{"product_id":"ryuichi-sakamoto-esperanto-lp","title":"Ryuichi Sakamoto - Esperanto LP","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"description\"\u003eLP version. Wewantsounds continues their\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ereissue series with the release of the 1985 album\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e, composed for a performance by New York avant-garde choreographer\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMolissa Fenley\u003c\/b\u003e. Produced and performed by Sakamoto with contribution by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eArto Lindsay\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand Japanese percussionist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eYas-Kaz\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a fascinating instrumental work mixing electronica, ambient and synth pop. Released in Japan in 1985 on Midi Inc.s' School label, the album has never been released outside of Japan until now.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eoriginally came out in 1985 and was Ryuichi Sakamoto's sixth solo album. Coming after his stint with the influential\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eYellow Magic Orchestra\u003c\/b\u003e, and also the worldwide success of Sakamoto's 1984 soundtrack for the film\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMerry Christmas Mr. Lawrence\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(in which he starred alongside\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/b\u003e),\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas a return to Sakamoto's leftfield roots. Composed as the soundtrack to a performance by New York choreographer Molissa Fenley (a show commissioned by Japanese producer\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eShozo Tsurumoto\u003c\/b\u003e), the album was masterminded by Sakamoto with the help of the cutting-edge electronic technology of the time (the only external contributions are by Arto Lindsay on guitar and Japanese composer Yas-Kaz on percussion). Indeed, the album is a fascinating soundscape experimenting with the new sampler technology -- which, according to Ryuichi Sakamoto from a conversation with journalist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndy Beta\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ementioned in the liner notes, needed a computer that was huge at the time.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis composed of eight tracks displaying a varied mix of influences. \"A Wongga Dance Song\" is pulsating with rhythms while \"A Rain Song\" adopts a minimalist mode with its distinctive repetitive pattern. \"Dolphins\" and \"A Carved Stone\" are captivating ambient pieces showcasing Sakamoto's talent for setting beautiful abstract melodic ornaments over atmospheric tones. One of the highlights of the album is \"Adelic Penguins\", a fascinating proto techno piece with a funky twist stretching over six minutes which echoes the electro funk of 1981's album\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHidari Ude No Yume\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(WWSCD 033CD\/WWSLP 033LP\/WWSLP 034LP). \"Ulu Watu\", a collage-like piece featuring bird motives and a tropical soundscape closes the album with an experimental note. It's interesting to note that, a year later, the tracks from\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewould be turned into an experimental video project by New York visual artists\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eKit Fitzgerald\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eNam June Paik\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecollaborator\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaul Garrin\u003c\/b\u003e. A unique album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eEsperanto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a groundbreaking work worth rediscovering in its full glory. Original artwork; includes two-page insert with a new introduction by journalist Andy Beta. Audio remastered in Tokyo by Seigen Ono.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"wewantsounds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46914458124511,"sku":"21069742","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0312\/7630\/2471\/files\/WWSLP043LP_PROD.jpg?v=1745007618","url":"https:\/\/www.feelitrecordshop.com\/products\/ryuichi-sakamoto-esperanto-lp","provider":"Feel It Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}