Fennesz Sakamoto

Fennesz Sakamoto: Cendre

by John Eyles
May 31, 2007

This album is the second release from Christian Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto, following their live 2005 EP, Sala Santa Cecilia. It builds on the promise shown there. Despite very different histories, Fennesz and Sakamoto have separately demonstrated an acute ear for popular music, Fennesz most notably on Endless Summer and Sakamoto repeatedly with Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Although Cendre sits comfortably in the rack marked “ambient, those pop sensibilities have contributed greatly to the music; Sakamoto's simple sustained piano ...