Description
12 is the fifteenth and final solo studio album by Ryuichi Sakamoto. It was released on January 17, 2023, two months before his death from cancer, through Milan Records and Commmons.
12 features minimal arrangements of ambient etudes for piano and synthesizer, with a diaristic feel and raw, unvarnished sounds. Throughout the album, the presence of the composer is felt, with details like his breathing adding deeper meaning to the compositions. The album also reflects on Sakamoto's legacy, with nods to his past works and influences.
Much like his friend and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence castmate David Bowie did with Blackstar, as well as Leonard Cohen with You Want It Darker, Sakamoto is staring down the prospect of his own death, meditating on the legacy that he will leave behind.