My modus regarding Merzbow:

1. I think about listening to a Merzbow record. (Side note: I've never re-listened to a Merzbow album.)

2. I think 'Holy shit, I hope this album isn't high-pitched.'

3. I start the album, volume very low.

4. Having ensured that my hearing won't be damaged, I start listening.

5. Around five minutes into the first track, I nearly always think 'Why did I start listening to Merzbow?' and also 'There's no other artist who's really like Merzbow.' and 'Holy shit, has he released around 600 albums, singles, and collabs?' and 'I wonder if he ever listens to his old albums. Why should he? Fuck it.'

6. After half an hour, I wonder whether I'm falling to… More

A very nice and plain noise record: it felt like what I'd imagine holding fans to your ears while falling through air would feel like.

The sounds were not high-pitched (à la Merzbow) but very mid-levelled; this made for nearly an ambient listening experience.

This is actually a very listenable album, considering how Merzbow usually includes a lot of high-pitched treble-laden noise. Au contraire, this is low-rumbling stuff (at least during the first 20 minutes); sounds made me feel as though massive ice-blocks were dragged all around me. In a good way, actually.

I had no problems working to this music!