siteSakamoto : A Ryuichi Sakamoto Web Site : What's New

Ryuichi Sakamoto's Trio album "THREE" will be released digitally Monday June 17th on Decca Records except in France, Germany, Australia, U.S.A., and Japan.

Decca Records Press Release:
"In the age of one-hit wonders and a constantly rotating cast of pop-stars there are but a few true artists that have both stood the test of time and continue to break new ground. Ryuichi Sakamoto is one of these rare gems. Few, if any, have a comparably diverse résumé and fan base. Young and old from all cultures and creeds have found inspiration in Ryuichi's music. Ryuichi Sakamoto is a composer, musician, producer, actor, and environmental activist; a true renaissance man. Now he is back with his first album as a trio since 1996, simply called ‘THREE'.

Ryuichi has a vast range of musical endeavors; from pioneering early electronic music in his ﬁrst group; Yellow Magic Orchestra, to globally inspired rock albums, classical compositions, opera, and over thirty ﬁlm scores. Ryuichi's catalog even includes video game soundtracks and mobile ringtones. Almost as expansive is his array of prestigious awards; an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, a Grammy, the Order of the Cavaleiro Admissão from the government of Brazil, and in July 2009, he was named an ‘Ofﬁcier’ of the coveted Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the government of France. With such a plethora of activities, accolades and interests it can be difficult to place Sakamoto into one category. The one, clear strand connecting it all is his unparalleled passion.

It was in the autumn of 2011 that Ryuichi resurrected his piano, cello, and violin trio for a European Tour, accompanied by cellist Jacques Morelenbaum, and violinist Judy Kang. Immediately following the highly successful tour, which showcased new material alongside Ryuichi's timeless compositions, the trio entered a recording studio in Porto, Portugal to record a new album. The album, titled "THREE" includes new arrangements of Ryuichi's trio works, freshly recorded and re-imagined.

Ryuichi Sakamoto will be performing at Meltdown festival with Alva Noto at the Royal Festival Hall in London, on June 19th."

Tracklisting:
1. Happy End
2. The Last Emperor
3. Bibo No Aozora
4. High Heels
5. Seven Samurai
6. A Flower is not a Flower
7. Still life in A
8. Nostalgia
9. Tango
10. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
11. Ichimei (Harakiri - Death of a Samurai)
12. Tamago 2004
13. Parolibre

Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto will be performing at this years Meltdown Festival.

19 June 2013 Wednesday
London, UK (7:30pm)
Royal Festival Hall
Click here for tickets and additional information

The first album from Ryuichi Sakamoto + Taylor Deupree, Disappearance, will be released in Japan Wednesday, July 10th 2013 on commmons.

"Isolation, solitude, contemplation. These are the themes that discreetly weave their way through Disappearance, the first collaboration album between 12k’s Taylor Deupree and pioneering electronic composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto. The two began their musical dialogue in 2006 when Deupree was invited to remix a song from Sakamoto’s album Chasm. “World Citizen” was the song and it sparked continued collaboration as Deupree contributed to two of Sakamoto’s activist projects: Chain Music (http://www.sitesakamoto.com/chainmusic/) and KizunaWorld (http://kizunaworld.org/english/index.html) (as a trio with Sakamoto and Stephen Vitiello.) With the convenience of both artists living in New York they kept in touch, released music on 12k (Willits + Sakamoto’s Ocean Fire) and, in April of 2012, performed live together at John Zorn's club The Stone. It was this concert that planted the seeds for Disappearance.

The initial tracks for Disappearance were recorded at Sakamoto’s studio in New York City during rehersals for the April concert. The two immediately entered the same sonic mindframe that lead to hours of concentrated, hushed music. Sakamoto’s piano playing, both traditional and prepared, emerged as perhaps some of his most beautifully sparse in recent years, letting the sound of the room and shuffle of chairs take an active roll in the recording. Only the most minimum of essential notes, accentuated by silences and the scraping of the piano’s strings, plays alongside Deupree’s nuanced passages, created with analogue synthesizers, strings, and found objects. These warm, human tones became the means of communication between the two artists who effortlessly created a musical language.The five tracks that make up Disappearance are delicate and composed, however, they’re not all peacefulness and placidity. Micro-tuned edges, bursts of noise, percussive prepared piano and the warble of old reel-to-reel tape keep the mood grounded and warm, turning it inward and asking the listener to reflect on their path. “Curl To Me,” the album’s final piece, is highlighted by the sounds of Ichiko Aoba, a major up-and-coming singer/songwriter from Tokyo. Both Sakamoto and Deupree have recently worked with Aoba in Japan and wanted her presence felt on the album. Emphasizing the solitude and stillness of the recordings, Aoba provided both her voice and the almost disturbingly intimate sound of her own heartbeat.

Disappearance is a soundtrack for holding breaths. Sakamoto and Deupree lay down worn roads, but don’t leave signs. It is music for questions more than answers bound together by a quiet celebration of the fragility of nature and life."

Disappearance will be released worldwide outside Japan on September 3rd from 12k

	Announcing Ryuichi Sakamoto "THREE" Digital International Release
		Ryuichi Sakamoto's Trio album "THREE" will be released digitally Monday June 17th on Decca Records except in France, Germany, Australia, U.S.A., and Japan. Decca Records Press Release: "In the age of one-hit wonders and a constantly rotating cast of pop-stars there are but a few true artists that have both stood the test of time and continue to break new ground. Ryuichi Sakamoto is one of these rare gems. Few, if any, have a comparably diverse résumé and fan base. Young and old from all cultures and creeds have found inspiration in Ryuichi's music. Ryuichi Sakamoto is a composer, musician, producer, actor, and environmental activist; a true renaissance man. Now he is back with his first album as a trio since 1996, simply called ‘THREE'. Ryuichi has a vast range of musical endeavors; from pioneering early electronic music in his ﬁrst group; Yellow Magic Orchestra, to globally inspired rock albums, classical compositions, opera, and over thirty ﬁlm scores. Ryuichi's catalog even includes video game soundtracks and mobile ringtones. Almost as expansive is his array of prestigious awards; an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, a Grammy, the Order of the Cavaleiro Admissão from the government of Brazil, and in July 2009, he was named an ‘Ofﬁcier’ of the coveted Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the government of France. With such a plethora of activities, accolades and interests it can be difficult to place Sakamoto into one category. The one, clear strand connecting it all is his unparalleled passion. It was in the autumn of 2011 that Ryuichi resurrected his piano, cello, and violin trio for a European Tour, accompanied by cellist Jacques Morelenbaum, and violinist Judy Kang. Immediately following the highly successful tour, which showcased new material alongside Ryuichi's timeless compositions, the trio entered a recording studio in Porto, Portugal to record a new album. The album, titled "THREE" includes new arrangements of Ryuichi's trio works, freshly recorded and re-imagined. Ryuichi Sakamoto will be performing at Meltdown festival with Alva Noto at the Royal Festival Hall in London, on June 19th." Tracklisting: 1. Happy End 2. The Last Emperor 3. Bibo No Aozora 4. High Heels 5. Seven Samurai 6. A Flower is not a Flower 7. Still life in A 8. Nostalgia 9. Tango 10. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence 11. Ichimei (Harakiri - Death of a Samurai) 12. Tamago 2004 13. Parolibre

	Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto perform at Meltdown Festival 2013
		Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto will be performing at this years Meltdown Festival. 19 June 2013 Wednesday London, UK (7:30pm) Royal Festival Hall Click here for tickets and additional information

	Ryuichi Sakamoto + Taylor Deupree Disappearance
		The first album from Ryuichi Sakamoto + Taylor Deupree, Disappearance, will be released in Japan Wednesday, July 10th 2013 on commmons. "Isolation, solitude, contemplation. These are the themes that discreetly weave their way through Disappearance, the first collaboration album between 12k’s Taylor Deupree and pioneering electronic composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto. The two began their musical dialogue in 2006 when Deupree was invited to remix a song from Sakamoto’s album Chasm. “World Citizen” was the song and it sparked continued collaboration as Deupree contributed to two of Sakamoto’s activist projects: Chain Music (http://www.sitesakamoto.com/chainmusic/) and KizunaWorld (http://kizunaworld.org/english/index.html) (as a trio with Sakamoto and Stephen Vitiello.) With the convenience of both artists living in New York they kept in touch, released music on 12k (Willits + Sakamoto’s Ocean Fire) and, in April of 2012, performed live together at John Zorn's club The Stone. It was this concert that planted the seeds for Disappearance. The initial tracks for Disappearance were recorded at Sakamoto’s studio in New York City during rehersals for the April concert. The two immediately entered the same sonic mindframe that lead to hours of concentrated, hushed music. Sakamoto’s piano playing, both traditional and prepared, emerged as perhaps some of his most beautifully sparse in recent years, letting the sound of the room and shuffle of chairs take an active roll in the recording. Only the most minimum of essential notes, accentuated by silences and the scraping of the piano’s strings, plays alongside Deupree’s nuanced passages, created with analogue synthesizers, strings, and found objects. These warm, human tones became the means of communication between the two artists who effortlessly created a musical language.The five tracks that make up Disappearance are delicate and composed, however, they’re not all peacefulness and placidity. Micro-tuned edges, bursts of noise, percussive prepared piano and the warble of old reel-to-reel tape keep the mood grounded and warm, turning it inward and asking the listener to reflect on their path. “Curl To Me,” the album’s final piece, is highlighted by the sounds of Ichiko Aoba, a major up-and-coming singer/songwriter from Tokyo. Both Sakamoto and Deupree have recently worked with Aoba in Japan and wanted her presence felt on the album. Emphasizing the solitude and stillness of the recordings, Aoba provided both her voice and the almost disturbingly intimate sound of her own heartbeat. Disappearance is a soundtrack for holding breaths. Sakamoto and Deupree lay down worn roads, but don’t leave signs. It is music for questions more than answers bound together by a quiet celebration of the fragility of nature and life." Disappearance will be released worldwide outside Japan on September 3rd from 12k