Merzbow - Minazo Vol 2

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3...according to our Phil on Thu 16 Nov, 2006.

In the 10 or so years of doing this I don't think I've ever reviewed a MERZBOW record. He's done about a thousand in that time as well so I think he's probably not been treated fairly. I'll redress the balance now and talk about Minazo Vol 2. Another concept album, (he is partial to the odd concept album) this time about Minazo the elephant seal who lived his entire life in captivity in Tokyo zoo. The thing I like about Merzbow is that he's got a great attitude towards animals and he's all against cruelty to animals. He's a pro active beast indeed. I wonder if he thought it would be cruel to play this to animals?? I can expect dogs exploding listening to this, birds wings falling off and pigs running around in circles until the ground is no more. This is some crazy extreme noisy shit with screeching and ridiculously high frequencies all over the shop. I wonder if Minazo's life would have been enrichened by hearing this??? Gimme a bucket of fish any day. Still it's a cool concept and a top sleeve... on splatty green vinyl courtesy of Important Records.

Not to be confused with Merzbow's recent cd release on Important titled Minazow Vol 1, this is Minazow Volume 2 featuring new tracks dedicated to the memory of the mighty Minazow. This release is on vinyl only, housed in a deluxe heavy duty textured tip-on gatefold sleeve and pressed on green vinyl. Limited edition of 1000. PLease specify what color of splatter vinyl you're like when ordering. Minazow Vol 2 is Merzbow's tribute to the beloved male elephant seal who lived life in captivity at a Tokyo aquarium. Masami Akita often visited the seal at the aquarium and was allowed to access Minazo behind the scenes. Minazo, an Elephant seal, died at 5:15 pm on October 4, 2005. He was 11 years old, still young for an elephant seal whose life expectancy is 20 years on average. Whatever the cause of death, I feel sad and angry each time I hear about animals dying in captivity far away from their natural habitat. Minazo was raised at the Enoshima Aquarium in Kanagawa Prefecture. With a strong build, 5 meters in height and 2 tons in weight, he was the only male elephant seal in Japan. Director Yukiko Hori said in her book "The Story of An Aquarium" (published by Iwanami Shoten) that Minazo was brought to Japan from Uruguay in 1995. His name, which consists of three kanji characters meaning "beautiful", "male", and "elephant", was chosen from 1,500 public suggestions. The aquarium had raised male and female elephant seals called Daikichi and Omiya, who had been brought from the Antarctic island of South Georgia in 1964. After they died in 1977 and 1979, specimens were made using their skins, which are currently displayed at the aqarium. Hori said that the previous experience with the two seals was of help in raising Minazo. Minazo became popular through TV appearances. He was once introduced on a variety show as a look-alike for wrestler Bob Sapp, an insult to Minazo. Elephant seals have far greater strength than humans, and can even crush a car when they get really mad. Bob would have been beaten in a second. Minazo was forced to perform various stunts before audience at each mealtime, such as holding a bucket with one flipper, bending back like a prawn, and standing still while a keeper jumped and clung on him. The hard work made him exhausted and might have caused his early death. Many of the aquariums in Japan have become mere amusement establishments. If their mission includes breeding and protecting endangered animals, they must continue feeding the animals in captivity responsibly. I, however, believe that they should eventually end the exhibition of animals in the name of academic research, and instead start functioning as animal shelters only. - Masami Akita, Tokyo 2006

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