On March 28, 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto died aged 71. He was musician (piano, keyboards, synthesizers), singer, composer, record producer and artist, who first came to prominence as member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but was best known for his eclectic solo career, straddled experimentalism, electronic, pop and movie music. His work influenced a number of various electronic music genres. He collaborated with big number of musicians, including David Sylvian, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, Adrian Belew, Robin Scott, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Arto Lindsay, Youssou N’Dor, Jill Jones, Robert Wyatt, Brian Wilson and Robbie Robertson. Sakamoto was an “Oscar” winner for “Best Original Score”, for the soundtrack of Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie “The Last Emperor”. As leader, he released 23 albums.
Tag Archives: David Sylvian
Jon Hassell
On June 26, 2021, Jon Hassell died aged 84. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as creator of the “Fourth World” music concept. He recorded and performed with artists such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, the Theatre of Eternal Music, Talking Heads, Farafina, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Ani DiFranco, Techno Animal, Ry Cooder, Moritz von Oswald, Carl Craig, Francesco Guccini, La Monte Young, David Sylvian, Lloyd Cole, Alice, Marc Beacco, Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses, Hector Zazou, Stina Nordenstam, David Toop, Jackson Browne, K. D. Lang, Holly Cole, Mandalay, Hal Wilner, Nick Wood, Rick Cox, Frou Frou, Ibrahim Ferrer and John Balke. As leader, co-leader, Hassell released 18 albums.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: async
On March 29, 2017, “Commons” and “Milan” labels released “async”, the nineteenth Ryuichi Sakamoto studio album. It was recorded April – December 2016, at “The Studio”, “Germano Studios” and “Museum of Arts and Design” in New York City, “Bastyr University Chapel” in Kenmore, Washington, “Gateway Mastering” in Portland, Maine, “Kyoto City University of Arts” in Kyoto, Japan, and was produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Mai Yuda. Magazine “Fact” voted “async” the best album of 2017.
Personnel:
- Ryuichi Sakamoto – piano,
- Christian Fennesz – guitar, computer
- N.S.S. – Singing bowls
- Ian Antonio, Levy Lorenzo, Ross Karre – triangle
- Ko Ishikawa – Shō
- Honjoh Hidejiro – shamisen
- Ian Antonio, Levy Lorenzo, Ross Karre – percussion
- David Sylvian – spoken word
- Andri Magnason, Bernardo Bertolucci, Carsten Nicolai, Christine Leboutte, José Lavat, Keyko Nimsay, Priscilla Leung, Sergei Mihailov, Shirin Neshat, Tang Kit Ming – spoken word vocals
- Paul Bowles – words
- Luca – vocals
- Arseny Tarkovsky – words
- Simon James – concertmaster
- David Sabee – concertmaster
- Alex Venguer, Ryan Kelly, John Winters,.Seigen Ono – recording engineer
- Jason Staniulis, Matthew Sim, Alec Fellman – engineer assistant
- Conrad Hensel – recording, mixing
- Northwest Sinfonia – recording
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Mai Yuda – assistant production
- Norika Sora – associate production
- Alec Fellman – production manager
- Kaz Tsujio – piano technician
- Shiro Takatani – artwork direction, photography
- Yoko Takatani – artwork production
Track listing:
All tracks by Ryuichu Sakamoto
- andata
- disentigration
- solari
- ZURE
- walker
- stakra
- ubi
- fullmoon
- async
- tri
- Life, Life
- honj
- ff
- garden
- Water State 2
Steve Jansen: Slope
On October 22, 2007, “Samadhi Sound” label released “Slope”, the debut Steve Jansen album. It was recorded in 2007, at “The Vestry” in London, “Straysound Studio” in Sweden, Samadhisound Studios, “Trout Recording” in Brooklyn, “Blue Sky Falls” in London, “Slovak Radio” in Bratislava, “Studio 5” in Bratislava, and was produced by Steve Jensen.
Personnel:
- Steve Jansen – drums, acoustic and electronic percussion, sampled instruments, synth, piano, guitar, string arrangements, recording, mixing
- David Sylvian – vocals, guitar, art direction
- Theo Travis – sax, flute, clarinet
- Tim Elsenburg – vocals, guitar, electric piano
- Anja Garbarek – vocals
- Thomas Feiner – vocals, mandolin, sampler
- Bratislava Movie Orchestra arranged and conducted by Ingo Frenzel
- Joan Wasser – vocals, violin
- Alberto Tafuri – piano
- Nina Kinert – vocals
- Steve D’Agostino, David Sylvian, Tim Elsenburg, John Mallison, Ján Machut and Ladislav Krajãoviã, Bryce Goggin, Alberto Tafuri, Love Olzon – recording
- Ingo Frenzel – mixing
- Tony Cousins – mastering
- Chris Bigg – design
- Dan McPharlin – models created and photographed
Track listing:
All tracks by Steve Jensen, except where noted.
- Grip
- Sleepyard – Steve Jansen, Tim Elsenburg
- Cancelled Pieces – Steve Jansen, Anja Garbarek
- December Train
- Sow the Salt – Steve Jansen, Thomas Feiner
- Gap of Cloud
- Playground Martyrs – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
- A Way of Disappearing
- Ballad of a Deadman – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
- Conversation Over
- Life Moves On
- Playground Martyrs (reprise) – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Heartbeat
On October 21, 1991, “Virgin” label released “Heartbeat”, the ninth Ryuichi Sakamoto studio album. It was recorded in 1991, and was produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian, and Satoshi Tomiie.
Personnel:
- Ryuichi Sakamoto – lead vocals, keyboards, piano
- Bill Frisell – guitar
- Magic Dick – harmonica
- John Lurie – sax
- Steven Bernstein – trumpet
- Satoshi Tomiie – percussion
- John Cage – voice
- David Sylvian – vocals
- Arto Lindsay – vocals
- Houria Aichi – vocals
- Youssou N’Dour – vocals
- Ingrid Chavez – vocals
- Marco Prince – vocals
- Dee Dee Brave – vocals
- Debra Barsha – backing vocals
- Lolly Grodner – engineer
- Patrick Dillett – engineer
- Yoshifumi Iio – engineer
- Axel Niehaus – engineer assistant
- Fernando Aponte – engineer assistant
- Jim Caruana – engineer assistant
- Koichiro Nagao – engineer assistant
- Wes Naprstek – engineer assistant
- Jungle DJ Towa Towa – co-producer
Track listing:
- Heartbeat – Ryuichi Sakamoto, Satoshi Tomiie, Jeffrey Cohen
- Rap the World – Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jungle DJ Towa Towa, Super DJ Dmitry
- Triste – Ryuichi Sakamoto, FFF, Marco Prince
- Lulu – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- High Tide – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Song Lines – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Nuages – traditional
- Sayonara – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Borom Gal – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Epilogue – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Tainai Kaiki II – Ryuichi Sakamoto, Art Lindsay
David Sylvian and Holger Czukay: Flux + Mutabillity
On September 1, 1989, “Venture” label released “Flux + Mutability”, the second David Sylvian and Holger Czukay album. It was recorded in December 1988, at “Can Studio” in Cologne, and was produced by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay.
Personnel:
- Holger Czukay– electric guitar, bass guitar, dictaphone, radio, engineer
- David Sylvian– guitar, keyboard instruments, art director
- Michael Karoli– electric guitar
- Michi – voice
- Markus Stockhausen– flugelhorn
- Jaki Liebezeit– percussion, African flute
- René Tinner- technical advice and assistant
- Yuka Fujii – art director, cover art, photography design
- David Buckland – front cover photography
Track listing:
- Flux (A Big, Bright, Colourful World) – David Sylvian, Holger Czukay
- Mutability (A New Beginning Is in the Offing) – David Sylvian, Holger Czukay
Rain Tree Crow: Same
On April 8, 1991, “Virgin” label released the self – titled, and the only Rain Tree Crow album. It was a reunion project by the members of the band Japan. It was recorded1989 -1990, at “Miravel Studios” in Le Val, France, “Condulmer Studio Zerman di Mogliano” in Italy, “Marcus Studios”, “Eel Pie Studios” and “Air Studios” in London, “The Wool Hall” in Bath, Somerset, UK, “Ropewalk Studio in Dublin, Ireland, “Mega Studios” in Paris, and was produced by David Sylvian, Mick karn, Steve Jensen and Richard Barbieri.
Personnel:
- David Sylvian – vocal, electric guitar, Hammond organ, electric piano, treatments, treatments, organ, percussion, Indian drum, harmonium, shortwave radio, horn arrangement, mixing, art director
- Mick Karn– bass, saxophone, brass, pipes, wine glasses, horn arrangement
- Richard Barbieri– synthesizer, water wheel
- Steve Jansen– drums, Moroccan clay drum, fan drums, marimba, ceramic drums, tambourine, percussion, Hammond organ
- Bill Nelson– guitar, blue guitar
- Phil Palmer – acoustic and electric guitar
- Michael Brook – bass conga
- Djene Doumbouya – vocal
- Djanka Djabate – vocal
- Johnny Thirkell– trumpet, flugelhorn (as Phantom Horns)
- Gary Barnacle– saxes (as Phantom Horns)
- Gary Barnacle– saxophones (as Phantom Horns)
- Johnny Thirkell– trumpet, flugelhorn (as Phantom Horns)
- Brian Gascoigne – orchestration
- Tim Martin – engineer
- Paonlo Carrer – assistant
- Rupert Coulson – assistant
- Louise McCormick – assistant
- Bruce Davies – assistant
- Paul Stevens – assistant
- Steve Nye– mixing
- Pat McCarthy – mixing
- Richard Chadwick – co-ordinato
- Russell Mills– design
- Yuka Fujii – art director
- Shinya Fujiwara– photography
Track listing:
All tracks by David Sylvian.
- Big Wheels in Shanty Town
- Every Colour You Are
- Rain Tree Crow
- Red Earth (As Summertime Ends)
- Pocket Full of Change
- Boat’s for Burning
- New Moon at Red Deer Wallow
- Black Water
- A Reassuringly Dull Sunday
- Blackcrow Hits Shoe Shine City
- Scratchings on the Bible Belt
- Cries and Whispers
David Sylvian & Holger Czukay: Plight & Premonition
On March 1, 1988, “Venture” label released “Plight & Premonition”, the first of two collaborative albums by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay. It was recorded 1986 – 1987, at “Can Studio” in Cologne, Germany,, and was produced by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay.
Personnel:
- David Sylvian – electric guitar, keyboards, piano, vibraphone, harmonium
- Holger Czukay – organ, piano, shortwave radio, treatments
- Jaki Liebezeit– infra sound
- Karl Lippegaus– radio tuning
- Yuka Fujii – design, photography (assisted by Icon, London)
- Mekon – artwork
Track listing:
All tracks by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay.
- Plight (The Spiralling of Winter Ghosts)
- Premonition (Giant Empty Iron Vessel)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Chasm
On February 25, 2004, “Warner Music Japan” label released “Chasm”, the 15th Ryuichi Sakamoto album. It was recorded in 2003, and was produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Arto Lindsay.
Personnel:
- Ryuichi Sakamoto– piano, keyboards
- Sketch Show– sound programming, looped piano
- David Sylvian– vocals
- Keigo Oyamada– guitar, looped piano
- Luiz Brasil– guitar
- Amadeo Pace – guitar, looped piano
- Jaques Morelenbaum– cello
- MC Sniper– vocals
- Maucha Adnet – vocals
- Haruomi Hosono– medicine drum
- Ryoji Ikeda– processing
- Marcelo Costa – percussion
- Cao Xue Jing – erhu
- Carlos Núñez– whistle
- Jiang Jian Hua – erhu
- Jan Xiao-Qing – gu zheng
- Aya Motohashi – hichiriki
- Dozan Fujiwara – shakuhachi
Track listing:
All tracks by Ryuichi Sakamoto, except where noted.
- undercooled – lyrics by MC Snioer, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- coro
- War & Peace – lyrics by Arto Lindsay and Ryuichi Sakamoto, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- CHASM
- World Citizen – I won’t be disappointed/looped piano – lyrics by David Sylvian, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- only love can conquer hate
- Ngo/bitmix – lyrics translated into Brazilian / Portuguese by Maúcha Adnet
- break with
- + pantonal
- the land song – music for Artelligent City/one winter day mix
- 20 msec
- Lament
- World Citizen/re-cycled – David Sylvian
- Seven Samurai – ending theme
Japan: Quiet Life
On December 20, 1979, “Hansa” label released (Japan, Canada and Germany) “Quiet Life”, the third Japan studio album. It was recorded in June 1979, at “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by John Punter, Simon Napier-Bell, David Sylvian, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn and Steve Jansen.
Personnel:
- David Sylvian– lead vocals, guitar
- Rob Dean– guitar, backing vocals
- Richard Barbieri– synthesizer, keyboards
- Mick Karn– bass, saxophone, flute, backing vocals
- Steve Jansen– drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Ann Odell – orchestration, arrangements
- Martyn Ford– orchestral conduction
- John Punter – engineer
- Colin Fairley – engineer
- Keith Bessey – engineer
- John Punter – mixing
- Fin Costello – art direction
Track listing:
All tracks by David Sylvian, except where noted.
- Quiet Life
- Fall in Love With Me
- Despair
- In Vogue
- Halloween
- All Tomorrow’s Parties – Lou Reed
- Alien
- The Other Side of Life
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