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Released = March 21, 1981 |
Released = March 21, 1981 |
Recorded = |
Recorded = |
Genre = [[Electro music|Electro]], [[Electronic dance music|Electronic Dance]], [[Electropop]], [[Electro hop|Electro hop]], [[Experimental music|Experimental]], [[Synthpop]], [[World music|World]] |
Genre = [[Electronic music|Electronic]] ([[Electronic dance music|dance]], [[Electro music|electro]], [[Techno|proto‑techno]], [[Electro hop|rap]], [[Electronic rock|rock]]), [[Experimental music|Experimental]] ([[art rock]], [[Avant-garde music|avant‑garde]]), [[Synthpop]], [[World music|World]] ([[Music of Japan|Japanese]]) |
Length = 47:06 |
Length = 47:06 |
Label = [[Alfa Records]] <br> [[EMI|EMI Music]]<ref name="allmusic_bgm"/> |
Label = [[Alfa Records]] <br> [[EMI|EMI Music]]<ref name="allmusic_bgm"/> |
Producer = [[Haruomi Hosono]] |
Producer = [[Haruomi Hosono]] |
Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{Rating|3|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r53034|pure_url=yes}} link] |
Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{Rating|3|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r53034|pure_url=yes}} link]
*''[[Stereo Review]]'' ("Crystalline") [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3aY9AQAAIAAJ link] |
Last album = ''[[Multiplies (album)|×∞ Multiplies]]'' <br /> (1980) |
Last album = ''[[Multiplies (album)|×∞ Multiplies]]'' <br /> (1980) |
This album = '''''BGM''''' <br /> (1981) |
This album = '''''BGM''''' <br /> (1981) |
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'''''BGM''''' is the fourth album by [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], released on March 21, 1981.<ref name="allmusic_bgm">{{allmusic|class=album|id=r53034|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> The title stands for "[[background music]]", though promotional material indicated that it could also mean "Beautiful Grotesque Music". This album was produced by [[Haruomi Hosono]]. YMO was the first band to utilize the [[Roland TR-808 |Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer]], one of the first programmable [[drum machine]]s, as early as 1980,<ref name="cbc_808">{{cite web|title=Slaves to the rhythm: Kanye West is the latest to pay tribute to a classic drum machine|date=November 28, 2008|author=Jason Anderson|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2008/11/27/f-history-of-the-808.html|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Icons of hip hop: an encyclopedia of the movement, music, and culture, Volume 1|author=Mickey Hess|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2007|isbn=0313339031|page=75|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LldOLnIQ66cC&pg=PA69|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> and by early 1981, they released ''BGM'' as their first studio album utilizing both the [[Roland MC-4 Microcomposer]] and TR-808 together.
'''''BGM''''' is the fourth album by [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], released on March 21, 1981.<ref name="allmusic_bgm">{{allmusic|class=album|id=r53034|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> The title stands for "[[background music]]", though promotional material indicated that it could also mean "Beautiful Grotesque Music". This album was produced by [[Haruomi Hosono]]. YMO was the first band to utilize the [[Roland TR-808 |Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer]], one of the first programmable [[drum machine]]s, as early as 1980,<ref name="cbc_808">{{cite web|title=Slaves to the rhythm: Kanye West is the latest to pay tribute to a classic drum machine|date=November 28, 2008|author=Jason Anderson|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2008/11/27/f-history-of-the-808.html|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Icons of hip hop: an encyclopedia of the movement, music, and culture, Volume 1|author=Mickey Hess|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2007|isbn=0313339031|page=75|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LldOLnIQ66cC&pg=PA69|accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> and by early 1981, they released ''BGM'' as their first studio album utilizing both the [[Roland MC-4 Microcomposer]] and TR-808 together.


==Overview==
Different recording equipment was available as well. [[Alfa Records]], YMO’s record company, had just installed a [[3M]] 32-track digital recorder in its studio. Hosono, however, was not fond of its overly sharp sound quality. As a solution, he recorded all the rhythm sections on a [[TEAC Corporation|TEAC]]/[[TASCAM]] 80-8 analog recorder first and copied them with the 3M machine, resulting in the fuller, much compressed rhythm tracks. Unfortunately, no known working samples of the 3M recorder exist in Japan today, making it quite difficult to play the master tape.
Different recording equipment was available. [[Alfa Records]], YMO’s record company, had just installed a [[3M]] 32-track digital recorder in its studio. Hosono, however, was not fond of its overly sharp sound quality. As a solution, he recorded all the rhythm sections on a [[TEAC Corporation|TEAC]]/[[TASCAM]] 80-8 analog recorder first and copied them with the 3M machine, resulting in the fuller, much compressed rhythm tracks. Unfortunately, no known working samples of the 3M recorder exist in Japan today, making it quite difficult to play the master tape.


Peter Barakan debuts as YMO’s co-lyricist. [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] was often absent from the ''BGM'' recording sessions, and he turns in "Music Plans" as his only new composition for the album, since "1000 Knives" (from his 1978 debut album ''The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto'') and "Happy End" were new recordings of his earlier materials. "Loom" is also a re-working of "The Infinite Space Octave" by YMO computer programmer [[Hideki Matsutake]], and features a slow, upward glissando similar to the [[Deep Note]], [[THX]]'s [[audio logo]]. Another song, "Rap Phenomena" was an early attempt at [[Electro hop|electronic rap]].<ref name="allmusic_bgm"/> Like most YMO albums, song titles were printed in both Japanese and English, as listed below. "来たるべきもの" more accurately translates to "What should come".
[[Peter Barakan]] debuts as YMO’s co-lyricist. [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] was often absent from the ''BGM'' recording sessions, and he turns in "Music Plans" as his only new composition for the album, since "1000 Knives" (from his 1978 debut album ''The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto'') and "Happy End" were new recordings of his earlier materials. Another song, "Rap Phenomena" was an early attempt at [[Electro hop|electronic rap]].<ref name="allmusic_bgm"/> "Loom" is a re-working of "The Infinite Space Octave" by YMO computer programmer [[Hideki Matsutake]], and features a slow, upward glissando similar to the [[Deep Note]], [[THX]]'s [[audio logo]]. A similar sound was previously used by YMO members [[Haruomi Hosono]] and Ryuichi Sakamoto for their 1978 album ''Cochin Moon''. Like most YMO albums, song titles were printed in both Japanese and English, as listed below. "来たるべきもの" more accurately translates to "What should come".


When released in 1981, the album's reception was positive. ''[[Stereo Review]]'' praised the album for its "remarkable" blend between "East and West," its "catchy tunes," its "ambitious collection of electronics," and for "pushing at the frontiers of electronic rock" but noted that this affected the album's accessibility.<ref>{{citation|title=Yellow Magic Orchestra: BGM|work=[[Stereo Review|Stereo Review, Volume 46]]|publisher=[[CBS Magazines]]|year=1981|page=38|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3aY9AQAAIAAJ|accessdate=2011-06-01}}</ref>
When released in 1981, the album's reception was positive. ''[[Stereo Review]]'' described the recording as "Crystalline" and the performance as "The twain meet", praising the album for its "remarkable" blend between "East and West," its "catchy tunes," its "ambitious collection of electronics," and for "pushing at the frontiers of [[electronic rock]]" but noted that this affected the album's accessibility.<ref>{{citation|title=Yellow Magic Orchestra: BGM|work=[[Stereo Review|Stereo Review, Volume 46]]|publisher=[[CBS Magazines]]|year=1981|page=38|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3aY9AQAAIAAJ|accessdate=2011-06-01}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==

Revision as of 22:04, 25 August 2011

Untitled

BGM is the fourth album by Yellow Magic Orchestra, released on March 21, 1981.[1] The title stands for "background music", though promotional material indicated that it could also mean "Beautiful Grotesque Music". This album was produced by Haruomi Hosono. YMO was the first band to utilize the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, one of the first programmable drum machines, as early as 1980,[2][3] and by early 1981, they released BGM as their first studio album utilizing both the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer and TR-808 together.

Overview

Different recording equipment was available. Alfa Records, YMO’s record company, had just installed a 3M 32-track digital recorder in its studio. Hosono, however, was not fond of its overly sharp sound quality. As a solution, he recorded all the rhythm sections on a TEAC/TASCAM 80-8 analog recorder first and copied them with the 3M machine, resulting in the fuller, much compressed rhythm tracks. Unfortunately, no known working samples of the 3M recorder exist in Japan today, making it quite difficult to play the master tape.

Peter Barakan debuts as YMO’s co-lyricist. Ryuichi Sakamoto was often absent from the BGM recording sessions, and he turns in "Music Plans" as his only new composition for the album, since "1000 Knives" (from his 1978 debut album The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto) and "Happy End" were new recordings of his earlier materials. Another song, "Rap Phenomena" was an early attempt at electronic rap.[1] "Loom" is a re-working of "The Infinite Space Octave" by YMO computer programmer Hideki Matsutake, and features a slow, upward glissando similar to the Deep Note, THX's audio logo. A similar sound was previously used by YMO members Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto for their 1978 album Cochin Moon. Like most YMO albums, song titles were printed in both Japanese and English, as listed below. "来たるべきもの" more accurately translates to "What should come".

When released in 1981, the album's reception was positive. Stereo Review described the recording as "Crystalline" and the performance as "The twain meet", praising the album for its "remarkable" blend between "East and West," its "catchy tunes," its "ambitious collection of electronics," and for "pushing at the frontiers of electronic rock" but noted that this affected the album's accessibility.[4]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Ballet" (バレエ)Yukihiro Takahashi/Peter BarakanTakahashi4:34
2."Music Plans" (音楽の計画; "Ongaku no keikaku")Ryuichi Sakamoto/BarakanSakamoto4:34
3."Rap Phenomenon" (ラップ現象; "RAP genshou")Haruomi Hosono/BarakanHosono4:33
4."Happy End" (ハッピー・エンド) Sakamoto4:33
5."1000 Knives" (千のナイフ; "Sen no KNIFE") Sakamoto5:24
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cue" (キュー)Takahashi/Hosono/BarakanTakahashi/Hosono4:33
2."U•T" (ユーティー) Yellow Magic Orchestra4:34
3."Camouflage" (カムフラージュ)Takahashi/BarakanTakahashi4:34
4."Mass" (マス)Hosono/BarakanHosono4:32
5."Loom" (来たるべきもの; "Kitaru beki mono") Yellow Magic Orchestra/Hideki Matsutake5:21

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b c BGM at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  2. ^ Jason Anderson (November 28, 2008). "Slaves to the rhythm: Kanye West is the latest to pay tribute to a classic drum machine". CBC News. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  3. ^ Mickey Hess (2007), Icons of hip hop: an encyclopedia of the movement, music, and culture, Volume 1, ABC-CLIO, p. 75, ISBN 0313339031, retrieved 2011-05-29
  4. ^ "Yellow Magic Orchestra: BGM", Stereo Review, Volume 46, CBS Magazines, p. 38, 1981, retrieved 2011-06-01
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