Esperanto (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)

Esperanto
Studio album by
Ryuichi Sakamoto
ReleasedOctober 5, 1985
StudioOnkio Haus
Length39:14
Label
  • School
  • Midi
ProducerRyuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto chronology
Ongaku Zukan
(1984) 		Esperanto
(1985) 		Futurista
(1986)

Esperanto is the fifth solo album by Ryuichi Sakamoto, released in 1985. It was commissioned for a dance of the same name by choreographer Molissa Fenley, which debuted in New York City in 1985.[1] The experimental electronic album includes layers of sampled voices, and marks a look back at Sakamoto's non-pop-oriented second solo album, B-2 Unit. The album includes contributions from Yaz-Kaz and Arto Lindsay. AllMusic called it "one of Sakamoto's strangest, most uncompromising albums".[2]

The album reached number 9 on the Oricon LP chart.[3]

Released in Japan on Midi, Inc.'s School label, Esperanto did not see a US release until 2021.[4]

Track listing

  1. "A Wongga Dance Song" – 6:18
  2. "The "Dreaming"" – 3:51
  3. "A Rain Song" – 2:28
  4. "Dolphins" – 3:21
  5. "A Human Tube" – 4:50
  6. "Adelic Penguins" – 6:06
  7. "A Carved Stone" – 8:23
  8. "Ulu Watu" – 3:57

Personnel

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto – composer, performer, producer, arranger, remixer
  • Yaz-Kaz – percussion
  • Arto Lindsay – electric guitar
  • Shigeru Takise – engineering, remixing
  • Naoto Shibuya – engineering assistant
  • Tohru Kotetsu – mastering
  • Hiroshi Okura – executive producer
  • Tsuguya Inoue for Beans – art direction

References

  1. ^ Kisselgoff, Anna (1985-11-13). "Dance: Fenley Dancers at The Joyce". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Esperanto". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  3. ^ 『オリコン・チャートブック LP編 昭和45年 - 平成1年』オリジナル・コンフィデンス、 [Oricon Chart Book LP Edition 1970 - 1989]. Original Confidence. 1990. p. 150. ISBN 4871310256.
  4. ^ "Ryuichi Sakamoto's Esperanto LP Set For Reissue". The Quietus. 21 September 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.