Yellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Technodelic (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (1981/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 43:33 minutes | 918 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

Digitally remastered edition of this album by the Japanese electronic pop band. 1981 was a groundbreaking year for the music industry. By releasing BGM and Technodelic in one year, YMO made a shift happen in pop music. YMO introduced a new way of using samples and loops by cutting soundbites into fragments and reprogramming them with newly available computer technology. Technodelic is far more experimental then previous albums, and at the same time this fifth album is more minimalistic and full of funk and soul. Having released this much loved album, YMO remain remarkable and insanely great at inventing new ways of looking at compositions and creating a whole new music scene at the same time. Food for thought: if Technodelic wasn’t this great, what would the dance music scene sound like today?

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – Service (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 55:05 minutes | 1,13 GB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

Service was the seventh and, at the time, final studio album by Yellow Magic Orchestra. The band dissolved the following year after a world tour, but would later reform in 1993 for a one-off reunion album, Technodon. Each member would continue their already established solo careers, while Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi also formed the band Sketch Show (with Ryuichi Sakamoto assisting), which later turned into YMO.

Including the fan favorites “Perspective” and “You’ve Got To Help Yourself,” the group’s seventh album is a collaboration with Yuji Miyake’s celebrated theater troupe Super Eccentric Theater, whose skits are insperspersed between the songs, all written in collaboration with lyricist Peter Barakan.

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – Public Pressure ((Live) [2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering]) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 42:45 minutes | 1020 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

Digitally remastered reissue of this album by the ground-breaking Japanese electronic trio.
This was YMO’s first live recorded album and their second number #1 album in Japan. Several concerts were recorded, all in 1979 (The Venue in London, Greek Theater in LA, Bottom Line in NYC, Sun Plaza in Nakano). Unfortunately due to contract issues with the record company, Kazumi Watanabe guitar playing was removed from this release and compensated with keyboards from Haruomu Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Akiko Yano. Evidently this album contains first class recordings, clear and sparkling; YMO is at it’s best with an audience. Akiko Yano is a welcomed addition to YMO, with her sublime vocals she completes YMO as a band. This live recorded album has a much more relaxed approach to the music; it almost feels like they’re jamming on stage and having fun with the music and clearly enjoying themselves!

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – Naughty Boys Instrumental (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 42:30 minutes | 869 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

This is YMO’s 6th album, released in May 1983 and undoubtedly one of the best synthesizer pop albums ever. ‘Naughty Boys’ has a different sound and leans more to the Japanese pop music scene than previous albums. Nevertheless, this is a solid dance album! ‘Kimi Ni Mune Kyun’ and ‘Lotus Love’ stand out as most famous and loved by fans. ‘Instrumentals’ was released in July 1983 and is the instrumental version of ‘Naughty Boys’ featuring additional synths, a completely different running order and include different versions and mixes.

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – Naughty Boys (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:33 minutes | 786 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

This is YMO’s 6th album, released in May 1983 and undoubtedly one of the best synthesizer pop albums ever. ‘Naughty Boys’ has a different sound and leans more to the Japanese pop music scene than previous albums. Nevertheless, this is a solid dance album! ‘Kimi Ni Mune Kyun’ and ‘Lotus Love’ stand out as most famous and loved by fans. ‘Instrumentals’ was released in July 1983 and is the instrumental version of ‘Naughty Boys’ featuring additional synths, a completely different running order and include different versions and mixes.

(more…)

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Multiplies (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (1980/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 29:20 minutes | 631 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

Digitally remastered reissue of this album by the ground-breaking Japanese electronic trio. Now this album is something different! Filled with humor, catchy commercial tunes, instrumentals and computerized vocals. It’s the order in the chaos as we would be used to with YMO. Xoo Multiplies was released in 1980 as an EP, YMO took a break from their serious side and decided to have a go with a more poppy sound mixed with humor and fun. Still, having said this, Xoo Multiplies is phenomenally played! Don’t be fooled, this album is still The Yellow Magic Orchestra and will make you want get up and dance to ‘The Number One Dance Band In Tokyo’!

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – BGM (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering) (1981/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 47:08 minutes | 992 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

On their fourth album BGM (1981), YMO continued where they left off with Xi Multiplies, by venturing further into synthesizers, drum computers and experimentation with rhythm, sequences and speeds. “1000 Knives” and “Cue” are the most famous; ‘The Hand Clap’ on “1000 Knives” is probably one of the most used samples in the ’80s, early ’90s.

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Yellow Magic Orchestra – After Service ((live 1983) [2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering]) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:22:31 minutes | 1,83 GB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.

Recorded at the Budokan in December 1983, After Service is YMO’s second live album that celebrates and encapsulates the first phase of their career that began five years prior. The career-spanning double disc set includes a gues appearance from ABC’s drummer David Palmer and the song ‘Kageki Na Syukujo’ which does not appear on any other official YMO album.

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