Yellow Magic Orchestra

The Yellow Magic Orchestra ( YMO ) is a Japanese music trio that specializes in electro. This genre was co-influences the late seventies of the 20th century of them significantly. In its Asian home they enjoy a similar reputation as pioneers of electronic music such as Kraftwerk, in Europe and North America. The members are Haruomi Hosono ( bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards). At the 1979 world tour guitarist Kazumi Watanabe participated as a guest.

Career

The Early Years

The band was originally founded in 1978 as a one-man studio project of Haruomi Hosono in Tokyo. The other two members were initially only a session musician. The actual idea behind the project was to produce an album that combined the Exotica sounds with modern electronic music. The debut album was also very successful, which was due not least to the excellent production, and the studio project turned into a full-fledged touring band and remarkable career.

1976 Sakamoto first worked with Hosono in his live band, as Takahashi in 1977 recruited him to produce his solo album. Hosono then sought both to the completion of his album " Paraiso " into the boat. This collaboration led to the project then YMO. After publication of the debut Yellow Magic Orchestra, the band performed at the nightclub Roppongi Pit Inn in Tokyo, where American manager of the record label A & M Records became aware of them. A & M wanted to discuss at this time a merger with Alfa Records in Tokyo. In this way Y.M.O. got now offered an international deal, so that the three members decided the project towards their solo careers priority.

Successes and resolution

Through an advertising campaign with the Fujifilm group sparked a boom in electronic pop music in Japan ( there Technopop called ), comparable to that which triggered the Beatles and the Merseybeat in the 1960s in England. Even today you can at haircut Japanese businessmen ( Techno cut) realize how great was the influence of the Yellow Magic Orchestra on the Japanese fashion world. The band made ​​this short haircut there only socially acceptable. With the use of ever more modern synthesizers, samplers, sequencers and digital recording technology, and the most written English texts that were reminiscent of cyberpunk, YMO was also known outside Japan. You will also be recognized there as pioneers and their music is unbroken remixed and sampled.

Solid State Survivor of 1979 meant the final breakthrough in Japan and was awarded the Japan Record Award for Best Album. The most successful single from the album and YMOS biggest international hit, Behind the Mask, was later edited by Ryuichi Sakamoto for a new solo release in 1987.

1984, after the release of their soundtrack "propaganda", the band members devoted their solo careers again, but still played there, and kicked even further into TV shows. Among other things, to prevent disputes, they released the album Technodon 1993, this time under the name of YMO. For the subsequent tour they were announced as Not YMO.

Discography

  • Yellow Magic Orchestra, A & M, 1979
  • Solid State Survivor, Alfa, 1979
  • X ∞ Multiplies, A & M, 1980
  • BGM, A & M, 1981
  • Techno Delic, Alfa, 1981
  • Public Pressure, Alfa, 1981
  • Naughty Boys, 1983
  • Naughty Boys Instrumental, 1983
  • Service, 1983
  • Technodon, 1993
  • UC YMO: Ultimate Collection, 2003
  • YMO ( Best Of ), 2011
Bass guitar Electronic keyboard Mersey Beat Sampler (musical instrument) Music sequencer
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