Ryuichi Sakamoto has introduced 12, his first non-soundtrack studio album in almost six years.
The album is about to reach on January 17 by way of Milan Data, and follows up 2017’s async. It was recorded all through 2021 and 2022, with every of its dozen tracks titled after the dates they had been written.
In a press release, the Japanese composer and Yellow Magic Orchestra founder – who revealed final yr he had been identified with most cancers for a second time, and is receiving ongoing therapy – mentioned how the compositions on 12 started forming.
“After I lastly ‘got here dwelling’ to my new short-term housing after an enormous operation, I discovered myself reaching for the synthesizer,” Sakamoto stated. “I had no intention of composing one thing; I simply needed to be showered in sound. I’ll in all probability proceed to maintain this sort of ‘diary’.”
Sakamoto has additionally introduced a ticketed livestream live performance, which is able to air on December 10. For it, the composer will premiere a career-spanning live performance recorded at 509 Studios in Tokyo. A preview of the album will likely be accessible following the livestream, accessible completely to ticketholders.
Sakamoto has stayed busy since async arrived in 2017, recording soundtracks for a variety of movie and tv tasks. These have included the 2019 Black Mirror episode ‘Smithereens’ and final yr’s Netflix movie Beckett. Final month, Sakamoto launched a soundtrack for the Netflix anime sequence Exception.
In January final yr, Sakamoto shared a letter on his web site saying that whereas the throat most cancers he had been identified with in 2014 was in remission, he had acquired a current prognosis of rectal most cancers. “The information was disheartening, however due to the wonderful medical doctors I met, the surgical procedure I underwent was successful. I’m now present process therapy,” he stated.
“As a result of these circumstances, touring lengthy distances for work will likely be troublesome. Nonetheless, I’ll proceed to work as a lot as I can whereas in therapy,” Sakamoto defined. “Any longer, I will likely be dwelling alongside most cancers. However, I hope to make music for a short time longer.”
Subsequent month, Milan Data will launch a Sakamoto tribute album titled To The Moon And Again. The compilation will embrace reworks of Sakamoto’s songs by Thundercat (whose “transform” of “Thousand Knives” was launched final month), Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange), Fennesz, the Cinematic Orchestra and extra.
The tracklist for Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 12 is:
01. “20210310”
02. “20211130”
03. “20211201”
04. “20220123”
05. “20220202”
06. “20220207”
07. “20220214”
08. “20220302 – sarabande”
09. “20220302”
10. “20220307”
11. “20220404”
12. “20220304”
