Ongaku Zukan

Description

Wewantsounds is pleased to announce the release of one of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classics, Ongaku Zukan, originally released in Japan in 1984 on his label School. This reissue reproduces the original Japanese version and its two editions. The album includes the original gatefold cover as well as a 2-page insert featuring a presentation text by American journalist Andy Beta. The early 80s marked a turning point for Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. The soundtrack composed for the film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, released in 1983, would soon make him a global star, while he simultaneously ended the Yellow Magic Orchestra era. It is in this context that the musician entered the Onkyo Haus studio in Tokyo to record his fourth solo album, Ongaku Zukan ("Musical Encyclopedia"), accompanied by a handful of musicians, including his former YMO partners Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as the talented Yasuaki Shimizu, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Toshinori Kondo. Released in August 1984, Ongaku Zukan achieved tremendous success, giving Sakamoto his first top 5 hit in Japan. Filled with inspired melodies that showcase his unique talent as a composer, the album is a fascinating blend where electro-pop gems coexist with futuristic ambient pieces, featuring brilliantly crafted fusions of jazz, funk, and electro. Two simultaneous editions of the album were released in Japan in 1984: the regular edition including a bonus 45 RPM and a limited edition that replaces the 45 RPM with a maxi featuring a third track. This is the very first time that both Japanese editions of the album are released outside of Japan with remastered audio and original covers, paying tribute to one of the geniuses of contemporary pop music who left us too soon.