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Pinhas, Richard/Merzbow - Rhizome CD + NTSC (all region) DVD

SKU Rune 328
"In 1973, a rock guitarist and an electronic knob-twiddler released a revered and trail-blazing document in contemporary ambient music: Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's No Pussyfooting. Thirty-five years later, guitarist Richard Pinhas and noise artist Masami Akita (aka Merzbow) have formed the 21st century version of the concept." – Brandon Wu/Washington City Paper

It's interesting that Brandon Wu compares the work of Richard Pinhas and Merzbow to Fripp and Eno. At the time it was recorded, No Pussyfooting was considered to be practically 'noise' (sound familiar?) and Robert Fripp has gone on record about how the record label didn't want to release the album because it would affect the commercial impact of these artsts. Yet, with time, the work the duo did was absorbed into the greater musical universe - if not into the mainstream - and its influence continues to this day.

While it's never safe to predict the future, perhaps the unlikely but also quite logical meeting of Richard's billowing clouds of guitarwork with Masami's well considered sonic assault will also prove to be influencial upon the larger musical universe. In any event, this recording from September, 2010, expands upon their first studio meeting, Keio Line and offers an obvious follow-up, as well as new twists to the sound.

The first pressing of Rhizome also includes a number of bonuses not available after the initial pressing: a bonus DVD of a generous excerpt of the duo's performance at the Sonic Circuits festival as well as a download coupon for their performance in Paris, November 12, 2008.

"A surprising meeting of minds and one of the strongest CDs I've heard in a while." – Musicworks

You can hear a track from the album here






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  • LabelCuneiform
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what a waste of time (editor's note - I guess it is a five-star waste of time!)
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