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 ]

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.