Lost albums 36: Bamboo Music Night and Day

[imomus]

Here's a rare piece of signed memorabilia from new wave rockstar Tatsuya Sugimoto, who went to live in Berlin in 1978 in a foolish attempt to become the Japanese David Bowie. (Photo: Konig Studios)

Sugimoto's "Bamboo Music Night and Day" album was fairly unmemorable, which is why you won't find him in any of the illustrated musical encyclopedias today -- so don't even look. Listen, instead, to the album's highlight, Sugimoto's cover of Ryuichi Sakamoto's masterpiece "Thatness and Thereness":

Thatness and Thereness (2.9MB mp3 file, 3mins 9secs, stereo)

Comments

[xishimarux.livejournal.com]

:):) nothing but smiles from this side of the pacific. Sounds pretty good.

[akabe.livejournal.com]

:):) :):) :)

[niddrie-edge.livejournal.com]

That was very nice breakfast music. Bowie owned breakfast music back in 78. Has that nice "Julie With..." feel and as I haven't really heard the original the Sylvian through a vocoder sound is charming.

When I saw your lost albums title, I thought you were going to discuss Dennis Wilson's unreleased second solo album. Then when I read Bowie I dreamed of his electronic collaboration with Paul Buckmaster for the "Man Who Fell To Earth" soundtrack. The great lost album.

Still I am glad they went with Stomu Yamashta.

[ashleyandel.livejournal.com]

You do know you're my idol and that pic is already on my desktop, right!?

I'll listen to the track after I go and get my bicycle repaired. Ryuichi is another fave--I have been listening to 'Free Trading' on the 'Neo Geo' album like crazy lately.

a'a
xo

[cap-scaleman.livejournal.com]

Why do people want to be the [insert country here] [insert known western musician here]? He would just be, in the end, Tatsuya Sugimoto...

[sheppardzo-14.livejournal.com]

bears a striking resemblance to you

[charleshatcher.livejournal.com]

the Sylvian through a vocoder sound is charming.

Yes, Momus, how exactly do you achieve that Believe era Cher sound?

[(Anonymous)]

Was just listening to Kazuhiko Katoh's 1980 cabaret styled album "L'Opéra Fragile" partly recorded in Berlin. The whole YMO gang is in on it (though not with him in Berlin) not only the 3 in the band but the rest of the live band - Omura, Matsutake, Akiko Yano and even Okumura who did their cover designs like BGM turns in a sort of Bauhaus/Futurist turn. Didn't fully convince me of a great work but interesting none the less.

nicholas d kent

[(Anonymous)]

I must also comment that the Momus version is a wonderful performance and arrangement.

BTW, regarding another comment implying that the original was Sylvian, the original version was one of Sakamoto fairly infrequent own solo vocals. It's the rare piece that suits his shall we say limited vocal range to perfection and it's his only vocal piece he continues to perform live himself.