Opus Ryuichi Sakamoto

Released on 8/9/24 by Milan
Main artists: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Genre: Classical
Distinctions: Album of the week

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Ryuichi Sakamoto's death in March, 2023 at age 71, left a gaping hole for anyone touched by his legendary compositions—a long list of people. Sakamoto initially rose to fame as a member of the much loved and pioneering Yellow Magic Orchestra, influencing virtually all genres with an electronic element, from synth pop to house to hip-hop and beyond. After YMO's hiatus in 1984, Sakamoto's focus shifted to his solo career and composing scores. He created a string of film scores for renowned directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Brian DePalma, Takashi Miike, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and others, all while composing music for video games, working on collaborative albums, and even writing a song for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Opus, presumably Sakamoto's last record, is the soundtrack to the documentary of the same name which captures this final performance. The film was directed by his son Neo Sora over a week in September, 2022, with each day consisting of three songs with a limit of five takes each due to Sakamoto's declining health.

Shot in stark black and white, the footage consists of long tracking shots and close-ups of the artist's fingers; it's rightfully focused on the center point of the doc—Sakamoto's astounding performance. It's a beautifully shot film worth a viewing or six, but the pristine and crisply recorded soundtrack allows listeners to absorb the music in all its power and emotional heft.

The deceptive simplicity of Sakamoto at the piano not only offers an intimate portrait of a person surveying their musical legacy, but presents it with the weight and majesty of man with nothing to hide, without any studio magic. Sakamoto reflects on his career, performing music from his film work, his last studio album ("20220302 - sarabande" from 12), and even a track from the YMO catalog ("Tong Poo") for good measure. His approach to those songs, filled with angst and beauty, is especially affecting knowing that this is his final performance, making Opus utterly heartbreaking. This is a poignant tribute, or maybe a good introduction, to a man who reshaped the world on his own terms, devoid of genre.

Opus doesn't specifically add to the Sakamoto canon but feels like a coda to an incredible life. While Opus surveys a portion of what Sakamoto has accomplished in his lifetime, it is far from a comprehensive snapshot of who he was, the breadth of his compositions, and the well-deserved prestige. For that you're gonna have to dig into his discography—but that's the best part. © Fred Pessaro/Qobuz

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Ryuichi Sakamoto

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