Riuichi Sakamoto* ‎– B-2 Unit

Masterpiece, indeed! B-2 Unit has a knack for being both experimental AND concise. Pop in structure but dissonant in execution, it sounds like where Kraftwerk left off for more efficient territory -- somewhere between Radioactivity and Trans-Europe Express. It's got this organic atmosphere that you don't hear in a lot of other 80s synthslop. Images of raw metals, industrial textiles, and engineered forms play against the sunny and decadent atmosphere of standard synthpop. In a lot of ways B-2 Unit has the dynamics that made The Pop Group or Public Image Ltd. so unique: dubby, caustic, rhythmic sound worlds. Sakamoto has fused Japanese minimalism with krautrock, dub and found sound to create infectious sound sculptures. Definitely worth hunting down!

Masterpiece, from beginning to end. Produced like a pop album, the music is bursting with originality and sensuality. Sakamoto is in total control of composition, tone colour and mix, without sacrificing anything to spontaneity. Most early eighties electronic pop music will bore the shit out of anybody listening to it now, but that won't be the case with B-2 Unit soon. Lots of non-harmonic content and obscured time signatures still effortlessly in balance with harmony and structure.
The pieces range from an almost-poppy ballad to idm-ish to abstract poly-rhythmic breaks, adding up to a greater whole, that is this album.

Worth getting. Sakamoto's solo release has more character than some of his group's collective outings. It's a fascinating listen from start to finish--especially 'Riot In Lagos' which was recently featured in a compilation put together by Mantronix. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of most of YMO's backcatalogue on CD later this month, too bad this release isn't on the agenda. Grab it if you see it! Grab it!!