You're probably wondering why I chose Masami Akita, a.k.a Merzbow as the focus of "From the Vault." He is not obscure,he is not overlooked, in fact, he is the face of noise music.
That's what interests me about him, he has taken harsh noise, a genre that should be confined to basements and art-spaces ,and put it in full view of the masses, playing festivals and club shows all around the world.
I'm not sure why this is. There is a mystique about him, he is sleek and distinctive, and the packaging and themes of his work are certainly interesting. Not many noise artists focus on veganism and animal rights. But his work is harsh to the average listener.
He is challenging to me, not his music but his persona. He is a noise-maker who reached the highest possible level of recognition in a genre that is for obscure and the thoughtful.
I have no bandcamp to post, as his releases are in the hundreds. You've probably heard of him, but check him out if you haven't.
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