Electronic musician Kikù Hibino from Chicago has teamed up with Japan's Merzbow for a new record. The results are bracing and exhilirating, with Merzbow's familiar noise augmented by accents from Hibino.
Rococo ∞ Echomatter [Rococo "Infinity" Echomatter] opens with the fuzz of "dB.XYZ" before "Saxxxrum" brings in saxophone from Patrick Shiroishi. The piece is free jazz, with chaos unleashed around the edges by Hibino and Merzbow. The release features other guests too, like Matchless (Whitney Johnson) on the coruscating "ƒƒƒ fraa filum flammm" later on the record, though Johnson shows up elsewhere too. The clattering claustrophobia of "∞ Echomatter" is a highlight of the record, a piece where volume isn't as important as oppressive vibes.
Rococo ∞ Echomatter is a compelling effort. It's not quite as defiantly abrasive as some material from Merzbow has been in the past, and that's presumably due to the presence of collaborator Kikù Hibino here. More music like this would be welcomed in certain circles, namely mine.
[Photo: Kikù Hibino & Merzbow, photo by Ivana Micic]