YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA

The band that invented a peculiar culture to this seed that was and was admitted in the world was this YMO. It is in making the electronic sound, and the unique culture of Japan is united and the music of working men has the fact that the masterpiece exists in the work left in the 80's.

The work at famous time generally hits "BGM" in the work that they left in the 80's. And, they kept revolutionizing it with state-of-the-art machine parts by continuing "Technodelic". It talks about Bass player's Haruomi Hosono when the member was able to make the work to be done for the work in middle term at this time freely because the work at their first stage in the 70's was able to secure sales of the album in Japan.

And, groping for directionality started little by little at time when this album was announced in them. They till then finish the composition of the tune of this album, and the element of the done techno is resolved little by little and ..work a little along a culture in Japan at that time.. has finished. In Japan at that time, music including an electronic element was a main current , for example, them. Of course, the element such as Kraftwerk and Talking Heads might have been equipped in foundation in them. However, the culture of Japan united and the original world was created to those elements. The genre that was called "Techno Kayo" in which they united in the music of popularity in Japan because such a flow had existed in Japan at that time temporarily became popular for Japan.

As for this album, it was scheduled to become the last album of them at that time. However, to make the album of the commemoration of this band to which drum player's Yukihiro Takahashi had decided dissolution on business with other artists, fact "Service" became the last work of them.

The temporary title that was called "Cute" had adhered to this album. They adopted the recording of the analogue and digital of each work as a state of the recording. A digital recording at that time is adopted in the recording of this album. However, because machine parts that reproduces the master tape doesn't exist now, it is abandoned. Bill Nelson participates in the guest. It was the first attempt to make the guest of another country participate in the recording for them. How they kept groping at latter term even if such respect is considered is understood.

Some "Techno Kayo" that listens easily is developed as a composition of the overall. This album might be in how from the angle besides the current route to catch as their representative's work because "BGM" and "Technodelic", etc. are generally famous. And, this is an album at time when the history of their music started gradually facing the end. In this album, it might be ,in a word, their fans in the work with a strong very Japan original that judge a really progressive album because it is finished.

That Yellow Magic Orchestra is a copy of Kraftwerk is not totally correct. For me YMO is also a great Electronic New Wave band and this live confirm what I had seen in several casual listening. Excellent music, Rock and electronic. Good use of synths for to play a simple melody and electronic drums for a great propellent. I do not have a preferred song in this Public Pressure but the cover of Beatles' 'Day Tripper' is so strange... In my opinion YMO is a band for an Electronic drug tripper and this 'Public Pressure' is a perfect live for this trip.

In definitive my mind focused this aspect of YMO and 'Public Pressure' music. I do not have other YMO release... But if well begun is half done...!!!

This is definitely more proto-new-wave electro-pop and IMHO, present absolutely nothing in terms of progressive spirits

The opener Nice Age is an enjoyable synth pop ballad which announces clearly YMO's intentions to change their sound. The song is quite electronic and has a David Bowie's feel. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the other two songs... Multiplies ressembles to a western song with russian accents. The tune could be fun but becomes rather repetitive. Citizens of Science has some interesting futuristic sounds in it, but is a bit chaotic and lazy.

The japanese version features a complete different track listing, with much more tracks, only novelties alternating with (useless) people speeches. However, it is somewhat inferior to the UK version, as most new tracks are boring and uninteresting. The only good surprise of this release is Kai-Koh, a punchy and relaxing electronic pop song with an oriental flavour.

Xoo Multiplies marks a change in Yellow Magic Orchestra's sound as a transitionnal but inegal album. I will give 2 stars for the Japan version and 3 stars for the UK version, but it is mainly due to the presence of the songs from Solid State Survivor. Then, better go for the original record !

The record opens with the enchanting Pure Jam, an enjoyable kind of ambient-electronic- oriental song. Neue Tanz and Stairs begin good, but become both a bit repetitive. It goes better with the curious percussions of Seoul Music, the trippy piano of Light in Darkness and the catchy vocals of Taiso. The next track, Gradated Gray, is very strange and difficult to enter into. Then comes the highlight song of the disc, Key, a catchy and icy tune. Very unique and efficient, this shirt tune is deep and mystical ! The album concludes with the atmospherical instrumentals Prologue and Epilogue, very relaxing and floating.

With this release, the japanese band offers unbelievable magic soundscapes. Even more surprising when knowing the 70s' songs from the same band. Technodelic is definitely apart from other electronic and synth pop acts. A true trip into an unknown temple, full of mysteries and strange corridors. Recommended for ambient music lovers !

Solid State Survivor represents the japanese band's summit of their synthetic pop era during the late 70s'. The music sounds a bit like Kratwerk making soundtracks for old video games, but nonetheless very innovative, dancing and enjoyable !

The opener, Technopolis, is one of the spearhead tracks of japanese electronic music. Catchy, trippy and featuring rapid changes, this tune have been widely used in Japan for broadcasts and video games. You cannot go wrong with it ! Absolute Ego Dance has also a punchy melody introduction, ressembling a lot to Depeche Mode's early works. The song evolves with an oriental touch and can remind Giorgio Moroder. Very fun and joyful ! The next track, Rydeen, is another best known tune by the band. Top asian electro-pop ! The calm arrives with Castalia, which proves that YMO can also deliver mysterious music, dark and beautiful. Behind the Mask is also a truely flawless relaxing song, one of the album's best moments. The oddest track here is undoubtly the synthetic reprise of The Beatles' Day Tripper. Rocky, robotic and surprising ! Insomnia sounds a lot like a japanese smoother version of Kraftwerk's Showroom Dummies with some variations in it. The record ends with the title song, an average strange track with enjoyable passages.

Solid State Survivor captures best moments from the band and features one of the top electonic pop music of the late 70s'. A must for Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and video games music lovers !

The tunes taken from YMO and Solid State Survivor are an excellent choice : energic Rydeen, enchanting Behind the Music, jazzy Cosmic Surfin', oriental pop Tong Poo and electronic classic Technopolis. They could difficultly begin the compilation better. The enchantment goes on with 1000 Knives and Taiso. The next song, Nice Age, sounds a little cheesy to me, but this inclusion is largely forgiven by the magnificient icy Key. There comes the oddest track of this disc, an electronic and rocky re-interpretation of The Beatles' Day Tripper ! The Talking Heads would have appreciated... Back to dark tunes with U-T and Seoul Music. The compilation ends with Cue, a beautiful ambient track typically 80s'.

Best Selection is the first best of compilation by Yellow Magic Orchestra and features some of their most accomplished pieces. Ideal to begin with this innovative band and for old school electronic music listeners !