Discord - Ryuichi Sakamoto

Advantages: Absolutely beautiful
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...I've always loved this film, and certainly one of the things which made it so remarkable was this excellent score. Ryuichi Sakamoto wrote it on his own, as well as starring in the film as the implacable Captain Yonoi. The tunes contained on it are as follows: 1. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 2. Batavia 3. Germination 4. A Hearty Breakfast 5. Before The War 6. The Seed And The Sower 7. A Brief Encounter 8. Ride, Ride, Ride 9. The Fight 10. Father Christmas 11. Dismissed 12. Assembly 13. Beyond Reason 14. Sowing The Seed 15. 23rd Psalm 16. Last Regrets 17. Ride, Ride, Ride 18. The Seed 19. Forbidden Colours The last track Forbidden Colours was remixed to become a very popular pop song which hit the charts (in Japan.) The music is I believe synth music... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: By turns rhythmical and cutting edge; with a political mindedness it's not ashamed of
Disadvantages: The lyrics may be a little too political for some

...and angry album also returns Sylvian to a position where he is able to shape music that is more familiarly song based, whilst hooking together strong rhythms (probably courtesy of Sakamoto as much as Sylvian, admittedly) and extending some of his semi-electronica experiments ala the gorgeous The Scent of Magnolia that opened his retrospective album: Everything and Nothing. It's a pretty simple affair all told. There are only really two songs on the EP, World Citizen and World Citizen - I Won't Be Disappointed, both songs displayed in their truncated and full form. Though we're treated to a rather fine re-mix by sound artist Ryoji Ikeda also. Lyrically, both tracks are also similar and have something of an anti-American bent (being the greatest capitalist power currently rolling over the world; also there are some post 9/11 references... Read review

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Advantages: It's real music
Disadvantages: It may take more than one listen

...playing to 3 of the 8 tracks on the album. The material for this album took a bit of a different musical tangent from the work he had already recorded with his brother. (Think, “Talk, Talk album “The Spirit of Eden” and you are there) In May 2003 David travelled to Stockholm, Sweden to record Stina Nordenstam vocal contribution to the Nine Horses banner. With the success of the “Blemish” album a tour was being discussed this took the pair further away from the tracks. His brother continued working on a solo project and Sylvian began working with his long time friend and collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto on a 5 track E.P. called “World Citizen” (catalogue number SS002) after these sessions he began to prepare for the Blemish tour. It was during the European leg (October 2003) of the tour... Read review

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