To the Moon and Back (album)

A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and Back is a tribute album to Japanese multi-genre composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, released November 30, 2022, by Milan Records, two days ahead of its original release date.[1] The album features reworked versions of Sakamoto's songs, referred to as "remodels", by artists including Devonté Hynes, the Cinematic Orchestra, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Alva Noto, and David Sylvian.

A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and Back
A circle full of multicolored, painted shapes, over a white background.
Studio album by
Ryuichi Sakamoto and various artists
ReleasedNovember 30, 2022
Length72:07
LabelMilan
ProducerRyuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto and various artists chronology
Exception (Soundtrack from the Netflix Anime Series)
(2022)
A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and Back
(2022)
12
(2023)
Singles from To the Moon and Back
  1. "Thousand Knives"
    Released: October 5, 2022
  2. "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"
    Released: November 16, 2022

Release

edit

The first single, American bass guitarist Thundercat's version of the song "Thousand Knives", title track to the album of the same name, was released as a single on October 5, 2022.[2][3][4] The second single, Electric Youth's take on "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", was released November 16.[5][6]

Reception

edit
To the Moon and Back ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Crack8/10[7]
The Irish Times     [8]
Mojo     [9]

Pitchfork's Philip Sherburne called Alva Noto's rendition of "The Sheltering Sky" "one of the simplest yet most moving pieces" of the album which "represents a captivating fusion of the two men's sensibilities." Sherburne also called other cuts "remarkable", including those from Sylvian, Guðnadóttir, and Fennesz.[10]

Track listing

edit

All tracks are written by Ryuichi Sakamoto with additional writers noted

To the Moon and Back track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Walker" (from Async) Lim Giong4:42
2."Grains (Sweet Paulownia Wood)" (from utp_)Carsten NicolaiDavid Sylvian7:13
3."Thousand Knives" (from the album of the same name) Thundercat5:26
4."Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" Electric Youth5:09
5."Thatness & Thereness" (from B-2 Unit) Cornelius3:35
6."World Citizen I Won't Be Disappointed" (from the World Citizen EP)Guðnadóttir5:42
7."The Sheltering Sky" (from the soundtrack of the same name) Alva Noto4:49
8."Amore" (from Beauty)Arto LindsayFennesz4:40
9."Choral No 1" (from Sakamoto: For Mr. Lawrence Piano Music) Devonté Hynes featuring Emily Schubert3:02
10."DNA" (from the Tony Takitani soundtrack) The Cinematic Orchestra4:32
11."With Snow & Moonlight" (from Snow, Silence, Partially Sunny by Sachiko M)Sachiko MOtomo Yoshihide12:49
12."Forbidden Colors"David SylvianGabrial Wek6:35
13."The Revenant Main Theme" (from The Revenant soundtrack) 404.Zero3:53
Total length:72:07

Personnel

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Helfand, Raphael (November 30, 2022). "Thundercat, Devonté Hynes, and more honor Ryuichi Sakamoto on To the Moon and Back". The Fader. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (October 5, 2022). "Listen to Thundercat's Ryuichi Sakamoto Cover From New Tribute Album To the Moon and Back". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Cardenas, Federico (October 5, 2022). "Thundercat Covers Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Thousand Knives" From New Tribute Album To the Moon and Back". Mxdwn.com. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Doherty, Kelly (October 5, 2022). "Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute album set for release this December". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Electric Youth [@_electricyouth] (November 16, 2022). "From @SonyMasterworks, a window into the world of our "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" version for Mr. @ryuichisakamoto" (Tweet). Retrieved November 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (December 2, 2022). "Stream the New Ryuichi Sakamoto Tribute Featuring Fennesz, David Sylvian, Dev Hynes, Cornelius, & More". Stereogum. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Quarshie, Adam (January 17, 2023). "A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and Back review". Crack. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (December 30, 2022). "To the Moon and Back: A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – Electronic pioneer gets a non-reverential remodelling". The Irish Times. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Cowan, Andy (January 2023). "Various - A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and Back". Mojo. p. 91. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Sherburne, Philip (December 13, 2022). ""The Sheltering Sky - Alva Noto Remodel"". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 15, 2022.