Ryuichi Sakamoto Thousand Knives Of Vinyl LP 2019

1. Das Neue Japanische Elektronische Volkslied - Ryuichi Sakamoto
2. Plastic Bamboo - Ryuichi Sakamoto
3. The End Of Asia - Ryuichi Sakamoto

Wewantsounds is proud to announce the release of Ryuichi Sakamoto's first solo album originally released in 1978 on the sought-after Better Days label. Sakamoto was a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra at the time but the group hadn't released their first album yet. Featuring Sakamoto on a wide range of synthesizers and keyboards programmed by Hideki Matsutake, and accompanied by a few musicians including Haruomi Hosono and Pecker, Thousand Knives was a blueprint for the YMO sound and includes cult classics that were to become live favourites. Save for a small-scale release in 1982, this is the first time the album is being released on vinyl outside of Japan. Remastered from the original tapes by renowned producer and engineer Seigen Ono, the LP edition comes with original artwork including OBI and 4p insert with a new introduction by Paul Bowler.

1978 was a key year for Japanese music. Haruomi Hosono, one of the country's most innovative musicians had just formed Yellow Magic Orchestra pursuing the sonic experimentation he had started with his solo album Paraiso. The album, credited to Harry Hosono and The Yellow Magic Band, had been recorded between December 77 and January 78 and featured both Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. Hosono quickly invited both musicians to form YMO but before the group could release their first album, Sakamoto entered the Nippon Columbia studios in April 1978 with a plan.

Sakamoto had become an in-demand session musician after studying composition at the Tokyo University of Art and had played in many key albums of the time: Taeko Ohnuki's Sunshower and Tatsuro Yamashita Spacy to name just two famous albums. This led to an invitation by Hosono to feature on Paraiso. A penchant for avant-garde and improvisation had gotten Sakamoto interested in Electronic Music early on and with Thousand Knives, he decided to get Hideki Matsutake on board as he had mastered the art of synth programming following a stint with Electronic Music pioneer Isao Tomita.

Thousand Knives took several months to record as Sakamoto would be busy during the day with his session work and would only record at night. Named after Belgian-born poet Henri Michaux’s description of a mescaline experience, the album is a reflection on how synthesizer technology might come to change the face of music.

The first side conceived as a long suite opens with the title track and a recitation of the Mao Zedong poem Jinggang Mountain filtered through a vocoder, before morphing into a mid- tempo synthpop instrumental. It is followed by Island Of Woods, a ten-minute track buzzing with insect-like synth sounds reminiscent of the tropical exotica of Femme Fatale on Paraiso (also featuring Sakamoto). Side one ends with Grasshoppers, a beautiful acoustic piano melody underlined by a subtle synthesizer soundscape.

Side two opens with Das Neue Japanische Elektronische Volkslied, acknowledging the influence of the German sound spearheaded by Kraftwerk. The track features a mid-tempo metronomic beat skillfully intertwined with a Japanese folk sounding melody. The album ends with two catchy uptempo synthpop tunes in the form of Plastic Bamboo and The End Of Asia, which both became staples of YMO’s and Sakamoto's live shows.

Although Thousand Knives sold modestly upon release, it was hugely influential in setting the agenda for what was to follow. YMO's sound included various influences from its three members but there is no denying Thousand Knives paved the way for the group's Computer Music sound. Thousand Knives remains a fascinating insight into the making of a music revolution

With 4 Page Insert and OBI.