licht-ung is Johannes Garbe, and this release is, without a doubt, a beauty in his portfolio. Sure we all have heard stuff by him under his many monikers or listened to releases on his licht-ung or spalt-ung label, but this release is exceptional. The release title is “MerzT”, and I’ve written it like this to emphasise the Merz. The ‘T’ probably means it’s a tape, but everything here relates to the original Merzbau, not to Akita Masami or his brainchild Merzbow.
Marzbau was a project by Kurt Schwitters, who, between 1923 and 1937, worked on an ever-evolving room with art. Each aspect in the room was art as a particle of a more significant piece of art. I will probably be a bit off, but if it interests you, please explore because the internet is your friend. Become more then who you were before by learning and reading. Or, in this case, something becomes more art because it evolves like Merzbau. But as I said, that’s my interpretation of this release.
The origin was recorded on 2017/07/22, and Johannes reworked it on 2025/02/24 with two 35-minute tracks, “Merci” and “Bbau”. The source of these recordings is a minimalist piano recording, which is treated increasingly heavily as time passes. Musically, it differs between minimal and experimental noise, and it’s simply something that you play, and you just let it evolve. Which effects all have been used, I can’t tell you. Some reverse reverb techniques can be heard. I suspect some granular treating, but it’s great to have the minimalist theme evolve into chaotic patterns and then hear the harmonics of different themes create a whole different piece, which is still the same in some way. And that is still only the first side of the tape. The reverse side emphasizes the treatment more than the original piano sounds, although they are still recognizable. Electroacoustic noise? I haven’t got the faintest clue. But it’s massive and triggers your mind whether you like it or not.
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