Ryuichi Sakamoto - Heartbeat

El pianista y compositor japonés Ryuichi Sakamoto es reconocido primordialmente por su música para películas, verbigracia, El último emperador (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1987).

La virtual primera parte del álbum Heartbeat resulta demasiado dance para mi gusto, pero el disco compacto en su totalidad, un conjunto de temas de una gran variedad de géneros, es representativo del indiscutible talento de Sakamoto.

La segunda parte es mucho más interesante, incluyendo canciones solo al piano (Song Lines, Epilogue); y participaciones atrayentes de artistas como: Arto Lindsay, Youssou N'Dour y David Sylvian.

Sylvian aporta su inmaculada voz en la bellísma Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)-Returning to the Womb (el breve solo de guitarra de Bill Frisell es sublime) y en el funky Cloud #9.***1/2

1.Heartbeat 4:37

Words by Jeffrey Cohen. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto & Satoshi Tommiie. Vocal arrangement by Dee Dee Brave. Lead vocal: Dee Dee Brave. Trumpet: Steven Burnstein. Additional percussion: Satoshi Tommiie.

2.Rap the World 4:51

Words by Super DJ Dimitry. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto & Jungle DJ Towa Towa. Features samples of the Jimi Hendrix recording "Third Stone From The Sun".

3.Triste 4:22

Words by Marco Prince & FFF & Ryuichi Sakamoto. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Vocal arrangement by Marco Prince & FFF. French Rap by Marco Prince. Scratch by DJ Towa Towa. Trumpet: Steven Burnstein. Additional percussion: Satoshi Tommiie.

4.Lulu 4:16

Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Alto sax: John Lurie. Trumpet: Steven Burnstein. Huh: Axel Niehaus. Additional percussion: Satoshi Tommiie.

5.High Tide 4:46

Words by Arto Lindsay. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Vocal arrangement: Arto Lindsay. Lead vocal: Ryuichi Sakamoto & Arto Lindsay. Background vocals: Debra Barsha. Additional percussion: Satoshi Tommiie.

6.Song Lines 2:57

Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

7.Nuages 2:04

Based on a traditional song. Lead vocal: Houria Aichi

8.Sayonara 5:22

Words by Jeffrey Cohen. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Lead vocal: Ryuichi Sakamoto. Background vocal: Dee Dee Brave. Additional percussion: Satoshi Tommiie. Macintosh groove: Jungle DJ Towa Towa.

9.Borom Gal 3:57

Words by Youssou N'Dour. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto &. Youssou N'Dour. Lead vocal: Youssou N'Dour. String section led by David Nadien.

10.Epilogue 3:39

Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

11.Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)-Returning To The Womb* 5:17

Words by David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian, Arto Lindsay. Vocals: David Sylvian/Ingrid Chavez. Keyboards, Computer Programming: Ryuichi Sakamoto. Guitar: Bill Frisell. Talking: John Cage from Mureau.

12.Cloud #9* 5:19

Words by David Sylvian. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Vocals: David Sylvian/Ingrid Chavez. Keyboards, Computer Programming: Ryuichi Sakamoto. Guitar: Bill Frisell.

Recorded at Tokyo FM Studios/Tokyo & Platinum Island
Studios/New York except *Recorded at Right Track Studios/New York.

Virgin V2-86291 (1992)