Vrioon - 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: Plenty of pop catchiness and experimentation from one of the most important musicians of his generation
Disadvantages: A slight unevenness of tracks

...and Nothing there was a bonus CD that also included two different versions of the song, both of which were as beautiful as the original. In terms of choosing a song to open an album, any album, then The Scent of Magnolia is perhaps the perfect introduction. After The Scent of Magnolia the album becomes a little more indifferent. Admittedly, I think this is down to my own personal taste rather than any lack of quality in the music, as with all of David Sylvian's work I find myself a little at odds with the music. The second track, for instance, Heartbeat is a Ryuichi Sakamoto track, which though not a bad song isn't one of Sylvian's best. Nevertheless, it's slightly abstract popiness is quite good fun when you're in the mood. Skipping over Blackwater (it just does nothing for me), we come across Albuquerque, worthy of mention because... Read review

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