SPL (Sound Pressure Level)

The name Mazk is formed by the initials of the two participants in this project: Masami Akita (better known as Merzbow) and Zbigniew Karkowski. Not surprisingly given the history of the two musicians, the general scope of this recording is throbbing industrial noise, with overlays of drones and explosions of static. "Visible," the first track, sets up a churning mechanical rhythm not unlike what one might encounter in an infernal factory and adds layers of sounds that one is free to interpret as accompanying steam hisses, crackling arcs of electricity, or dumps of metallic slag. Though both are credited on this cut, the remaining two are apparently mixed by each musician individually. Whether these are highly abstracted mixes of "Visible" or not is perhaps open to question. The Akita mix is relatively soft-edged, giving something of a sci-fi impression, all rocket engines, loopy synth sounds, and a fairly spacy feel. Karkowski's "Exposed" indeed gives the listener the impression of being unsheltered in some extraordinarily harsh environment, replete with whistling, debris-strewn gales and a possible lack of oxygen. The piece gradually intensifies, a rough rhythm emerging, the winds reaching hurricane velocity before quickly crumbling into sonic dust. SPL is a good, solid release, one that will certainly appeal to fans of both artists' previous work.