• 2xLP pressed on 180-Gram Classic Black Vinyl
• Housed in a Gatefold Jacket
• Tribute compilation in celebration of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 70th birthday
• Featuring Thundercat, Devonté Hynes, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and more contemporary artists…

In celebration of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 70th birthday, Milan Records announces A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto - To the Moon and Back, a collection of songs from Sakamoto’s vast catalog newly reworked and remodeled by contemporary artists and collaborators.

Envisioned by Sakamoto’s management team and Milan Records, A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto - To the Moon and Back features artists across generations and genres, each with their own connection to the iconic musician, and hand-selected for the project as either past collaborators, friends, admirers, or personal favorites of Sakamoto.

From contemporary admirers of Sakamoto’s work like Thundercat, Devonté Hynes, and Hildur Guðnadóttir to longtime collaborators and friends like David Sylvian, Alva Noto, Cornelius, and Fennesz, plus some of Sakamoto’s personal favorites like Lim Giong, Gabrial Wek, and 404.zero, the included artists reflect the breadth of Sakamoto’s influence on contemporary music. Given full access to the musician’s extensive catalog of solo releases and film scores, each artist personally selected their contribution and put their unique spin on Sakamoto’s originals.

The result is a collection that reflects the many dimensions of Sakamoto’s career, from the diversity of sound the consummate musician has traversed to the continued legacy of his work on artists of all backgrounds.

A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto - To the Moon and Back is pressed on a pair of 180g black vinyl discs housed in a gatefold jacket.

Ryuichi Sakamoto was a genius Japanese musician, composer, and producer who has been active in the music industry for over four decades. He first gained international recognition as a member of the electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra in the late 1970s and has since become known for his work as a solo artist and renowned for his prolific film scores and collaborations with other musicians.

Sakamoto's music was known for its experimental, avant-garde sound, which incorporated elements of electronic, classical, and traditional Japanese music. He released numerous albums throughout his career, including the critically acclaimed "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" soundtrack, which featured his hit single "Forbidden Colours."

In addition to his music career, Sakamoto was involved in a number of environmental and humanitarian causes. He was a vocal advocate for sustainable energy and worked with organizations such as Greenpeace and the Rainforest Foundation.

Sakamoto was also recognized for his contributions to music and culture. He won multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the film "The Last Emperor," and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra.

On March 28, 2023, Sakamoto passed away at the age of 71 from a long battle with cancer. His influence on music and culture will continue to be felt for years to come.

Learn more about Ryuichi Sakamoto here.

SOLO ALBUMS

1. Thousand Knives (1978)
2. B-2 Unit (1980)
3. Left-Handed Dream (1981)
4. Ongaku Zukan (1984)
5. Esperanto (1985)
6. Futurista (1986)
7. Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia (1986)
8. Neo Geo (1987)
9. Beauty (1989)
10. Heartbeat (1991)
11. Sweet Revenge (1994)
12. Smoochy (1995)
13. 1996 (1996)
14. Discord (1997)
15. BTTB (1999)
16. Comica (2002)
17. Elephantism (2002)
18. Chasm (2004)
19. Out of Noise (2009)
20. Playing the Piano (2009)
21. Three (2013)
22. Async (2017)
23. 12 (2023)