Review: With a string of soundtrack credits as long as your proverbial arm, it's no surprise Yellow Magic Orchestra man Ryuichi Sakamoto was top of the list when it came to scoring this "sumptuous romantic melodrama" from director Ann Hui. This is his first score for a Chinese film, however, and he pulls out the emotional stops to betray the tense, tumultuous stirrings going on beneath the surface of tight lipped manners and suppressed feelings. Many of the themes are explored through simple piano playing before returning in the form of complex string arrangements, a clever trick that proves Sakamoto was worthy of his Best Original Film Score prize at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards for this work.
Review: Wewantsounds has put together a re-release of the late, great Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic album Coda, which was originally issued in his native Japan in 1983. This album is a solo piano rendition of the seminal Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence soundtrack and has never been available outside Japan until now. It finds legendary composer Sakamoto perform acoustic piano interpretations of his iconic themes including the classic title track and 'Germination,' which later featured in the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack. Remastered by Seigen Ono's Saidera Mastering studio in Tokyo, this reissue includes the original artwork and a four page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta.
Review: While most celebrated in electronic music circles for his work as part of Yellow Magic Orchestra - not to mention a string of experimental solo works - Ryuichi Sakamoto has long been an acclaimed composer of music for the big screen. As the title suggests, this fine compilation gathers together some of his best soundtrack works. There are plenty of familiar favourites present - check the chiming, suitably cheery theme to "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" and the swelling closing theme from "The Last Emperor" - alongside lesser-known gems such as the lilting strings of "The Sheltering Sky (Main Theme)", the simmering beauty of "Little Buddha: Acceptance" and the jazz-influenced bliss of "Femme Fatale: Bolerisch".
Review: The late great Ryuichji Salamoto has left us with a vast body of work to enjoy until the end of time and amongst the many highlights of his ground breaking catalogue was this album, Async. It was Ryuichi's first solo album in eight years at time of release in 2017 and fund him taking inspiration from "everyday objects, sculpture, and nature." Sakamoto said this was an album about making the sounds he most wanted to listen to and was made with the traditional Japanese idea in mind that, "less-is-more." It is full of field recordings and was recorded in New York City with a deep selection of unique acoustic and electric sounds.
Review: Released to coincide with Japanese musical Goliath Ryuichi Sakamoto's 70th birthday, To the Moon & Back was almost inevitable. Even without worrying reports about the maestro's health, there's no way anyone can have such a significant impact on global music for so long and not have people wanting to pay tribute upon reaching septuagenarian years.
And what a tribute it is. Taking elements from a huge back catalogue that stretches back to the mid-1970s, contemporary greats including Thundercat, Alva Noto, Hildur Guonadottir, The Cinematic Orchestra, and David Sylvian offer new versions and remixes of the master's stuff, with each track here chosen by Sakamoto, which is about as significant a seal of approval as you could hope for. Like the man himself, it's widely varied, consistently innovative and just really, really good.
Review: Seoul-based duo Salamanda clearly struck upon a persuasive formula when they first cropped up on Good Morning Tapes in 2020. Somewhere between delicate ambient and a modern kind of deep house, their music carries a tenderness which feels absolutely at home on Facta and K-Lone's eminently soothing stable, Wisdom Teeth. In Parallel builds on the sound laid out on previous records for Human Pitch and Metron by presenting a more focused duo seemingly conscious of their rapidly grown audience and considering how to best build upon their tender sound without losing the charm. Threading subtle pop elements into their gossamer-light constructions, this is a rich, satisfying listen from a duo it's so easy to love.
Review: Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow's soundtrack for the 2024 thriller drama Civil War is a triumph of atmospheric soundscaping. Known for their work on Ex Machina, the duo brings their signature touch to this film, blending ambient synths with subtle guitar to create an immersive auditory experience. The score, perfectly complements the film's intense narrative and striking visuals. Tracks like 'Body Pit' deliver a haunting, dissonant edge, while 'Flashback,' 'Aftermath,' and 'Moving Out' offer a poignant, minimalist theme that subtly underscores the emotional journey of the characters. The music's simplicity and repetitive motifs evoke a powerful sense of place and mood, making it an essential companion to the film's story. Now available on vinyl for the first time, this score is for fans of the innovative film music and those who appreciate Salisbury and Barrow's evocative style.
Review: Inspired by her journey into motherhood, Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen's album LIFE is rich in contemporary colour and emotional depth. Known for her vibrant programming and passionate playing, Samuelsen offers a musical reflection on the profound experiences of parenthood. The album features works by composers such as Olivia Belli, Bryce Dessner, Ludovico Einaudi, Nils Frahm, Johann Johannsson, and Max Richter with a touch of Schubert. Recorded while she was pregnant with her second child, LIFE showcases Samuelsen's exquisite playing alongside a small ensemble including Scoring Berlin's string players who are all conducted by Jonathan Stockhammer.
Review: Luke Sanger returns to Balmat for brand new album Dew Point Harmonics, which directly follows on from the producer's acclaimed Languid Gongue in 2021. A thirteen-tracker of dense but fibreglassy electronic mood pieces, the Norfolk native nudges us into a series but emotive but individually unique set of corners, vectorising a multiplicitous, abstract sound-space. After the opening arp-sequences of 'Solid Steps' and 'Flutter Env', we move into the more roughshod concrete of 'Poppers' then swerve through the dawny plucks and boughs of 'Morning Person' and 'Open Sauce', before finally settling to rest on a patently vibraphonic note, with 'Universal Vibrational Frequences' and. 'Vibraphone Home' not occurring in sequence without coincidence, in our view.
Review: When The Last Of Us first debuted in video game form, its soundtrack, composed by Gustavo Santaollala, took the world by storm for its instantly memorisable motifs and folkish sensibility. Driven largely by guitars and other acoustics, it did well to represent TLOU's wider world; that of a world driven murderous and inhospitable by a mutant strain of the (very real) cordyceps fungus. Now, along with the mind-blowing TV series reboot of the story, comes Santaollala's parallel reboot of the soundtrack. The Argentinian composer amps up (albeit subtly) most of the original and most recognisable themes from the original game, fleshing out the soundtrack in tandem with the expansion of the franchise and lore. The soundtrack also features additional music by David Fleming, a British composer who has collaborated with Santaolalla on many an occasion.
Last Supper - Oxford Suite (with Ed Alleyne Johnson - part 1) (6:18)
Into The Metaverse (Homo Deus part 2) (3:20)
Outro (2:12)
Review: Dance music legend Sasha makes a grand return to Night Time Stories with his new project, Da Vinci Genius. Building on the success of his 2016 album Scene Delete, this latest work takes another step away from the dancefloor and into the realm of cinematic composition. Premiered in Berlin in 2021 and later showcased in Amsterdam, Da Vinci Genius draws on the legacy of Leonardo Da Vinci, blending classical elements with Sasha's signature electronic sound. Collaborating with key contributors Dennis White, Dave Gardner and Barry Jamieson, Sasha crafts an immersive experience that balances timeless classical music with modern electronic textures.
Last Supper - Oxford Suite (with Ed Alleyne Johnson - part 1) (6:18)
Into The Metaverse (Homo Deus part 2) (3:20)
Outro (2:12)
Review: With Da Vinci Genius, Sasha unveils a stunning evolution of his artistry that transports listeners far beyond the club. This project, inspired by the timeless genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, reflects a thoughtful exploration of sound that balances classical influences with Sasha's distinctive electronic pulse. Having debuted in Berlin before captivating audiences in Amsterdam, this album embraces orchestral depth while maintaining a modern edge. Collaborators Dennis White, Dave Gardner and Barry Jamieson elevate the experience, crafting an expansive soundscape that's rich and emotive, offering a fresh perspective on Sasha's innovative approach to music.
Review: Norwegian black metal mainstays, Satyricon, are no strangers to pursuing outlier projects and collaborations with differing artists and ensembles such as Anja Garbarek, Trondheimsolistene, and The Norwegian National Opera Chorus, to name but a few. Their latest endeavour sees an original scoring of arguably Norway's most famous artist, Edvard Munch, and a unique exhibition of his works at the Munch museum in Oslo. One look at Munch's most iconic piece, 'The Scream', should be enough to draw the connections between both artist's meditations on isolation and despair. A singular, 56-minute composition, aural companion-piece that traverses the depths of ambient, folkloric post-black metal in a manner that's been seldom heard from the duo of Satyr and Frost; this is the sound of two equally profound artists and their works coalescing in hideously ethereal abandon.
Review: You might not have a fixed image of who or what Sault are, given their skill in maintaining a degree of anonymity, but as they notch up their sixth album it's hard to ignore the imposing presence they cut on the experimental fringe of modern UK soul. They started out in 2019 with raw funk and Afrobeat inspired excursions, reflecting on varying perspectives of the Black experience. On Air, the group shake off their previous groove orientation to offer something more orchestrally-inclined, and to their credit they pull it off in remarkable fashion. Lyrically they're focusing on self care and individuality within the Black community, injecting a sense of uplift into their message where they previously reflected on inherited pain and tribulations. Their rapid output doesn't come at the expense of the quality and depth of their expression, making this another essential step forward for one of the most intriguing crews out there right now.
Review: The mysterious London-based music collective Sault are in the process of reissuing their first five albums on vinyl, in full, after they were released as a free digital download in late 2022. AIIR is among the lesser-cited of the quintuplet bunch, being a five track EP and sequel to their sixth album AIR. Providing a rapturous counterpoint to that album while building on its choral themes, this LP could consist of anything from outtakes from the making of AIR to true reprises; it's hard to tell. What we do know is that the music here would have been as equally suited to the high-flung parabolae of grandiose mid-century American filmmaking as it now is for the modern music lover. Pieces like 'Still Waters' and 'God's Will' - with their divine harp flourishes, choirs of angels, and complex string and timpani movements - are evocative enough to recall sublime pastoral classics like Watership Down or A Matter Of Life And Death - not just UK music royalty.
Radio Source Rhythm (alternative take - bonus track) (1:00)
Juke Box Source (alternative take - bonus track) (0:27)
Review: Not your everyday crime thriller, Man On A Swing (1976) doesn't just follow a detective solving a murder with his very own machismic wits. It rather sees the main character consult a local mystic for help, in what can only be described as a far more holistic and spiritually in-touch mystery than most out there. Lalo Schifrin's OST is as entertaining and stark as this premise suggests, blending every influence from disco to funk to bossa nova into a rather exciting affair.
Review: Introducing Cowboy Bebop: The Real Folk Blues Legends, a vinyl masterpiece with captivating designs by Toshiaki Uesugi, celebrated for his work for the Cowboy Bebop franchise. Thw LP, carefully supervised by the legendary Yoko Kanno, compiles tracks from the whole Cowboy Bebop discography including 'Blue', 'No Disc' and 'Knocking on Heaven's Door', and not least the iconic 'The Real Folk Blues'. This release brings to vinyl for the first time many such classics, delivering to fans a unique sonic experience not only highlighting the sonic world of Cowboy Bebop, but the opportunity to share in the legacy of one of the most successful anime series of all time. This vinyl set features two deluxe LP discs on 140g dark blue marbled 12" vinyl. It also includes an insert print with tracklists, credits, liner notes and interviews with Yoko Kanno.
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