Merzbow / Smegma – Plays

Available for the first time as the artists originally intended!

In their first collaborative album, influential outsider artists Merzbow and Smegma traded source material through the mail – from Japan to the USA, from the USA to Japan – to craft a mesmerizing mix of surreal-concrète electronics, handmade instrumentation, unconventional sound art, and hypnotic blast & clatter. Released during a staggering time of Merzbow’s legendary output – the same year as Pulse Demon, Oersted, Spiral Honey, and Rainbow Electronics 2 – Plays stands alone as a stunning and idiosyncratic entry in both artists’ discographies.

Remastered & re-authored by John Wiese, the material is now presented for the first time as the artists envisioned: the material carefully separated into a multitude of distinct tracks with the disc intended to be played on shuffle to create unique compositions & juxtapositions with every listen. On the first pressing in 1996, the manufacturer only created 2 tracks, which was never corrected… until now! Packaged in a limited edition 4-panel digipak with new layout.

Celebrating 50 years of Smegma! Smegma began in Pasadena, California in 1973. Over time, Smegma (a take on the name Magma) developed a so-called ‘primitive suburban folk’ approach to music. Most Smegma members moved to Portland, Oregon in 1975, while at the same time becoming involved with the Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS), to which they contributed LPs, cassettes and visual art.

Merzbow is a Japanese artist who has been active since 1979. Over the course of his career, Merzbow has become one of the most prolific and influential figures in experimental music, creating an extensive discography encompassing over 500 releases.