| Rock Dream | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover for the North American version. | ||
| Split Album by Boris Merzbow | ||
| Released | October 26 2007 | |
| Recorded | 18 November 2006 at EARTHDOM in Tokyo, Japan | |
| Genre | Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal, Shoegaze, Psychedelic, Noise | |
| Length | 110:30 (2CD) | |
| Label | Diwphalanx; Southern Lord Records | |
| Producer | Boris With Merzbow | |
| Boris chronology | ||
| Damaged (2006) |
Rock Dream (2007) |
Smile (2008) |
| Merzbow chronology | ||
| Peace for Animals (2007) |
Rock Dream (2007) |
Live Destruction at No Fun 2007 (2007) |
Rock Dream is a collaborative live album between the Japanese experimental band Boris and Japanoise legend Merzbow. Recorded at Earthdom in late 2007, this would be a two-hour performance spanning several songs of Boris' career up to that point. It would be released on October 2007 via DiwPhalanx Records and not long after via American label Southern Lord Records.
Background[]
Rock Dream would be recorded on 18 November 2006 at EARTHDOM in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Rock Dream was released initially on 26 October 2007 on the Japanese music label Diwphalanx Records on 2CD.[2]
The American label Southern Lord released the album on 11 April 2008 on compact disc and vinyl.[3][4][5] The vinyl version includes the track "Dyno-Saur" that is not included on either version of CD releases.[6] The American version had packaging designed by Stephen O'Malley, Packaged in a die-cut gatefold sleeve. Notably, the label's printer would state that they "never ever make anything like this again as it was painfully time-consuming and took forever to get just right!".[7] This was a limited release with the label, with the American CD limited to 5000 machine-numbered copies and the vinyl edition limited to 4000 copies in four different colors.[8]
Rock Dream would see praise from several publications.
The Austin Chronicle discussed the album in their overview of Boris' career, declaring it "definitive live document, an impossibly dense double album that touches down on nearly every point of their career, from Dronevil to Smile's contorted stairway to heaven ("Flower Sun Rain"), with Merzbow's electronic manipulations stitching it all together like connective scar tissue."[9] In 2008, Raoul Hernandez of the Austin Chronicle placed Rock Dream on his list of top ten albums of 2007.[10]
In a retrospective review from Tiny Mix Tapes, declared Rock Dream to be "not just the best album Boris ever made, but also one of the finest live albums I’ve ever heard." and that "It’s incredible then that someone recorded Boris and Merzbow that night, because for two hours they got to be the best band on the planet."[11]
PunkNews would score the album four stars out of five, praising the mammoth tone of the record, stating "There is so much texture and weight here -- the sound waves actually take physical form and pummel the listener. I sat on the couch and stared at the wall for over two hours (it's a double CD), hypnotized by the sheer mass of it all. I think I'm still somewhat rattled...".[12] Moonage Farm Team would praise the album, stating "It’s also a perfect example of everything Boris are capable of, presenting the band in a peak performance. It also must be played at top volume. You don’t get the full Boris experience unless your hearing is irreversibly damaged.".[13]
Tracklist[]
All songs written by Boris except where noted.
2CD Version[]
- 1-1. Feedbacker (35:05)
- 1-2. Blackout (5:19)
- 1-3. Evil Stack (5:04)
- 1-4. Rainbow (4:30)
- 2-1. Pink (4:14)
- 2-2. Woman on The Screen (2:37)
- 2-3. Nothing Special (2:14)
- 2-4. Ibitsu (3:35)
- 2-5. A Bao A Qu (4:35)
- 2-6. The Evilone Which Sobs (13:41)
- 2-7. Flower Sun Rain (8:04)
- 2-8. Just Abandoned My-Self (13:21)
- 2-9. Farewell (8:11)
3LP Version[]
- A. Feedbacker (Part 1) (19:56)
- B1. Feedbacker (Part 2) (15:27)
- B2. Blackout (5:20)
- C1. Evil Stack (5:05) (Boris, Merzbow)
- C2. Rainbow (4:30) (Boris, Michio Kurihara)
- C3. Pink (4:14)
- C4. Woman On The Screen (2:37)
- C5. Nothing Special (2:14)
- C6. Ibitsu (3:35)
- D1. A Bao A Qu (4:35)
- D2. The Evilone Which Sobs (13:42)
- E1. Flower Sun Rain (8:05) (PYG)
- E2. Just Abandoned My-Self (13:21)
- F1. Farewell (8:11)
- F2. Dyna-saur (4:53)
Personnel[]
Boris With Merzbow[]
- Atsuo - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
- Wata - Guitar, Echo, Vocals
- Takeshi - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
- Merzbow - EMI Synthi A, Computer, Effects, Handmade Instruments
Technical Personnel[]
- Yasuaki Satake - P.A. Engineer
- Kazu - Recording
- Souichirou Nakamura - Mixing, Mastering
- Fangs Anal Satan - Design (DiwPhalanx)
- Shizu - Drawing (DiwPhalanx)
- Stephen O'Malley - Design (Southern Lord)
- Thomas Hooper - Drawing (Southern Lord)
- Miki Matsushima - Photography (Southern Lord)
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Setlist.fm
- ↑ Diwphalanx via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Southern Lord Recordings via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Southern Lord Recordings via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Discogs
- ↑ Southern Lord Recordings via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Southern Lord Recordings via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Southern Lord Recordings via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Austin Chronicle via Wayback Machine
- ↑ The Austin Chronicle
- ↑ Tiny Mix Tapes
- ↑ Punknews
- ↑ Moonage Farm Team