Merzbow : Sedonis
Masami Akita, aka Merzbow, occupies a unique space between admiration and anonymity. He’s one of the most profound and influential names in underground music, yet unlikely to be heard by anyone without at least a passing interest in experimental music. For nearly 50 years, and with hundreds of releases under his belt, Akita has established himself as the prominent artist in harsh noise.
Forgoing conventional band instrumentation and rhythmic structure, noise has a considerable barrier for entry to the untrained ear. Hell, a lot of people would probably tell you it shouldn’t even be called “music.” The fact of the matter is that noise is often employed as a work of performance art (and also music, sure). As Merzbow, Akita’s work challenges our understandings of music: not just “what can music be,” but also how we process sound/music. He does this once again with Sedonis, an album that not only captures what’s appealing about Merzbow, but also provides one of his more digestible experiences.
At face value, Akita doesn’t present any specific theme or exploration tied to Sedonis. The most he offers is a visual—a reference to a kaiju from the Japanese show Ultra Q. In a press release, he says, “In terms of imagery, I was thinking of something similar to Barunga, the balloon monster from Ultra Q. A cloud-like form floating in the sky or outer space, with tendrils or tentacles—that kind of presence.”
Across the record’s four tracks, Akita uses modular electronics, computers and other homemade instruments to create an overwhelming bombardment of sound. Structurally, each of Sedonis’ tracks feature varying shifts in distorted, dissonant noise; while the chaos of sound is constant, the changes in tempo, rhythm, and space Akita brings to each song allow for complex layers of listening.
While Sedonis is far from easy listening, compared to other Merzbow releases, it’s more digestible, making it a decent entry point for newcomers. This is partially thanks to the relatively limited number of tracks on the record, as opposed to longer releases like his adored Pulse Demon. But more specifically, for as complex as Sedonis is, Akita’s technicality and performances aren’t as intense here.
Though each of these songs are built out of harsh noise, there’s a rhythmic feel to each that, relatively speaking, feels inviting. With Merzbow, what at first may come across as random noise eventually settles into a flow state; the extreme buzzing, electronic bleeps and beats come together to form a mutated sense of rhythm. It’s far from conventional sounding, yet for all the harsh elements Akita weaves in, the result is curiously meditative.
A career in harsh noise artist might sound impossible on its face, yet for nearly five decades, Akita has done it. He’s the artist that other noise musicians look up to and often a gateway into the genre. While it has plenty to satisfy longtime fans, for newcomers, Sedonis has the potential to be an introduction to the mesmerizing and absurd sounds of Merzbow.
Label: S/N
Year: 2025
Similar Albums:
