Boris' latest trip
Daniel Hildreth | Brooklyn, NY | 11/22/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Boris squeeze one more record in before the end of the year with this incredible 2-disc live set with Merzbow, brought to us by none other than the stoner-metal congress of death: Southern Lord Records. Boris, 3-piece from Japan, are to some legends...proof that this genre of music can be presented and imagined in new and engaging ways. Being an extremely prolific band, endlessly touring and releasing various limited edition and proper LPs (last year saw the release of over 4 Boris records) one would imagine that the overwhelming output could be too much or inevitably result in some filler, especially when it comes to a live show of older material. Not so! Boris keep it going at a furiously energetic pace with nearly everything they do and this live set, consisting of many beloved Boris "classics," is no exception. An added pleasure is that Masami Akita, AKA Merzbow "the god of noise" performs with the band adding deep textures and sound effects that further the heady psychedelic nature of the music. Seeing this record at the shop I thought a couple things: 1. I must buy it regardless of quality or low funds in my checking account because of the beautiful slip case packaging (designed by Stephen O'Malley) and because it is limited to only 5000 copies. 2. I was worried that the record would be a lame rehashing of old Boris tracks presented live with low quality. 3. My last concern was that Merzbow's contributions would be lost in the already dense mix of sound.
Well I was wrong. The old songs never sounded better, even to an old fan like myself. The intensity that is their live show truly comes through on the record (do yourself a favor and see this band live...they do not dissapoint in any respect) and Merzbow can be clearly distinguished above the competing squeals of feedback and distortion. In fact, Merzbow's part on this record signifacntly enhances the listening experience by developing an epic, lush background for the songs to grow around. Boris and Merz have been collaborating for years on various studio LPs, but I will venture to say that this is their most solid and satisfying collaboration. Their other records together suffered from one artist feeding perhaps to much into the others' style. Either there was no evidence of Wata's signature guitar playing amidst the murky hour long noise songs or Merzbow's feedback couldn't be distinguished from Boris' (a thin line, I know). Regardless this record sees both artists in top form and is a must listen for any fan, and I think a great starting point for someone who wants to see what these crazy cats from Japan are all about. Check it while its still around."
Distortion Soup
Ernie Joseph | NY, USA | 03/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Highest recommendation if you have headphones and time to dissect this difficult music. An array of microtonal sludge that takes patience and an in tune ear to fully comprehend. Definetely not for the casual music fan. An experience best appreciated with the lights low and the mind altered. Rock dream is a primal example of a Boris live show augmented by Merzbow's subtle sound gestures. A psychedelic haze of mind melting colors delivered through droning, pitch shifting feedback. Enjoy!"
This is one of the greatest live albums ever!
B. Parker | oh | 03/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Boris themselves have utterly left behind their Melvins trappings. They still riff loud and strong, and there is always a brilliant interlock between the guitars and drums. However, now it has such a panoramic spectrum of color to it. Instead of writing about every track, I'd like to discuss my favorite.
This howling groan-like din starts "The Evilone Which Sobs" running and doesn't let up through most of the track. The guitars strum single lines, leaving space, then heavy melancholy chords. Wata solos a bit, then the drums come crashing in. Truly one of the heaviest things I've ever heard. At times, when Merzbow's skronk changes in pitch, it truly seems like a palpable thing. Like something screaming, cursing the Universe itself for bringing it into being. I myself picture a death-shrouded figure standing in a wasteland, its' skull face howling. Forgive me if that sounds morbid. It's just the picture it put in my head. That is a sign of good music to me.
This is also a good album for those curious about Merzbow to check out. I owned about three of his CDs before getting this (so I have a bit of an ear for it), but he has a different approach with Boris. He knows when to assert himself and when to lie low. At times he is a howling counterpoint to the guitars, or a solo voice, sometimes bouncing around the edges of the mix like a skittering demon. At other times, he's down in the mix, shrieking away ominously. This is truly him playing cohesively with a group. And that's a hard thing for some noise artists to pull off. I would say this album is even a better collaboration than Merzbow's album with Sunn O))), "Flight of the Behemoth". That was basically him remixing and mutating Sunn O))) tracks.
Something should truly be said for the recording and engineering of this. To be able to capture a live sound this dense and textural, without resulting in formless blobs of sound, is amazing. The guitars are recorded phenomenally. Though at times, it's too bad there is no audience sound. I'm curious to see what people would be able to do in response to something like "Feedbacker". Think about it, you've just been utterly overcome by 35+ minutes of brain-shredding, cloud-parting beauty. It wouldn't surprise me if they were sweaty masses pounded flat into the ground.
This is the jewel in my Southern Lord collection.
Seriously, if you are a fan of this kind of music and the price is reasonable (it being a rarer limited edition release), BUY IT!!!!!!
"
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1