Japanese Techno-pop Super Group!

Or, at least, that's what they are according to TokyoPop, the one issue I ever bought. I asked a Japanese foreign exchange student about them, and he had no idea what I was talking about. Nnn.

Anyway, their music is exceedingly nifty, by my standards. Bouncy. Uplifting. Funny, at times. I'd include more information here, but all of the websites I can find about them are in Japanese. ^_^. I can, however, suggest a few titles.

• Computer Games. Very beepy.
• Rydeen. Kickass fast minor-key Japanese techno. Can't go wrong there.
• Tighten Up. A mockery of both Archie Bell and the Drells and Engrish. *giggle.
• Behind the Mask. Slow, intriguing melody. Happy.

Their music is necessarily very expensive, as it's imported from Japan where CDs are around $20 a pop. Everyone loves them on Napster, though, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding some of their work.

The Yellow Magic Orchestra included the excellent Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto; keyboardist and producer Haruomi Hosono, who withdrew from the music industry after writing a few film scores; and drummer Yukihiro Takahashi who later went solo after the group's 1984 breakup.

YMO was one of the very earliest synth-pop groups, sending their vibes thoughout the electronic music community. (Hosono went on to work with Brian Eno). Detroit-style techno bigwigs like Juan Atkins and Ken Ishii count them among their influences.

assisted by the all-music guide