Yellow Magic Orchestra

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Y.M.O.

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Japan (1978 – 1984, 1993 – 1993, 2007 – present)

Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) is an influential Japanese electropop band, formed in 1978. They are renowned as a major influence in popular music, and for pioneering the music genre. The principal members are Haruomi Hosono (bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards).

The band was originally conceived as a one-off studio project by Hosono, the other two members being recruited session musicians - the idea was to produce an album fusing orientalist exotica (cf their cover version of Martin Denny’s Firecracker) with modern electronics. However the first album (with its cutting-edge production) was very popular, and the studio project grew into a fully fledged touring band and career for its three members.

Making abundant use of new synthesizers, samplers, digital and computer recording technology as it became available, their popularity and influence extended beyond Japan. Generally the band were highly regarded as electronic pioneers, and continue to be remixed and sampled by modern artists. The members have also worked with European synt/new romantic artists such as David Sylvian of Japan. The wonderful single Bamboo Houses is one such example (Sylvian/Sakamoto).

The band had stopped working together by 1984, the three members returning to their solo careers. They released a one-off reuinion album, Technodon, in 1993.

The early 2000s saw Hosono & Takehashi reunited in a project called Sketch Show. On the occasions when Sakamoto joined them in concerts they called themselves Human Audio Sponge or HAS. The band played Rydeen at the 2007 Live Earth concert in Kyoto, Japan.
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  • am4lcy8s

    I still remember seeing them in London on their 1980 tour .... brilliantly excellent. I suppose that makes me old :-(

    15 May 1:44pm Reply

  • dissident93

    The godfathers of Japanese chiptune.

    10 May 1:00am Reply

  • eterarnial

    Expecting rivers♥

    9 May 10:38am Reply

  • BoobyNoobie

    I accidentally clicked on this band (or group?) on youtube and fell in love with it.

    14 Apr 11:32am Reply

  • ObeydElMejor

    Nyaruko confirmed for good taste.

    10 Apr 2:37am Reply

  • gerr-i-shaan

    Where has this band been all my life? Seriously, I'm kind of angry I didn't discover them until just recently.

    9 Apr 7:18pm Reply

  • Audiotronica

    Don't know if my tags for some of this band's songs/albums should be in kanji or romaji...

    27 Mar 5:15am Reply

  • Audiotronica

    Kai-Koh is one of the greatest songs ever made. [2]

    27 Mar 5:10am Reply

  • snsdguy

    Kai-Koh is one of the greatest songs ever made.

    15 Mar 3:43pm Reply

  • Ranunculus

    Good and funny.

    3 Mar 10:39am Reply

  • Cordett

    there is no such genre [2]

    13 Feb 5:56pm Reply

  • jcotteri

    there is no such genre

    5 Feb 3:11pm Reply

  • MyNameIsEno

    soooo vaporwave

    2 Feb 7:23pm Reply

  • JJK-san

    Yeah... It might be like choosing what should exist: Strawberry Tofu or Trout Yogurt. They are both equally funny, but Strawberry Tofu is an original idea. Yet, in fact, coincidentally we have them both, as we can enjoy both amazingness of YMO, and wonderfulness of Suzuki+Tanaka productions.

    31 Jan 11:11am Reply

  • Sonicjr01

    Oh no, if they did, then we wouldn't have the great ost that we have today ! :)

    29 Jan 11:18pm Reply

  • RoCkPhiLia

    Kraftwerk gave them a basic sound, they explored even more. Simple: YMO > Kraftwerk. I'm not saying Kraftwerk is a terrible band o that I don't like them, NO. I love their music, but the truth is that.

    21 Dec 2012 Reply

  • Riujieieiro

    ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

    16 Dec 2012 Reply

  • howtwosavealif3

    I didn't know that the song that school food punishment sang on the on how to go single was by them! no wonder it's such a good song. they covered kimi ni mune kyun

    18 Nov 2012 Reply

  • lorrabaquio

    MAESTROS.

    1 Nov 2012 Reply

  • tangerman

    1000 Knives :-)

    29 Oct 2012 Reply
    • All 333 shouts

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