Merzbow & Vanity Productions: Coastal Erosion (LP, iDEAL, July 2019)

Ah, noise. Lovely, cleansing noise. Once in a while, I find this stuff does me the world of good. Merzbow (Japanese veteran Masima Akita) is on splendid form here, assuming you think that ear-shredding howls of electronics and squeals of tortured static are amenable to the appellation of “splendid”. Vanity Productions (Christian Stadsgaard, a Dane whose work is new to me) provides an effect counterpoint with washes of soothing ambient synth — a combination that works remarkably well, the two elements subtly enhancing each other. On the 18-minute A-side, called Erosion Japan, Merzbow is the dominant force, with Vanity Productions some way back in the mix but somehow insistently holding his own. On the 16-minute B-side, called — have you guessed it yet? — Erosion Denmark, the roles are somewhat reversed. Both are powerful works which, despite the theme implied by the title and the cover art, I find strangely calming. Even if my ears are still ringing a little bit.

I bought this from Boomkat. They call it Electronic.