Year Book: 2005-14

Japanese 2 x CD pressing. Commons. 2014. Ryuichi Sakamoto's legions of fans will have a new special 2-CD package to savor on September 28th (Decca Label Group): The two albums, playing the piano and out of noise, present a wide ranging view into the world of this composer, musician, producer, actor, and environmental activist. Ryuichi Sakamoto will make a rare North American solo tour in October/November, bringing his music to audiences through sustainable and ecologically sound touring. In addition, a carbon offset will be made for all carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the tour.The first CD, playing the piano, is a series of miniatures or "self covers," as Sakamoto refers to them solo piano versions of his earlier works, including some of the famous film themes such as the Last Emperor (Oscar/Grammyr winning soundtrack), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and the Sheltering Sky (Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score). The second CD, out of noise, is arguably Sakamoto's most ambitious to date in which he continues to explore the netherworld between music and noise that has fascinated him for years. He is joined here by, among others, Austrian guitarist/laptop artist Christian Fennesz, guitarist Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada), England's renowned early music group Fretwork, and Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Skuli Sverrisson.Sakamoto has devoted much of his time in recent years to environmental concerns, to turning Ego into Eco as he puts it. Beginning in 2001, he has made a huge attempt to use alternative energy for touring.