{"product_id":"坂本龍一_esperanto_2021_mdl","title":"Esperanto","description":"A fascinating instrumental work blending electronica, ambient, and synth-pop, Esperanto, released in 1985, is Ryuichi Sakamoto's sixth solo album. After his time with the legendary Yellow Magic Orchestra and the worldwide success of the soundtrack for the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, in which he starred alongside David Bowie, Esperanto sees him return to his roots in the electronic field. Composed as the soundtrack for a performance by New York choreographer Molissa Fenley, commissioned by Japanese producer Shozo Tsurumoto, the album was conceived by Sakamoto alone with the help of the state-of-the-art technology of the time. The only external contributions are from Arto Lindsay on guitar and Japanese composer Yas-Kaz on percussion. The album is a fascinating sonic journey primarily experimenting with sampler technology—brand new at the time and requiring an enormous computer. Esperanto consists of eight tracks displaying a varied mix of influences. \"A Wongga Dance Song\" vibrates with rhythms, while \"A Rain Song\" adopts a minimalist mode with its repetitive motif. \"Dolphins\" and \"A Carved Stone\" are captivating ambient tracks that showcase Sakamoto's talent for creating enchanting atmospheres adorned with abstract melodies. One of the album's highlights is \"Adelic Penguins,\" a fascinating proto-techno track with a funky touch that unfolds over six minutes and is reminiscent of the electro-funk on the 1981 album Hidari Ude No Yume. \"Ulu Watu,\" a collage-like piece with bird motifs and a tropical soundscape, closes the album on an experimental note. It is interesting to note that a year later, these tracks were the subject of an experimental video project led by New York video artists Kit Fitzgerald and Paul Garrin, a collaborator of Nam June Paik. A unique album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography, Esperanto is a masterpiece from the 80s in the musician's discography that deserves to be rediscovered. Released on Midi Inc.'s School label, the album is available for the first time outside Japan. This reissue from the Wewantsounds label includes the original artwork, a 2-page insert with a new introduction by journalist Andy Beta, and audio remastered in Tokyo by Seigen Ono.","brand":"坂本龍一","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55311895167320,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/3700604729808.jpg?v=1760405715","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en-us\/products\/%e5%9d%82%e6%9c%ac%e9%be%8d%e4%b8%80_esperanto_2021_mdl","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}