Ryuichi Sakamoto – Async (2xLP)

"async" is the penultimate studio album by Ryūichi Sakamoto. It was released in 2017 and was already significantly influenced by Sakamoto's long battle with cancer, which he seemed to have beaten at the time. On "async," the Grammy-, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning composer for the first time deals intensely with the end of life and different perspectives of humanity on this experience. The album is richly orchestrated, opening up unique acoustic and electronic soundscapes that are occasionally combined with recordings from readings by David Sylvian and Paul Bowles, as well as everyday street scenes.

Reviews

"Async is certainly not one of Sakamoto's most accessible albums, but if the listener is willing to devote several listens until it all makes sense, it ends up being quite powerful." Allmusic