[YMO] Revisiting the classic songs of YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA!

SEE–THROUGHYellow Magic Orchestra

【HR】SEE-THOUGH – YMO

This work is the B-side of the single “Kageki na Shukujo,” released in July 1983, and it was also included on the album “Service” that December.

The sophisticated techno sound crafted by Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Yukihiro Takahashi, combined with mature, sensual lyrics, creates a uniquely danceable world that’s truly appealing.

The live album “After Service” features an even groovier performance, making it a track you’ll want to play on a nighttime drive or when you’re feeling a bit stylish.

It’s a cool classic that captures the atmosphere of the discos of the time.

SOLID STATE SURVIVORYellow Magic Orchestra

Solid State Survivor – YMO

A high-octane rock tune that closes out a landmark album that revolutionized the techno scene.

Featuring YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA with blistering guitar by Makoto Ayukawa, this track fuses digital beats with punk’s raw impulse to stunning effect.

Many listeners may feel a thrilling jolt from the lyrical world that portrays the loneliness and madness of humans living in a mechanized society.

Released in September 1979 as the title track of the album SOLID STATE SURVIVOR.

Perfect for boosting your mood or as a driving soundtrack.

Be a SupermanYellow Magic Orchestra

YMO – Be A Superman

It’s a classic track that expresses the modern person’s ambivalent feelings—admiring Superman-like strength yet wanting to do nothing—through a minimal beat.

Released as a single in August 1993, it was included on the album TECHNODON, which reunited the group ten years after their “disbandment.” Due to rights issues at the time, they operated under a name marked with overlapping Xs, but their production style remained intact: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi on the track with Haruomi Hosono adding bass.

Their signature playfulness is also on full display, including a sampled “gomen” (“sorry”) that came from a mistake during recording.

River of HopeYellow Magic Orchestra

[HD] EXPECTING RIVERS – Rivers of Hope – YMO

A hidden late-period YMO gem that layers the motif of a “river” over dreams drifting through a starless night sky and the mingled anxiety and hope of groping through the darkness.

Yukihiro Takahashi’s romantic lyrics and melody interweave exquisitely with Ryuichi Sakamoto’s slightly off-kilter phrases, resulting in a bittersweet yet beautiful technopop track.

Included on the album Naughty Boys, released in May 1983, it also holds a key place in that it was the first song recorded for the sessions.

In September of the same year, it was released as the B-side to Kimi ni Mune Kyun (Ishin Denshin).

JamYellow Magic Orchestra

Pure Jam – YMO

With a sound that evokes the beginning of something, it’s a track truly worthy of opening the album Technodelic.

The occasional “Jam desho” voice heard in the song is by Peter Barakan, and it was reportedly recorded using a walkie-talkie.

BalletYellow Magic Orchestra

YMO – Ballet HD

It’s a fantastical, mysterious electronic tune that feels like wandering through a fog-shrouded old European city.

The lyrics, depicting mist-veiled scenes of Warsaw and introspective inner landscapes, create a beautiful yet subtly unsettling world.

The locomotive-inspired sound effects and whispers in French fit perfectly, sending shivers down your spine as you listen.

This piece is a track from YMO’s album “BGM,” released in March 1981, and the album is also known as one of the first works to fully incorporate the groundbreaking TR-808 drum machine.

It might be just right for a Halloween night when you want to evoke a slightly mature, dark, and decadent mood.

InsomniaYellow Magic Orchestra

Insomnia – YMO

That chaotic sound is exactly what the title suggests.

This track was composed by Haruomi Hosono, who was actually suffering from insomnia at the time.

The tantalizing sonic image makes you feel dizzy… On sleepless nights, why not immerse yourself fully in the world of this piece?