With no sense of rhythm, no identifiable melody or harmony and a tendency toward very harsh sounds, noise music can be especially hard to get into. Kakapo is hisР’В first vinyl release in two years РІР‚вЂњ and itРІР‚в„ўs an intense ride. Sven had been hoping one of the artists would pick the KakapoРІР‚В¦ and then when we asked Masami which species he wanted to dedicate the album to, he asked if we knew of any flightless birds on the critically endangered list! So it was a good omen that we were all on the same page.РІР‚СњР”Р„n extremely prolific artist ,Р’В Merzbow has released over 400 recordings since 1980 alongside publishing several works of journalism and a book championing a cruelty-free vegan lifestyle. РІР‚СљHe got back to us instantly to say he was up for doing a record. I thought heРІР‚в„ўd be a good fit with the label from both environmental and sonic standpoints, as well as being a bit of a departure into noisier territory.РІР‚Сњ

РІР‚СљI contacted Merzbow as I knew of his animal rights stance and previous involvement in some fundraising for other endangered species,РІР‚Сњ Owen continues, РІР‚Сљas well as having been a fan of his unparalleled noise experiments for years. When considering artists to approach for this release, Merzbow РІР‚вЂњ the performance moniker of Masami Akita, TokyoРІР‚в„ўs most esteemed РІР‚Вstraight edge vegan noise projectРІР‚в„ў РІР‚вЂњ seemed an obvious fit. Named after an endangered species of parrot native to New Zealand, all proceeds from this 33-minute-long track go to the Kakapo Recovery Trust, which cares for those birds still remaining and works to give them a future.Р’В While there are 520 Kakapo recordsР’В in the worldР’В (500 in РІР‚Вparrot-greenРІР‚в„ў standard edition vinyl, 20 sold-out black test-pressings), there are unfortunately fewer than 125Р’В Kakapo parrots remaining, due to the combined effects of hunting, deforestation and the introduction of predators. So far, from ten album releases, weРІР‚в„ўve donated more than Р’Р€5,000 to environmental conservation.РІР‚Сњ Owen Coggins, a trustee for the label and researcher into drone metal, explains that РІР‚Сљeach release on Oaken Palace is dedicated to a particular endangered species. It is a record in which to immerse oneРІР‚в„ўs self over time, containing more than two years' worth of strange experiences and sensations distilled into a curious, potent elixir, the use of which may in its truest sense be determined only by the individual listener.Kakapo,Р’В the latest recording from Japanese noise legend Merzbow, was recently released on Oaken Palace Records, a drone/psychedelic/noise label and registered charity. Created primarily on acoustic instruments, organs and harmonium, carefully mastered on vintage tape, the sound is equally earthy as it is otherworldly РІР‚вЂњ a contradiction in terms maybe, but then Ai Ma Ra is not classified easily in any other respect either. More than music, it is 'ethnography of the unknown' in action, providing vistas into rarely glimpsed corners of reality. Ai Ma Ra is a monumental album containing over 105 minutes of experimental elemental and ambient music, original in the literal sense of the word.

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