Cerca:kak

“Valsadeira” is a pulsing uptempo excursion from the African island nation of Cabo Verde, with driving percussion, impassioned vocals, and tasty synth work. Sung in Portuguese, the track begins on a romantic note which builds toward a dramatic flip halfway through that gives way to a hypnotic tropical vamp. The drum tool extends the rhythmic breaks of the song into a useful standalone percussion jam. Odo Kakra Sika Kakra is a bouncy and joyous slice of Ghanaian highlife. With crisp 90s-era production and sweet vocal melodies, JKriv edited this one with love for maximum booty shaking and smiles. "Batonga" is a mid tempo slice of Afrofunk with a mid 1980s downtown NYC feel, led by angular and funky guitars, layered synths, and a female vocal with African chants. The drum break features a textured beat including big electronic drums, percussions and an interlocking kalimba line.

Live-Mitschnitt des Attwenger Konzerts vom 6.12.23 im Chelsea in Wien, verteilt auf vier Seiten aus gelbem Vinyl mit Schwerpunkt auf den letzten beiden atmender-alben "Spot" und "Drum", angereichert mit Slangpunksongs aus den Neunzigern und Nullern. Attwenger ist live sowieso eine andere Geschichte als ein Studioalbum, ein Live-Album ist eine Momentaufnahme, licht, lärm und Leute bestimmen den Augenblick, der Augenblick ist schnell vorbei, aber den Mitschnitt unseres aktuellen Programms, der auf dieser Doppel-LP wiedergegeben wird, kannst du dir in hundert Jahren auch noch anhören und es wird trotzdem ein live-konzert sein. Attwenger live heißt Binder und Falkner auf der Bühne, singen und quetschen, verstärkt und verzerrt, Drums, Maultrommeln und Elektro-Beats, Stücke von 1990 treffen auf Songs, die grade erst im Entstehen sind, Lieder aus unterschiedlichen Entstehungsphasen werden zu ausgedehnten, groovigen Mixes kombiniert, geht alles. Die Reihenfolge der Stücke kann sich ändern, genauso wie die Reihen auf der Ziehharmonika und die Reime der Texte. alles Moment, alles bewegt sich, dreht sich, verästelt sich, die körperliche Intensität ist teilweise arg, die Gedanken sind oft woanders, das Publikum ist da, der Austausch zwischen Spielen und Tanzen führt zu einer Musik, die so dynamisch, stürmisch und euphorisch werden kann, dass du vom Akteur zum Passagier wirst in einem kollektiven Taumel, der alle beteiligten reinzieht, herumwirbelt, fortweht. Als Bonus-Track eine Aufnahme vom Juni 94, als wir mit unserem Gegenbesuch zur Zimbabwe-Tour im Oktober 93, Oliver Mtukudzi and The Black Spirits, einen gemeinsamen Auftritt in der Linzer stadtwerkstatt hatten. Zu hören ein Ausschnitt aus "I wanna know whats going on", in dem es schon damals geheißen hat: es is immer hoiba 8i.

Der Zauber der Nacht ist in der Musik seit jeher ein Thema, von den Nocturnes der Klassik über Late-NightJazz bis hin zu Max Richters Erfolgsprojekt “Sleep”. Auf ihrem neuen Album hat sich nun auch Sängerin und Songschreiberin Arooj Aftab, die für ihr Album “Vulture Prince” 2022 als erste pakistanischstämmige Künstlerin mit einem Grammy ausgezeichnet wurde, dieses faszinierenden Themas angenommen.

Arooj versteht es Songs zu schreiben und mit sanfter, tiefer Stimme zu singen, die sich entspannt in die Gehörgänge schmiegen. Ihre Lieder sind einzigartig, weil sie in der Tradition ihres pakistanischen Musikerbes wurzeln, aber zugleich elektronisch-modern und auf subtile Weise grooven.

Mit “Night Reign” ist Arooj ihr betörendstes und vielfältigstes Werk gelungen. Unterstützung erhielt sie dabei von so unterschiedlichen kreativen Partnern wie Vijay Iyer, Maeve Gilchrist, Moor Mother, Joel Ross, Cautious Clay, Kaki King, James Francies und Chocolate Genius, Inc

Der Zauber der Nacht ist in der Musik seit jeher ein Thema, von den Nocturnes der Klassik über Late-NightJazz bis hin zu Max Richters Erfolgsprojekt “Sleep”. Auf ihrem neuen Album hat sich nun auch Sängerin und Songschreiberin Arooj Aftab, die für ihr Album “Vulture Prince” 2022 als erste pakistanischstämmige Künstlerin mit einem Grammy ausgezeichnet wurde, dieses faszinierenden Themas angenommen.

Arooj versteht es Songs zu schreiben und mit sanfter, tiefer Stimme zu singen, die sich entspannt in die Gehörgänge schmiegen. Ihre Lieder sind einzigartig, weil sie in der Tradition ihres pakistanischen Musikerbes wurzeln, aber zugleich elektronisch-modern und auf subtile Weise grooven.

Mit “Night Reign” ist Arooj ihr betörendstes und vielfältigstes Werk gelungen. Unterstützung erhielt sie dabei von so unterschiedlichen kreativen Partnern wie Vijay Iyer, Maeve Gilchrist, Moor Mother, Joel Ross, Cautious Clay, Kaki King, James Francies und Chocolate Genius, Inc

wieder auf Lager Der Plan gelten als zentrale Wegbereiter der Neuen Deutschen Welle: Mit minimalen Mitteln produzierten Moritz Rî, Frank Fenstermacher und Pyrolator experimentelle elektronische Musik, verspielt und mitunter dilettantisch anmutend, aber immer mit Humor. 1984 wurde Der Plan von der japanischen Kaufhauskette Seibu für sechs Konzerte nach Tokio eingeladen. Anlass war die von Seibu ausgerichtete deutsche Woche. Ausgerechnet Der Plan? Warum nicht eine Oktoberfestkapelle oder die Scorpions? "Damals war in Japan die NDW sehr beliebt", so Moritz Reichelt. "Man kannte sich dort besser damit aus als hierzulande. Außerdem war an diese Kaufhauskette der Plattenladen und Vertrieb Wave angeschlossen, und die kannten sich richtig aus." "Japlan" dokumentiert die Setlist dieser Tokio-Auftritte. Neben Songs von den Vorgängeralben "Normalette Surprise" und dem Soundtrack "Die letzte Rache" und von der Doppelsingle "Golden Cheapos" enthält "Japlan" auch seltsame Instrumentalstücke, die extra für diese Konzerte produziert wurden. Und einen der bekanntesten Songs des Plans: "Gummitwist". Das Album erscheint mit Bonus-Tracks.

Die beiden vorherigen Veröffentlichungen von Witch Vomit, "Abhorrent Rapture" und "Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave", festigten und erhöhten ihre Position als eine der stärksten und direktesten Kapellen des aktuellen US-Death Metals, die gekonntes, kakophonisches Gemetzel bieten. Mit methodisch unerbittlicher Inbrunst und gnadenloser Aggression haben sich Witch Vomit einen formidablen Ruf für brutales Riffing mit Hooks erarbeitet, die so eingängig sind, dass sie Fleisch von Knochen reißen.

Auf dem neuen Album "Funeral Sanctum" erweitern Witch Vomit die dunkle Melodik, die in der Raserei vergangener Veröffentlichungen vergraben war - nun zu schwarzem Obsidian geschliffen und mit der für die Band typischen Brutalität verschmolzen. Die DNA von Tracks wie Blood of Abomination" und Dominion of a Darkened Realm" erinnert nicht an die beschwingten Harmonien, die man im typischen Melodic Death Metal hört, sondern eher an die dämonisch-böse Macht der frühen Dissection, die in gefrorener Dunkelheit glänzt. Die blutgetränkte USDM-Grausamkeit bleibt der verrottete Kern von Witch Vomits Fundament.

Witch Vomits dominante dynamische Entwicklung innerhalb ihres konzentrierten stilistischen Rahmens hat mit "Funeral Sanctum" einen neuen Höhepunkt erreicht. Der intensive Fokus des Albums und der unaufhörliche Riffsturm entfesseln eine Welle blutiger Befriedigung, die sich mit unbarmherziger Eindringlichkeit in die Gehörgänge fräst!

Die beiden vorherigen Veröffentlichungen von Witch Vomit, "Abhorrent Rapture" und "Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave", festigten und erhöhten ihre Position als eine der stärksten und direktesten Kapellen des aktuellen US-Death Metals, die gekonntes, kakophonisches Gemetzel bieten. Mit methodisch unerbittlicher Inbrunst und gnadenloser Aggression haben sich Witch Vomit einen formidablen Ruf für brutales Riffing mit Hooks erarbeitet, die so eingängig sind, dass sie Fleisch von Knochen reißen.

Auf dem neuen Album "Funeral Sanctum" erweitern Witch Vomit die dunkle Melodik, die in der Raserei vergangener Veröffentlichungen vergraben war - nun zu schwarzem Obsidian geschliffen und mit der für die Band typischen Brutalität verschmolzen. Die DNA von Tracks wie Blood of Abomination" und Dominion of a Darkened Realm" erinnert nicht an die beschwingten Harmonien, die man im typischen Melodic Death Metal hört, sondern eher an die dämonisch-böse Macht der frühen Dissection, die in gefrorener Dunkelheit glänzt. Die blutgetränkte USDM-Grausamkeit bleibt der verrottete Kern von Witch Vomits Fundament.

Witch Vomits dominante dynamische Entwicklung innerhalb ihres konzentrierten stilistischen Rahmens hat mit "Funeral Sanctum" einen neuen Höhepunkt erreicht. Der intensive Fokus des Albums und der unaufhörliche Riffsturm entfesseln eine Welle blutiger Befriedigung, die sich mit unbarmherziger Eindringlichkeit in die Gehörgänge fräst!

Japanese jazz and big band masterpieces re-released on clear green color vinyl!

Nio dances and pigeons dance. A mysterious melody that flows in a strong groove. Pursuing the possibilities of big band sound, this is the true essence of new hard and its climax.

New Hard, led by Toshiyuki Miyama, is one of Japan's leading big bands. Since the release of ``Perspective'' in 1969, they have opened up new horizons in big band jazz with their cutting-edge sound. This work "Niou to Hato" is one of the representative works of new hard released in 1972. Kozaburo Yamaki was in charge of the entire composition and arrangement, and deeply pursued one of his long-standing themes: "Japan." Japanese features, traditions, and scenes expressed through elaborate, multi-layered arrangements and performances. A profound and dynamic melody with a Japanese atmosphere that can be described as mysterious. Starting with "Seijinshiki," which is led by a strong groove, the album is lined up with songs full of deep flavor and great excitement. This is the true essence of new hard work and its climax.
text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality)

Peace Okezie, das Genie hinter Master Peace, nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund. Er muss die Dinge aussprechen und verkörpert den Satz: "Wenn du es sagen willst, dann sag es einfach." Obwohl er nie unvorsichtig oder unsympathisch mit seinen Worten umgeht, ist dieser Satz eine Bestätigung, die ihn antreibt.

Seine Energie ist auf Augenhöhe mit der eigenwilligen, überschäumenden und vor allem extrem guten Musik, die er macht. Bei Master Peace geht es darum, die Menschen in seine verrückte, wunderbare und kakophonische Welt einzuladen. Er zieht Hörer an, die sich nach Rebellion und Abweichung von der Norm sehnen. Mit seinem Debütalbum "How To Make A Master Peace" verschiebt Master Peace die Parameter des Genres mehr denn je. Peace lässt seine Inspirationen spielen, indem er die Generationen der britischen Musik, die ihn groß gemacht haben, in seinen Sound integriert. "I Might Be Fake" hat die Dringlichkeit von "Giddy Stratospheres" von den Long Blondes aus dem Jahr 2005, gemischt mit der Spacigkeit des Klaxons-Katalogs der späten Nullerjahre. "Shangaladang" ist eine Ode an Peace' Black-Music-Inspirationen, mit einer Anspielung auf Skepta; hier passt er den Text "I've got my hood mates and white niggas" aus dem 2016er Song "Man" des Rappers an seine rauere, The Clash-artige Melodie an.



Der raue Künstler wird bereits als neue Stimme des britischen Indie gefeiert und war bei den AIM Awards 2023 als "One To Watch" nominiert. Das 11-Track-Album ist eine Mischung aus der alternativen Musik, mit der der Brite aufgewachsen ist, von Arctic Monkeys & Friendly Fires bis hin zu Gorillaz.

"BAKI is the hit series produced by TMS Entertainment and airing from 2018 on Netflix.

Here at last is its smashing soundtrack composed by Kenji Fujisawa, fully remastered in vinyl format in a translucent red 3LP edition!

The vinyl edition includes:

- A beautifully illustrated gatefold sleeve

- 3xLP in three illustrated sleeves

- A 4-page booklet

60 tracks, 3 xLP translucent red

Entirely remastered for the vinyl format

Gatefold with 3 illustrated sleeves

Composed by Kenji Fujisawa

PRODUCED BY BAKI AND BAKI II FILM PARTNERS

© KEISUKE ITAGAKI(AKITASHOTEN)/BAKI FILM PARTNERS AND BAKI II FILM PARTNERS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED”

Yuki Saito's 10th album "LOVE"('91) is now available for the first time on vinyl with obi.

It's a hidden masterpiece of 90s city pop and light mellow.

Emotionally fragile songs of poems she wrote herself.

Arrangements by Mioko Yamaguchi, Mayumi, Tetsuya Kakihara, and Kenjiro Sakitani. They are well known by city pop fans.

Kohei Tanaka worked on the composition and arrangement of this album.

One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy whose body became elastic after eating a Devil Fruit. Luffy decides to become the Pirate King and find the One Piece, a legendary treasure hidden on Raftel Island.

LTD Repress!

1982 Album from Japan's visionary saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu, the man behind Mariah "Utakata Ho Hibi".
Through it's 8 suite like tracks, Kakashi transports the listener into Yasuaki's colourful sound-world, a fusion of outre jazz, new wave, ambient, and dub practices. Another high water mark in the 80's Japanese underground which has gathered cult status in recent years, and considered to be a highlight of Yasuaki's solo career.

Out on 6 October, the music for Certainty of Tides was initially recorded with the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra with Nils Petter Molvaer as a soloist in 2020. He had asked several wonderful Norwegian composers to arrange a set of music from his back catalogue. “Have a listen to the recordings I did with the orchestra and tell me what you think” he told Norwegian composer, musician, and producer Jan Bang. Since the original recording was close mic’ed for broadcasting purposes, Bang saw an unfulfilled potential in the material due to lack of space in the initial recordings.
Bang came up with the idea of re-amping the mixes playing the music through speakers in a concert house followed by re-recording of the result through distant microphones. With 76 speakers (one per instrument) carefully placed exactly like the orchestra would have been seated onstage, Certainty of Tides was recorded from microphones strategically placed in the large hall of Kilden Concert House with phenomenal acoustics.
The re-amping and re-recording produced astonishing results. Some of the pieces needed additional color. Bang invited two of his highly talented electronic music students at the University of Agder (Kristian Isachsen and Even Sefenias Sigurdsen Frodesønn Røsstad). Both given freedoms to create their own sound based on their own personal taste.
The final mixes were put together by Øyvind Kurszus at Kilden Studios supervised by both students, Molvaer and Bang. Helge Steen has mastered the recording. Knut Sævik has re-sampled the drum track (played by Peter Baden) on “Simply so” and mixed the Song as well.

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO'S LANDMARK 1981 ALBUM REISSUED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES OUTSIDE OF JAPAN. THE ALBUM WILL BE REISSUED IN ITS RARE JAPANESE EDITION TOGETHER WITH A 2-LP LIMITED EDITION FEATURING THE ALBUM PLUS A 2ND LP FEATURING ITS NEVER-RELEASED FULL INSTRUMENTAL MIX, ALL REMASTERED BY BERNIE GRUNDMAN.

Wewantsounds is proud to announce the reissue of Ryuichi Sakamoto's third solo album "Hidari Ude No Yume" (Left Handed Dream), originally released in 1981 on the Alfa label. Save for a small-scale Dutch vinyl release in 1981, it is the first time the album's original Japanese edition is released outside of Japan (the European release on Epic Records included significantly different tracks and mixes). Newly remastered from the original tapes by renowned engineer Bernie Grundman, this LP edition comes with original artwork featuring a striking cover shot by famous photographer Masayoshi Sukita (sourced from the original negative), OBI strip and 4-page insert with new introduction by journalist Anton Spice. The album will also be released as a 2-LP limited edition gatefold including the album's full instrumental mix.
Ryuichi Sakamoto's third album, "Hidari Ude No Yume" was recorded at the legendary Alfa Studio 'A' in Tokyo during the Summer of 1981. it came after "B-2 Unit" in 1980 and his debut album "Thousand Knives Of" in 1978, the very year Sakamoto was invited by Haruomi Hosono to join Yellow Magic Orchestra alongside Yukihiro Takahashi. In the process, they became global stars as the group rewrote the rules of electronic pop and toured around the world, yet Sakamoto was keen to remain active as a solo artist.
?In 1981, the musician decided to record an album rooted in Pop, following "B-2 Unit" which had a more of an experimental edge and his landmark electro debut from 1978. For this new album entitled "Hidari Ude No Yume," Sakamoto invited British producer Robin Scott, who had had huge hit with 'Pop Muzik,' to co-produce. They entered the Alfa studio in July 1981, accompanied by a handful of musicians. These included his fellow YMO musicians Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, keyboard programmer extraordinaire Hideki Matsutake who'd been on Sakamoto's first two albums and became YMO's unofficial fourth member, violinist Kaoru Sato, saxophonist Satoshi Nakamura and American guitarist Adrian Belew who'd played with David Bowie, The Talking Heads' "Remain In Light" and more recently, Tom Tom Club’s debut (co-writing 'Genius Of Love').
?Together, they created a fascinating mix of pop, ambient and electronic music with elements of avant garde and traditional Japanese music, the whole firmly rooted in a solid groove. Sakamoto wanted to give the album a spontaneous feel and decided to let ideas flow and evolve organically during the sessions as musicians would develop them together. From the funk of 'Relâché' to the new wave feel of 'Venezia' and the ambient minimalism of 'Slat Dance,' the album is remarkably consistent while displaying a wealth of global influences as shown by the diversity of instruments featured on the credits: Marimba, didgeridu, traditional Japanese instruments such as the Sho and Hichiriki flutes.
?The album was released in Japan in 1981 and Epic Records picked it up for Europe a year later but decided to release it in a significantly altered version. The sequencing was completely reshuffled and two tracks, 'Saru No Ie' and 'Living In The Dark' were completely dropped while three others, ‘Relâché’, ‘Tell 'em To Me’, ‘Venezia’ were heavily remodelled with english lyrics and became 'Just About Enough', 'Once In A Lifetime' and 'The Left Bank'. Last but not least, a new English-sung track, 'The Arrangement,' was added, making the album nine tracks instead of ten for the Japanese edition.
Altogether this International version called "Left-Handed Dream" was a very different album from the Japanese one and although both were successful at the time and further established Ryuichi Sakamoto as a global solo artist, the Japanese edition of "Hidari Ude No Yume" remains largely unknown to international ears.
Wewantsounds is now delighted to release this original Japanese edition for the first time in decades as a single LP together with a 2-LP limited-edition set adding, as a bonus, its fascinating instrumental mix, discovered in the label's vaults a few years ago (Note that 'The Garden Of Poppies', 'Slat Dance' and 'Saru No Ie' are instrumentals but for the consistency of the album we kept them on the Instrumental Mix). "Hidari Ude No Yume" is an essential album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography. It is now available in its purest original Japanese form.

Shuji Katayama is a composer and an arranger who is part of the Team-MAX group. He composed all the music for the series (4 seasons). He also participated in the musical compositions of Boruto and the film Naruto The Last. Synopsis of the series : We are in the year 2138.

Yggdrasil, the famous hit MMORPG is about to close. Momonga, the founder of the guild whose fame is no longer to be done, waits alone for the end of the game. However, the closing time has passed, Momonga does not disconnect and the non-playable characters find themselves gradually of a consciousness… A new world is about to make its appearance.


















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- Panda Bear, Voice of the Seven Woods, Mammane Sanni Abdoulaye. File under: Jazz / Electronic. Titi Bakorta almost didn't make it. Born in and raised in Kinshasa, the Congolese multi-instrumentalist was on his way to Uganda when he fell off the boat as it traversed the mighty Congo River. Unable to swim, Bakorta was saved by a friend who dragged him to the closest city Kisangani, where he was unexpectedly acquainted with local singer Dancer Papalas. Soon they were performing in bands together, traveling across the continents and settling in Tanzania, South Sudan and Dubai - they even appeared in front of General Defao, the beloved Congolese vocalist who fronted legendary soukous bands Grand Zaiko Wawa, Choc Stars and Big Stars. Now based in Kampala, Bakorta offers his own unique take on Congolese pop and folk sounds, weaving traditional elements through a psychedelic lattice of guitar loops, mangled voices and eccentric beatbox rhythms on his debut full-length. He bends woodblock snaps on 'Kop' into stuttered blurs, wailing emotionally over twanging riffs and bizarre, theatrical xylophone twinkles. It's still pop music on some level, but curved around Bakorta's unwieldy personal narrative - there's a sense that everything could unravel at any time but it all hangs together, strengthened by Bakorta's confident, contemporary production smarts. 'Elles Vais' is more airy, with celestial soukous vocals that float above tight, electronic drums. Tangled guitar echoes overlap each other like dense, weaved tapestries, contrasting perfectly with Bakorta's urgent, driving pulse. Occasionally, he transcends completely, like on 'Molende' where his chants and phrases neatly flutter between praise music and contemporary R&B. "Hustling, hustling, hustling, everyday I'm hustling," an angelic voice coos over phased electric guitar plucks and looped, AutoTuned chorals. It makes perfect sense that Bakorta should team up with Metal Preyers' Jesse Hackett on the album's final track, the aptly-titled 'Titis Haunted House'. The two artists share a similar obsession with moonlit, carnivalesque soundscapes, and Hackett's eerie synths provide a suitably eccentric foundation for Bakorta's ghostly wails and fuzzy guitar sounds.

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO'S LANDMARK 1981 ALBUM REISSUED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES OUTSIDE OF JAPAN. THE ALBUM WILL BE REISSUED IN ITS RARE JAPANESE EDITION TOGETHER WITH A 2-LP LIMITED EDITION FEATURING THE ALBUM PLUS A 2ND LP FEATURING ITS NEVER-RELEASED FULL INSTRUMENTAL MIX, ALL REMASTERED BY BERNIE GRUNDMAN.

Wewantsounds is proud to announce the reissue of Ryuichi Sakamoto's third solo album "Hidari Ude No Yume" (Left Handed Dream), originally released in 1981 on the Alfa label. Save for a small-scale Dutch vinyl release in 1981, it is the first time the album's original Japanese edition is released outside of Japan (the European release on Epic Records included significantly different tracks and mixes). Newly remastered from the original tapes by renowned engineer Bernie Grundman, this LP edition comes with original artwork featuring a striking cover shot by famous photographer Masayoshi Sukita (sourced from the original negative), OBI strip and 4-page insert with new introduction by journalist Anton Spice. The album will also be released as a 2-LP limited edition gatefold including the album's full instrumental mix.
Ryuichi Sakamoto's third album, "Hidari Ude No Yume" was recorded at the legendary Alfa Studio 'A' in Tokyo during the Summer of 1981. it came after "B-2 Unit" in 1980 and his debut album "Thousand Knives Of" in 1978, the very year Sakamoto was invited by Haruomi Hosono to join Yellow Magic Orchestra alongside Yukihiro Takahashi. In the process, they became global stars as the group rewrote the rules of electronic pop and toured around the world, yet Sakamoto was keen to remain active as a solo artist.
?In 1981, the musician decided to record an album rooted in Pop, following "B-2 Unit" which had a more of an experimental edge and his landmark electro debut from 1978. For this new album entitled "Hidari Ude No Yume," Sakamoto invited British producer Robin Scott, who had had huge hit with 'Pop Muzik,' to co-produce. They entered the Alfa studio in July 1981, accompanied by a handful of musicians. These included his fellow YMO musicians Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, keyboard programmer extraordinaire Hideki Matsutake who'd been on Sakamoto's first two albums and became YMO's unofficial fourth member, violinist Kaoru Sato, saxophonist Satoshi Nakamura and American guitarist Adrian Belew who'd played with David Bowie, The Talking Heads' "Remain In Light" and more recently, Tom Tom Club’s debut (co-writing 'Genius Of Love').
?Together, they created a fascinating mix of pop, ambient and electronic music with elements of avant garde and traditional Japanese music, the whole firmly rooted in a solid groove. Sakamoto wanted to give the album a spontaneous feel and decided to let ideas flow and evolve organically during the sessions as musicians would develop them together. From the funk of 'Relâché' to the new wave feel of 'Venezia' and the ambient minimalism of 'Slat Dance,' the album is remarkably consistent while displaying a wealth of global influences as shown by the diversity of instruments featured on the credits: Marimba, didgeridu, traditional Japanese instruments such as the Sho and Hichiriki flutes.
?The album was released in Japan in 1981 and Epic Records picked it up for Europe a year later but decided to release it in a significantly altered version. The sequencing was completely reshuffled and two tracks, 'Saru No Ie' and 'Living In The Dark' were completely dropped while three others, ‘Relâché’, ‘Tell 'em To Me’, ‘Venezia’ were heavily remodelled with english lyrics and became 'Just About Enough', 'Once In A Lifetime' and 'The Left Bank'. Last but not least, a new English-sung track, 'The Arrangement,' was added, making the album nine tracks instead of ten for the Japanese edition.
Altogether this International version called "Left-Handed Dream" was a very different album from the Japanese one and although both were successful at the time and further established Ryuichi Sakamoto as a global solo artist, the Japanese edition of "Hidari Ude No Yume" remains largely unknown to international ears.
Wewantsounds is now delighted to release this original Japanese edition for the first time in decades as a single LP together with a 2-LP limited-edition set adding, as a bonus, its fascinating instrumental mix, discovered in the label's vaults a few years ago (Note that 'The Garden Of Poppies', 'Slat Dance' and 'Saru No Ie' are instrumentals but for the consistency of the album we kept them on the Instrumental Mix). "Hidari Ude No Yume" is an essential album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography. It is now available in its purest original Japanese form.