Yukihiro Takahashi

Best known as the lead singer and drummer of electronic music pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra, Yukihiro Takahashi released dozens of solo albums, ranging from city pop and arty new wave to acoustic folk-rock, in addition to producing material for numerous pop acts and composing film and video game soundtracks. First gaining recognition as a member of Sadistic Mika Band, he co-founded YMO with Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1978, and released his solo debut, the smooth disco-funk LP Saravah!, the same year. Concurrent with his main band, Takahashi released a series of highly innovative synth pop albums, including Neuromantic (1981) and What, Me Worry? (1982), which featured collaborations with Bill Nelson, members of Roxy Music, and Takahashi's bandmates in YMO. He also formed the Beatniks with Keiichi Suzuki, and collaborated extensively with Steve Jansen and Mick Karn of the group Japan. He reunited with his former bandmates on several occasions, forming Sketch Show with Hosono in the early 2000s and working with both other members as Human Audio Sponge or HASYMO. Takahashi continued releasing solo efforts such as the 2006 indie electronic/glitch-pop effort Blue Moon Blue, and revisited his past work with releases like 2018's Saravah Saravah! He additionally formed the supergroup METAFIVE along with other musicians such as Towa Tei and Yoshinori Sunahara. Yukihiro Takahashi played in several bands at the beginning of his career in the early '70s, including the folk-rock group Buzz (with his older brother, Nobuyuki Takahashi) and Sadistic Mika Band, a glam- and funk-influenced art-rock group who found considerable success in the U.K. Takahashi additionally played in the fusion-influenced spin-off group the Sadistics during the second half of the '70s. Near the end of the decade, he wrote and produced material for pop artists like Rajie, Mariya Takeuchi, and Sheena and the Rokkets. His debut album, a collection of smooth disco and soul titled Saravah!, appeared in 1978. Ryuichi Sakamoto co-produced and co-arranged the album, and played on it along with Haruomi Hosono. The three founded the electro-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra and released their self-titled debut, initially with the intention of being a one-off studio project. However, it was so successful that the group became its members' main concern, and after YMO's music gained international distribution, they reached audiences in Europe and North America, and subsequently became one of the most influential synth pop acts. Takahashi's second album, Murdered by the Music, appeared in 1980, featuring contributions from both of his bandmates as well as English lyrics by Chris Mosdell, who also regularly worked with YMO. Neuromantic, making reference to the new romantic movement, followed in 1981, with additional collaborators including Tony Mansfield (of New Musik) and Roxy Music members Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay. Takahashi and Keiichi Suzuki (of Moonriders) formed the new wave duo the Beatniks, and their debut Exitentialism also appeared in 1981. Takahashi's solo album What, Me Worry? was released in 1982, marking his first collaboration with fellow new wave/art rock innovator Bill Nelson. Takahashi continued releasing solo efforts like 1983's Tomorrow's Just Another Day and 1984's Wild and Moody, and while YMO became inactive, its members still played on each other's solo records and performed together. Takahashi began acting in films in the mid-'80s, and additionally started composing soundtracks (1985's Poisson D'Avril) as well as video game music. He collaborated with composer/designer Yohji Yamamoto for the 1987 album La Pensée, and continued releasing synth pop solo albums like 1988's Ego and 1992's Lifetime, Happy Time. For 1993's Heart of Hurt, he performed acoustic folk-rock versions of his past hits. Through his own Consipio Records, Takahashi released remixed versions of his early albums, as well as soundtrack work, collaborations with Steve Jansen, and additional solo albums. Takahashi and Hosono reunited as Sketch Show in 2002, releasing the IDM-influenced full-length Audio Sponge that year and later touring internationally. They began performing shows with Sakamoto as Human Audio Sponge in 2004, and later released singles as HASYMO. Takahashi's Blue Moon Blue, an indie electronic-style album featuring a guest appearance from Her Space Holiday, was released in 2006. Along with other artists such as singer/actress Tomoyo Harada and guitarist Ren Takada, Takahashi participated in the folktronic group pupa, whose debut floating pupa appeared in 2008. His solo album Page by Page appeared in 2009. One Fine Night: 60th Anniversary Live, a concert release with an all-star guest list, was issued as a three-CD/two-blu-Ray box set in 2013, and was soon followed by Life Anew, a solo album featuring James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. In 2014, Takahashi began touring with musicians such as Yoshinori Sunahara (Denki Groove), Towa Tei (Deee-Lite), Tomohiko Gondo (pupa), and Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius). The live album Techno Recital, credited to Yukihiro Takahashi and METAFIVE, was released that year. The band remained active as METAFIVE, and studio debut META appeared in 2016, achieving chart success in Japan. The group also released the EP METAHALF and concert album METALIVE. Saravah Saravah!, an updated recording of Takahashi's solo debut, appeared in 2018, and a live recording based on the album was released in 2019. Additionally, the original Saravah! was reissued in Europe for the first time. METAFIVE released the single "Environmental" in 2020, after which Takahashi took time off to undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor. In 2021, METAFIVE announced the release of a full-length titled METAATEM and issued a single, "The Paramedics," but the album was postponed following controversy regarding Oyamada's past behavior of bullying and his resignation from the Olympic opening ceremony committee. Grand Espoir, an anthology of Takahashi's early solo material as well as his production work for others, appeared in 2021, and Neuromantic was reissued on vinyl and made available on streaming services. METAATEM was eventually released in September of 2022. Takahashi died on January 11, 2023 at the age of 70.
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