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IN STOCK
01. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Wongga Dance Song
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02. Ryuichi Sakamoto - The "Dreaming"
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03. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Rain Song
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04. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Dolphins
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05. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Human Tube
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06. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Adelic Penguins
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07. Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Carved Stone
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08. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ulu Watu
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ARTIST
SAKAMOTO, RYUICHI
TITLE
Esperanto
FORMAT
CD
LABEL
WEWANTSOUNDS
CATALOG #
WWSCD 043CD
WWSCD 043CD
GENRE
ELECTRONIC
RELEASE DATE
11/19/2021
Wewantsounds continues their
Ryuichi Sakamoto
reissue series with the release of the 1985 album
Esperanto
, composed for a performance by New York avant-garde choreographer
Molissa Fenley
. Produced and performed by Sakamoto with contribution by
Arto Lindsay
and Japanese percussionist
Yas-Kaz
,
Esperanto
is a fascinating instrumental work mixing electronica, ambient and synth pop. Released in Japan in 1985 on Midi Inc.s' School label, the album has never been released outside of Japan until now.
Esperanto
originally came out in 1985 and was Ryuichi Sakamoto's sixth solo album. Coming after his stint with the influential
Yellow Magic Orchestra
, and also the worldwide success of Sakamoto's 1984 soundtrack for the film
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
(in which he starred alongside
David Bowie
),
Esperanto
was a return to Sakamoto's leftfield roots. Composed as the soundtrack to a performance by New York choreographer Molissa Fenley (a show commissioned by Japanese producer
Shozo Tsurumoto
), the album was masterminded by Sakamoto with the help of the cutting-edge electronic technology of the time (the only external contributions are by Arto Lindsay on guitar and Japanese composer Yas-Kaz on percussion). Indeed, the album is a fascinating soundscape experimenting with the new sampler technology -- which, according to Ryuichi Sakamoto from a conversation with journalist
Andy Beta
mentioned in the liner notes, needed a computer that was huge at the time.
Esperanto
is composed of eight tracks displaying a varied mix of influences. "A Wongga Dance Song" is pulsating with rhythms while "A Rain Song" adopts a minimalist mode with its distinctive repetitive pattern. "Dolphins" and "A Carved Stone" are captivating ambient pieces showcasing Sakamoto's talent for setting beautiful abstract melodic ornaments over atmospheric tones. One of the highlights of the album is "Adelic Penguins", a fascinating proto techno piece with a funky twist stretching over six minutes which echoes the electro funk of 1981's album
Hidari Ude No Yume
(WWSCD 033CD/WWSLP 033LP/WWSLP 034LP). "Ulu Watu", a collage-like piece featuring bird motives and a tropical soundscape closes the album with an experimental note. It's interesting to note that, a year later, the tracks from
Esperanto
would be turned into an experimental video project by New York visual artists
Kit Fitzgerald
and
Nam June Paik
collaborator
Paul Garrin
. A unique album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography,
Esperanto
is a groundbreaking work worth rediscovering in its full glory. Original artwork; includes two-page insert with a new introduction by journalist Andy Beta. Audio remastered in Tokyo by Seigen Ono.
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Other releases by SAKAMOTO, RYUICHI