Ryuichi Sakamoto
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After he died in 2023, I spent a great deal of time re-exploring what I already owned of Sakamoto, and some new things I hadn’t heard before. As a result, I assembled this top 10 of his scores (look away, all ye who hate lists!):
1. WILD PALMS
2. L.O.L. – Lack of Love (video game)
3. Alexei and the Spring
4. Fantasy of Light and Life (art installation, super rare!)
5. The Sheltering Sky
6. Silk
7. Little Buddha
8. Wuthering Heights
9. Snake Eyes
10. The Last EmperorAlmost, but not quite: High Heels
You say ‘What, no MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE?’. Afraid not. The theme is absolutely brilliant, but the rest of the score doesn’t do much for me. It’s a problem with Sakamoto sometimes. Has a brilliant main theme, but the rest of the score is either avantgarde sound design stuff, or short cells in the style of Bernard Herrmann, one of his idols. That doesn’t always go home with me.
In terms of his solo albums, a lot of it isn’t exactly up my alley. Too weird and ‘unstable’, sonically. But I absolutely adore the Bach/Tarkovsky/Artemiev elements of his 2017 album ASYNC, a sound I know he’s been very interested in (per the CODA documentary). The other sound design elements of the album, I’m not too keen on, so I’ve weeded them out, resulting in a neat 31-minute program of just the beautiful ambient parts.
The same can be really be said about the Yellow Magic Orchestra stuff. A lot of it is too all-over-the-place for my taste, but the 1979 album SOLID STATE SURVIVOR is absolutely brilliant. It’s like Kraftwerk as if it were produced by Giorgio Moroder. A definite keeper!
What’s your take on Sakamoto?
It’s a problem with Sakamoto sometimes. Has a brilliant main theme,
Indeed LAWRENCE for me is basically the theme. I am not an expert of his but I feel indeed similar in general.
LAST EMPEROR is an uneven score with its more or less three composers. Does not hurt watching the movie. Sakamoto’s alternative(?) main title is great as is his “WHere is Aino?” but the rest didn’t do that much for me. One of the few CDs I ever parted with years ago… (still regret it :-))1979 album SOLID STATE SURVIVOR is absolutely brilliant. It’s like Kraftwerk as if it were produced by Giorgio Moroder. A definite keeper!
I have not yet explored his solo albums or YMO in detail but tht album is indeed fun. Learned some time ago that I think the most famous track on it is actually a cover of something. Forgot what it was though…
Yes, it was you mentioning MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE in the “Now Playing” thread that spurred me to create this topic. Plus, I’ve also reached him in my collection walkthrough, of course, so good timing.
His EMPEROR theme is fine, but is far outshined by Byrne’s “chart-topping” alternative theme. I love the scene in CODA where we get a glimpse of the recording session, and a young Hans Zimmer (who was producer on that score) looks with admiration up on Sakamoto.
Of Sakamoto I only own two soundtrack albums (Last Emperor and Wuthering Heights) but some collection of his themes: The great WSA album, the chamber album III and the four disc piano collection by Jeroen van Veen. And from these collections my favourite theme is probably the one from “The Seven Samurai”.
These theme collection seem to be at least for me the best way to access his works. My impression is as well that these main themes are the.most interesting parts of his scores.
Listening to WUTHERING HEIGHTS again now. All those aching, bleak strings, man. But by all means a good score; could perhaps have benefitted from a slight whittle (maybe some 20 minutes off).
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