A while back I purchased a book 'The Magic Mirror: An Antique Optical Toy' (ISBN:0486238474) by McLaughlin Bros which is published by Dover Publications. When you place the rolled up sheet of included silver mylar into a tube and put next to an anamorphic image the 'mirror' shows it's original shape.

You can get this book used on Amazon for under $2 or can view some of the anamorphic images on Google Books. Just pop in the ISBN.

I have a six supposedly representative Merzbow CDs (from 1986-1998) and was thinking of getting this, but didn't. I think I read that 'Akasha Gulva' is supposed to be a good live concert, and probably would have purchased it, but it is now OOP. For something different, you also might want to search out his collaboration with Alex Empire: 'Live CBGB's NYC 1998', for a noise-Rotterdam hardcore sound.

I guess I find Masonna a better (i.e more disturbing) noise artist. His vocals add a lot. Though, while Merzbow still finds new ways to explore noise, Masonna seems to have reached a dead end.

You might enjoy some of these earlier 'noisy' compositions – Max Neuhaus – Fontana Mix-Feed (1965-1966), John Cage/David Tudor 'Variations II' for phono styli and piano strings (1968), Iannis Xenakis – Persepolis (1971) or La Légende d'Eer (1978), Iancu Dumitrescu – Pierres Sacrées (1991). I'm certain that there are other noise fans who could suggest better recordings.

When a composer/noise artist tries something without resorting to electronic means (which it sounds like Merzbow does), it sounds more impressive, but that's just me….