I was wondering your thoughts on Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Cinemage"--I happen to LOVE it.

You can find it in Classical, but I have seen it mis-filed in Rock, but "Cinemage" is a compilation of some of the best film-score highlights I have ever seen. I have listened to many soundtracks--Zimmer, Williams, etc., but haven't found them as much to my liking as the music of Sakamoto.

Cinemage has highlights from "The Last Emperor", "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," "Wuthering Heights", "Sheltering Sky," and a few others.

What's unique about this music is how Sakamoto approaches the orchestra. These pieces have been re-arranged and tweaked to evoke images and feelings, new colors that weren't as prolific in the original releases. There is strength and passion, as well as calmness and peace.

This CD shows just how multifaceted this guy is!

Anyone else heard the CD? What do you think of it? It's one sided of me to rave on--since I like it so much!

They are also great.

His treatment of the scoring strings is very sweet and melodic.

It has great versions of Wuthering Heights and The Last Emperor as well as that very modern yet very powerful piece for the opening of the 1992 Olympics.

Have any of you heard Gohatto? Screen Archives has a copy for $42! I'd rather get a tape or CDR of it from someone for less.

Does anyone know what Sakamoto is up to next?

NP: Choice of Arms (Philippe Sarde)

[This message has been edited by Lou Goldberg (edited 24 August 2000).]

I like, "Love is the Devil" and "High Heels" very much. High Heels sounds almost French influenced.

If you check out BTTB, there are so many tracks that are like Satie and Debussy. Sakamoto in an interview once said that Debussy was his musical father. You can see those influences, as he tried his hand (and very well too!) at French Impressionism.

In my opinion, Sakamoto is one of the most promising artists in the Classical/Neo-Classical field (as well as any other genre he tries...unbelievable!)

But again, if you like the "Last Emperor" go get Cinemage! He scored it differently this time, and there are new lines that accentuate the mournful yet majestic tone of the piece.

I love CINEMAGE
but don't impressed me
maybe because it's a re-version of the songs
that i've heard everyday in the year before....
great executions. best.
i love Acceptance, WutheringHeights, LastEmperor specially
.....maybe i like more the single version of ElMarMediterrani.......
BTTB in my 3 versions,
i think, is like a passionally gift that Ryuichi was made for us.
it's absolutely personal.
it's true for the Satie influences
(recall the first gymnopédie in MediaBahn and actually
vexations in Life.............Ryuichi, i think was etuding
few of PiècesFroides but surely he loves LaMer
and Debussy works)
at the time I prefer ovevrall
LoStChild, Hoppenheimer'sAria, Gohatto
and so much the Dj track too.....
at the end, i was lucky to seen the Cinemage Tour (1show)
and i really hope that this recording will be produced
becuse the transient feeling of the score
was more intensive then Cinemage ......................
...the best concert in my life.................