and this comes in at the 20.41 minute mark. The track shares its name with another recent Merzbow release, Kakapo a vinyl release from last year on Oaken Palace Records , which offered up two linked more harsh jam & drone based tracks. “Kakapo 2” doesn’t sound much like the two tracks on it’s namesake album really. Going instead for a blend of pulsing ‘n’ throbbing electro rhythmic base, that Merzbow adds on layers of screaming, shredding & baying noise on top. As well as more chopping percussive type layers. The tracks a fairly typical example of more repetitive based Merz-composition. Though the pulsing & throbbing element has quite a nice brooding feel about it, and he shifting  noise elements he adds on top keeps ones attention nicely.

In conclusion Hanakisasage is a passable enough Merzbow release- with the first track offering a more dense & jam based noise work. And the second  more pulsing/ rhythmic based meets shifting noise layer type composition.

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 - Hanakisasage
Hanakisasage is another recent addition to this Japanese noise legend truly huge discography. The release comes in the form of a CD, and offers up two l...
290324   Stuart Argabright & AfterAfte...
290324   Piranha - Piranha(DVD)
280324   Typhoon Club - Typhoon Club(B...
270324   Jerzy Skolimowski Collection ...
260324   Latex Choker - Sealed
260324   Occlusion - 59: No Input Wall
260324   Nihil Impvlse - Anabasis
260324   Marta Forsberg - Sjunger För...
260324   The New Boy - The New Boy( Th...
250324   The Stargazer’s Assistant - ...
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom