RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: “Sweet Revenge” (Elektra)

NOT HAVING a name that trips easily off the tongue doesn’t seem to have hampered Ryuichi Sakamoto: his CV includes work with such luminaries as David Sylvian on the excellent Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. While his name may be difficult to decipher, his music is very accessible and radio-friendly.

On Sweet Revenge, Ryuichi writes all the music but leaves the lyrics to his various collaborators, including Holly Johnson and Roddy Frame. This is basically a pop album – well, a pop/soul/hip-hop album to be more precise – opening with the short but sweet instrumental ‘Tokyo Story’ before moving into more commercial territory with ‘Moving On’. Despite my best efforts I like this song: J-Me’s rapping and singing are quietly catchy and her lyrics about leaving home manage to stay the right side of melodrama.

‘Sentimental’ is like Harry Connick Jnr meeting the electronic age – a sort of industrial Frank Sinatra. The too-similar beats of ‘Regret’ and ‘Pounding At My Heart’ grate somewhat, but the backbeats and computerised keyboards have more depth than your average techno romp, creating a lush soundscape. The musicianship is accomplished; it’s just that there’s nothing terribly exciting going on.

The lyrics of ‘Love And Hate’ are written and performed by Holly Johnson, and very good it is too, all industrial beats and heavily reverbed vocals. The ex-Frankie frontman proves he can still pen a decent tune, with lyrics like “Now I don’t believe in censorship/But surely certain things aren’t hip/Like calling out for genocide/Saying “Queers should be crucified’.” Ah, there’s nothing quite like a bit of vitriol to lift a song above the ordinary.

The title track is another instrumental, and this is where Ryuichi shines. His true form only shows when he has the whole canvas to himself: the strings weave a delicate air over the keyboards before Mr Sakamoto takes over with some mellow piano. ‘Interruptions’ is almost five minutes of lyrics about watching a martial arts film and having to pause the video to go to the kitchen for food. And they said you can’t mix music with social issues!

All in all, the album is a solid piece of work but it’s just too safe. A few moments of experimentation wouldn’t have gone amiss. Sweet Revenge is just that bit too sweet.

• John Walshe