Ippu-Do "Night Mirage" (1983)

Night Mirage
release date: Jul. 21, 1983
format: vinyl (25506) / digital (2013 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Masami Tsuchiya
label: Epic Records - nationality: Japan

Track highlights: 1. "Plants' Music" (4 / 5) - 2. "Àfrican Nights" - 3. "Rain in My Heart" - 5. "Lonely Sea Lion" - 10. "Crystal Leaves"

4th and final studio album by Japanese synthpop and new romantic Masami Tsuchiya-led project band Ippu-Do. The band's previous albums were released as a trio consisting of Masami Tsuchiya on vocals and guitar, Akira Mitake on keyboards, and with Shoji Fujii on drums, but after releasing its third album Radio Fantasy in '81, the band went on a hiatus and upon rejoining, after Tsuchiya's engagement with British band Japan on its final '82 tour, Ippu-Do was reduced to a duo without drummer Fuiji.
The original ten tracks album has a running time at just below 42 minutes, whereas the 2013 remaster comes with an additional 7 bonus tracks making it a more than 71 minutes album.
On Night Mirage the band is joined by Richard Barbieri (on one track) and Steve Jansen, both members of Japan, with the latter playing drums on all tracks.
Night Mirage is an experimental synthpop release with tracks of various styles, but ultimately bridging nicely between with European synthpop and that of Yellow Magic Orchestra with an addition of sound elements from Japanese music culture and more electronic bits from ambient music. Some tracks are harmony-driven with lyrics and choruses, whereas others are more experimental instrumentals. The seven bonus tracks' album makes it more incoherent with the added compositions being more in the style of electronic ambient.
This is a strong, original and very warm album that I always return to!

Ryuichi Sakamoto "BTTB" (1998)

BTTB
release date: Nov. 26, 1998
format: cd (1999 international issue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: Sony Classical - nationality: Japan

Tracklist: 1. "Energy Flow" - 2. "Put Your Hands Up - Piano Version" - 3. "Railroad Man - Piano Version" - 4. "Opus" (4 / 5) - 5. "Sonatine" (4 / 5) - 6. "Intermezzo" (live) - 7. "Lorenz and Watson" (4 / 5) - 8. "Choral No. 1" - 9. "Choral No. 2" - 10. "Bachata" - 11. "Chanson" - 12. "Prelude" - 13. "Uetax" - 14. "Aqua" - 15. "Tong Poo" (live) - 16. "Reversing"

Studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto released in 1998, originally in Japan only. An international release was issued in 1999, however the tracklist is not the same on these, in fact they nearly appear as two different releases sharing the same title, which btw. is shortened for 'Back To The Basics'. The two releases share 12 tracks and have four tracks that differ.
Anyway, this the international version is truly fine. Sakamoto has often played with a clear classical touch but on this he goes all the way, releasing a pure solo piano album with Satie-inspired prolonged music which makes it near impressionist classical compositions.
I'm quite fond of this one.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Yuki "Wave" (2006)

Wave
release date: Sep. 6, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Nagai Yume" - 2. "Melancholinista" - 5. "Fugainaiya"

Studio album by Yuki. This is a continued journey into synth pop, which suits her voice quite nicely, although it's a stylistic mix. J-pop still is the major style, the production has become more orchestrated in an almost Eurovision-song-contest-kind of way. Also, I think, she challenges her voice more on this release and shows she really can sing and not only use a childlike tone but many tracks are attempts to be indie rock, which fails with her tiny voice and crossings from j-pop pop-songs to more (tempted) aggressiveness.

Yuki "Joy" (2005)

Joy
release date: Feb. 23, 2005
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Joy" - 4. "Walking on the Skyline" - 7. "Air Wave"

3rd solo studio album by Yuki is her best so far, I think. The style is j-pop art pop and now also with some r&b elements and a more distinct synthpop, which makes it a more danceable and joyful release and a clear turn away from her initial indie pop and art rock-inspiration.

Yuki "Commune" (2003)

Commune
release date: Mar. 26, 2003
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

A better album than her solo debut. It's still j-pop and art pop and this time less new wave making it more contemporary. She sounds like someone caught in between a clean pop universe and a need to rebel against the facade. The album lacks good and interesting songs, maybe because I don't get the Japanese lyrics.

Yuki "Prismic" (2002)

Prismic [debut]
release date: Mar. 22, 2002
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5]

Yuki's debut as a solo artist. This is clearly j-pop art pop and perhaps an attempt into art rock and indie pop / rock with some new wave style that seems outdated and overall of little interest. Some tracks make me think of inspiration in Breeders / Pixies and the voice of Kim Deal just without the originality and the songs.

Yuki [or: 'YUKI']

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Yuki: Yuki Kuramochi (倉持 有希, Yuki Isoya [birth name], born Feb. 17, 1972 in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan), known by her stage name Yuki, is a Japanese musician and singer / songwriter. She was the lead vocalist for the band Judy and Mary (1991-2001) of which she was a founding member. After the disbandment she became a solo artist in 2002. She has been a member of the band NiNa (1999, with Kate Pierson of The B-52's, bassist Mick Karn of Japan, former members of the Japanese new wave band The Plastics, Masahide Sakuma and Takemi Shima, and session drummer Steven Wolf), as well as member of Mean Machine (1998-2001), and the collaboration Chara+Yuki (Chara, also from Mean Machine).

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Ryuichi Sakamoto "Sweet Revenge" (1994)

Sweet Revenge
release date: Jun. 17, 1994
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: Elektra Records - nationality: Japan

Track highlights: 2. "Moving On" - 4. "Regret" - 7. "Sweet Revenge" - 9. "Same Dream, Same Destination" (feat. Roddy Frame) - 11. "Water's Edge"
[ full album ]

Studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto originally released in Japan by For Life Music with two additional tracks. All tracks is with music credited Sakamoto and with the majority of the compositions with lyrics written by various guests artists including J-Me (tracks #2, #4, and #8), Paul Alexander (track #5), Holly Johnson (track #6), Vivien Goldman (tracks #3 and #11), Roddy Frame (track #9), and Latasha Natasha Diggs (track #10).
This is mainly art pop and sophisti-pop with strong influences from jazz pop.
To me, the clearly strongest track on the album is track #9 featuring Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame on vocals. In 1993 Sakamoto as producer stood behind Dreamland by Aztec Camera.
The album has a nice lounge feel and may be filed as art pop, but the sensation is really a warm and laid-back compilation of sophisticated jazz pop that doesn't stir up the party but may function as the perfect album for pre-party warm-up or a natural choice for after dinner conversation.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Ryuichi Sakamoto "Neo Geo" (1987)

Neo Geo
release date: Jul. 1, 1987
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Bill Laswell, Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: Sony Music - nationality: Japan

Tracklist: 1. "Before Long" (4 / 5) - 2. "Neo Geo" (4 / 5) - 3. "Risky" (feat. Iggy Pop) - 4. "Free Trading" - 5. "Shogunade" - 6. "Parata" - 7. "Okinawa Song - Chin Nuku Juushii" - 8. "After All"

Studio album release by Ryuichi Sakamoto. I first came across this album around the year 2000, and it soon became one of my favourites by Sakamoto. Before that I basically only knew of Sweet Revenge (1994), Beauty (1989), and his world famous soundtrack Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983). After finding this beauty, I have collected another handful of albums by this fantastic modern composer. I don't think all his albums are great but I really enjoy his willingness to explore new musical territories, and you never know what style he investigates next, although modern classical, synth pop and new age are sticking styles in his vast repertoire. The short instrumental piano track "Before Long", which is SO beautiful and also so much Sakamoto, is the best track here. The only downside to it is the short playing time of 01:19 min.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Ryuichi Sakamoto "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (OST) (1983)

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (soundtrack)
release date: May 1, 1983
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto
label: London Records - nationality: Japan

Track highlights: 1. "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" - 19. "Forbidden Colours" (feat. David Sylvian)

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto for the movie directed by Nagisa Ôshima, starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Takeshi Kitano, AND Ryuichi Sakamoto from '83. The international fame of the movie also brought much attention to its soundtrack composer, and the title track has become a modern classical composition. Most of the tracks are a mixture of traditional Japanese music, modern classical, and experimental art pop and synthpop.
"Forbidden Colours" features Sakamoto's friend and former Japan (the band) vocalist, David Sylvian in one of only a few compositions with lyrics written by Sakamoto, who won the BAFTA Award for best film music in 1983 for the soundtrack.
I enjoy the above two tracks but the album as such is a difficult one, as its primary strength is to underline the action of the film, and therefore becomes no less than a piece of avant-garde or modern classical missing the dimension of images.

The album has been released with various front covers.