Aqua Necromancer [EP]

Merzbow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Alien 8/Nail
• ASIN: B000H799JO
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,140 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Aqua Necromancer

2. Contrapuntti Indian

3. Soft Drums

4. Contrapuntti Patto

5. Farsa del Buen Vivir

Editorial Reviews

This tour-only EP consists of advance mixes of 4 tracks! TRACKS: 1. Dance 4; 2. Dance 1; 3. Pop; & 4. Groove!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Merzbow's prog-loving album, December 10, 2005

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aqua Necromancer (Audio CD)

Merzbow has a lot (i mean...A LOT) of releases available. so how does the newcomer who is curious about this monolithic japanese noise god's vast and overwhelming catalogue decide which Merzbow cd to punish him/herself with? well...if your looking for the kind of ear-splitting, soul-shifting, sonic depravity fouind on his other 1 million records, then this cd is probably not the place to start. however, if you are a casual listener of noise and enjoy listening to interesting adaptions to sound, then Aqua Necromancer is a fine place to begin. this comes pretty close to being accessable noise...at least when comparing this to previous Merzbow albums. maybe because this album's music is based on progressive rock bands that Merzbow loves. specifically, it seems like a tribute to prog rock drummers. there are lots of looped organs, drum fills, and plenty of squelchy squeaky feedback and washes of gorgeous noise that flip and drip and slide and squirm inbetween it all. it's a very engaging listen from start to finish and a fine addition to any Merzbow fans sagging shelf of cd's.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars merzbow and peopl, June 1, 2005

By 

E. Roberts "ia" (Canton, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aqua Necromancer (Audio CD)

Well after having bought several Merzbow albums and having given each of them plenty of enjoyed listens I've come to the conclusion that Merzbow does not make noise but soundscapes. Or maybe soundscapes out of noise, whatever. The main point is that he doesn't make the same album over and over again. Each album I own of his has it's own personality and sound. This one seems to focus on prog rock sounds interacting with psychedlic waves of noise. It works surprisingly well.

Here's album:

Aqua Necromancer- whooshing noise sound fx in an organic fashion mixed with some catchy drum beats(from prog rock albums I hear). When I first heard this track, it was my favorite of his next to Ananga-Ranga from Venereology. But then I heard...

Contrapuntti Indian- Probably the nicest thing I ever heard. Loops of melodic guitar and wah solos weaving in and out of a wash of noise.

Soft Drums- lots of prog drum fill loops, a rather manic track with the usual slice of noise.

Contrapuntti Patto- same formula, this time with Keyboard and drum samples. Works great, lots of noise cutting in and out of the sound, well played though not one of my favorite tracks.

Farsa Del Buen Vivir- a looped drum beat that is immediately catchy. I think rap artists would find this a nice thing to sample, but then Akita starts in with what sounds like a noise solo. Very interesting... and under 4 minutes! Pretty accessible for Merzbow.

One of his better works. It gets a lot of regular replay with me, recommended. I'd suggest looking for a more decent price than what amazon has it listed for($44?). I got mine off ebay for under $10.

4.0 out of 5 stars A superior and surprising release, July 25, 2007

By 

Michael Campbell's Enlarged Piles (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aqua Necromancer (Audio CD)

By no means a Merzbow expert, but definitely an ardent fan, I'm normally accustomed to being utterly bludgeoned and mangled by his records. 'Aqua Necromancer', however, comes from a totally different angle.

On this album, Merzbow takes some obscure samples on each track and subtly(Well, subtle by Noise standards) embroiders them with his patented noisescapes. Most of these samples are of drums, guitars, or basses, lending a heavy rock influence to the record. It may not sound that compelling, but after a couple listens to the first two tracks, I put this up there with my favorites of his work.

Merzbow blatantly shows his debt to rock music on this record, and it comes off as sincere, inventive, and entertaining. A recommended listen.