Ryuichi Sakamoto

"/04" was released in 2004. "/05" was released in 2005. These two works have been re-released as a 2-CD set with the latest remastering. This is a self-cover album that features a number of Ryuichi Sakamoto classics, including movie theme songs, commercial songs, solo works, and YMO songs, performed mainly on the piano. It can truly be called Ryuichi Sakamoto's best album performed on the piano!

Brilliant soundtrack from this legendary film, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Released and available in Japan only back in 1992, for a very short period of time, and rendered our of print before the end of that year.

This is awesome score of Sakamoto's for "Taboo" (Gohatto), from master filmmaker Nagisa Oshima with this revisionist Samurai epic…film is set in 1865 during critical times in Japanese history, a struggle between tradition and internationally minded government. With breath-taking cinematography by Toyomichi Kurita, takes on epic proportions with an outstanding cast of actors…this film was screened in competition at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. Our composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto who gave us - "The Last Emperor" (1987) (Academy Award Winner)…"The Sheltering Sky" (1990)…"High Heels" (1991)…"Tokyo Decadence" (1991)…"Little Buddha" (1993) and "Wild Palms" (1993)…is up for another challenge with this captivating score. For "Taboo", Sakamoto uses every electronic sound from elaborate to technical for dramatic and mood swings for his cues…lightness in tone, softer, with mid-range support of counterpoints, rising and falling synthesized tones.

On Chasm, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto blends together his favorite styles of music without limiting himself to one genre. Chasm is a mixture of avant-garde and Western pop and a vehicle for uncompromising electronic experimentation. Chasm opens with "Undercooled," a composition that combines rap with an Asian melody. This piece is followed by "Coro," a track made up of harsh audio static. The title track is composed of electronically altered piano notes, which swell up and down and loop mechanically. This piece has a haunting, almost underwater, feel to it. Towards the end of Chasm, we come across "Song," an abstract work that combines a Spartan electronic backbeat with loud white noise. However, Sakamoto makes a sharp left turn for the album's closer "Seven Samurai - Ending Theme"…

Inspired by both Brazilian music and the boundless possibilities of the Internet, electronic composer Ryuichi Sakamoto wrote Smoochy, an endlessly intriguing exploration of what happens when the old world meets the future. Using his Brazilian Internet concept as a foundation, Sakamoto goes on to add a variety of other musics, including jazz and Latin pop, to the music, creating a dense and fascinating musical web of electronics and percussion. Occasionally, he gets too self-consciously arty for his own good, but most of the album finds Sakamoto at his best.

Ryuichi Sakamoto has announced a new studio album, async, out April 28 via Milan. It’s the Japanese composer’s first studio album since 2012’s Three, with Jaques Morelenbaum and Judy Kang, and his first solo album in 8 years. Sakamoto recorded and conceived of the album in New York, taking inspiration from “everyday objects, sculpture, and nature,” according to a press release. Find the tracklist and artwork below. A world premiere listening event for the album (in 5.1 surround sound) will take place at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, which runs from March 23-26. Sakamoto’s also set to perform on April 25 and 26 at Park Avenue Armory Veterans Room in New York. The new album follows his 2015 score for Alejandro González Iñárritu's film The Revenant (where he was assisted by the National's Bryce Dessner and German musician Alva Noto). It’s also his first studio album since his recovery from cancer in 2015.

The first ever overview of Sakamoto's film work approved by the artist. Performed by the Brussels Philharmonic and conducted by Dirk Brosse. Supported by the Film Fest Gent’s World Soundtrack Awards, Ryuichi Sakamoto Music For Film is the third release from the series and second on Silva Screen Records. Each year an eminent film music composer is invited to present their work during the annual World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert closing event. As part of the celebrations, Film Fest Gent and partner Brussels Philharmonic record a CD of their music in advance of the concert.