History Music / Technodon

* NewSoundAlbum: Minimalist {{ambient}} {{techno}} with elements of WorldMusic and HouseMusic.

''Technodon'', released in 1993, is the eighth and final album by Japanese SynthPop {{supergroup}} Music/YellowMagicOrchestra. Released a full decade after the band's previous album, ''Music/{{Service}}'', the record marked an unexpected reunion for the trio, who had functionally broken up in 1984 following longstanding CreativeDifferences. During the interim between then and this album, Music/HaruomiHosono, Music/RyuichiSakamoto, and Music/YukihiroTakahashi had all returned to their solo careers.

Not expecting the reunion to be permanent, the band "spread out" once again at the end of the album's supporting tour, returning to their solo careers once more. Despite this, it didn't mark the end of their collaborations: in 2002, Takahashi and Hosono formed the duo Sketch Show, and the three of them would perform live throughout the 2000s, first under the name Human Audio Sponge, then HASYMO (Human Audio Sponge Yellow Magic Orchestra), before getting their original brand back in 2009. While a new YMO album hasn't been in the works since ''Technodon'', the three still occasionally perform together, under the stipulation that they only be called Yellow Magic Orchestra if the full trio is present.

* VariantCover: European [=CDs=] and reissues omit the polarized effect on the album art's text.

In particular, Sakamoto gained international fame as a soundtrack composer, providing scores for films such as ''Film/MerryChristmasMrLawrence'' (which he also co-starred in), ''Anime/RoyalSpaceForceTheWingsOfHonneamise'', and ''Film/TheLastEmperor'' (which he also had a prominent role in). Hosono and Takahashi similarly tried their hands at composing during this time. Hosono would provide music for ''Anime/NightOnTheGalacticRailroad'' & ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' (albeit only providing the latter's theme song) and produce the [[Creator/BandaiNamco Namco]] soundtrack compilation ''Video Game Music'', the first {{chiptune}} album in the world. Takahashi meanwhile would establish a working relationship writing soundtracks for film director Nobuhiko Obayashi.

** "Silence of Time" contains four lines of lyrics: the song's title, "Quiet Explosion" (or "Quiet Erosion) and "Inside Me". They are repeated throughout the track.

** Dolphinicty only has two repeated lyrics: "Be good boy" and "Says he's being fed".

Eventually, the band decided to regroup for a brief reunion in 1992, testing the waters with ''YMO Versus The Human League'', a collaborative EP with Music/TheHumanLeague that featured the two synth-pop bands performing new versions of earlier YMO songs. The commercial success of this project would motivate the band to put together a full-on studio album for the first time in ten years. However, not wanting to sign another multi-album contract with Alfa Records, the band moved over to [[Creator/{{EMI}} Toshiba EMI]]; as the name "Yellow Magic Orchestra" was trademarked by Alfa, they billed themselves as "Not YMO," represented by "YMO" crossed out with a large X. Similarly to Creator/AAndMRecords' use of their Horizon imprint to release YMO's [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum debut album]], Toshiba EMI placed Not YMO under the arm of Eastworld Records; EMI themselves would release ''Technodon'' in Europe, where they still held a sizable cult following.

In particular, Sakamoto gained international fame as a soundtrack composer, providing scores for films such as ''Film/MerryChristmasMrLawrence'' (which he also co-starred in), ''Anime/RoyalSpaceForceTheWingsOfHonneamise'', and ''Film/TheLastEmperor'' (which he also had a prominent role in). Hosono and Takahashi similarly tried their hands at composing during this time, with Hosono providing music for ''Anime/NightOnTheGalacticRailroad'' & ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' (albeit only providing the latter's theme song) and Takahashi writing soundtracks for Nobuhiko Obayashi.

Eventually, the band decided to regroup for a brief reunion in 1992; as the name "Yellow Magic Orchestra" was trademarked by their old label, Alfa Records, they billed themselves as "Not YMO," represented by "YMO" crossed out with a large X. Having evolved considerably as artists over the years, the music that they'd put together for ''Technodon'' would be very far removed from their previous work as YMO, featuring far more minimal arrangements that focused on new developments in {{ambient}} {{techno}} with elements of WorldMusic and HouseMusic. The album's style would be additionally informed by an order from the band's new label, [[Creator/{{EMI}} Toshiba EMI]], to not use any of the samplers that had characterized their work since ''Music/{{Technodelic}}'', influenced by a recent lawsuit against American rapper Biz Markie that declared unauthorized sampling a form of plagiarism. Despite this, YMO would manage to sneak in segments from their earlier material on the track "Chance".

** "Chance" samples several YMO songs, notably the infinite scale of "[[Music/{{BGM}} Loom]]" and the first two notes of "[[Music/SolidStateSurvivor Rydeen]]" during its last second.

[[caption-width-right:350:]]

''Technodon'' is the eigth and last album by Japanese technopop trio [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestra Yellow Ma...]] [[SameFaceDifferentName Not YMO]]! It was released in 1993, ten years after their previous album ''{{Music/Service}}''.

This album marks a return of the band after their hiatus of 1984 where all three members resumed their solo careers. Music/RyuichiSakamoto got known for his film scores and received acclaim for his work on Film/MerryChristmasMrLawrence and Film/TheLastEmperor. Music/HaruomiHosono also ventured in composing, although it was during the rise of video game soundtracks (the instrumental album ''Video Game Music'' composed for Namco). Like Sakamoto, Music/YukihiroTakahashi also composed while occasionally playing in movies (notably for Nobuhiko Obayashi). 10 years of hiatus later, they decided to get back together for one album and its tour: ''Technodon'' (however, due to legal issues, they couldn't get the YMO name back and named themselves "Not YMO").

Due to the musical evolution of each YMO member ten years after their last collaboration as as a group, ''Technodon'' stands out compared to their previous albums, with more focus on ambient ("Nostalgia"), world-music ("I Tre Merli") and house ("Hi-Tech Hippies"), all played through an abstract arrangement. Reception to the album was mixed, with longtime YMO fans not recognizing their favourite band while the album's new sound has drawn in new listeners.

While it is the band's last album (for now), they didn't stop performing together. Takahashi and Hosono formed the duo Sketch Show while Sakamoto continued his solo and soundtrack ventures. The three of them would perform live under the name Human Audio Sponge then HASYMO (Human Audio Sponge Yellow Magic Orchestra) before getting their original brand back in 2009.

# "Be A Superman"
# "Nanga Def?"
# "Floating Away"
# "Dolphinicity"
# "Hi-Tech Hippie"
# "I Tre Merli"
# "Nostalgia"
# "Silence Of Time"
# "Waterford"
# "OK"
# "Chance"
# "Pocketful Of Rainbows"

!!This album provides examples of:

* CoverVersion: "Pocketful Of Rainbows", originally interpretated by Music/ElvisPresley. Early in the album's conception, Music/HaruomiHosono wanted to include an Elvis cover and Music/YukihiroTakahashi planned one of "Love Me Tender".

* {{Instrumentals}}: "Nostalgia" and "Waterford"
* LimitedLyricsSong: "Hi-Tech Hippie":
--> ''Itty-bitty hippie tech''
--> ''Teeny weeny floppy deck'' (repeated four times)
--> ''Tacky tech, architect''
--> ''Listen to our therapeutic''
--> ''Steady state, spaced-out''
--> ''Dig the psycho-schematic''
--> ''Boot-strapped, tranced out''
--> ''Stick into the forehead''
--> ''Hokey pokey baby''
--> ''This is what it's all about''

--> ''Nanga def?''
--> ''Mag niferek''
--> ''Wow wow''

* LocationSong: "I Tre Merli" is named after an italian restaurant that Sakamoto visited.
** "Waterford" could refer to a city in {{UsefulNotes/Ireland}} although there are other locations bearing that name.

* {{Sampling}}: "Chance" samples several YMO songs, notably the infinite scale of "[[Music/BGM Loom]]" and the first two notes of "[[Music/SolidStateSurvivor Rydeen]]" during its last second.

* ShoutOut: "Hi-Tech Hippie" is inspired by computer scientist Paco Nathan and his Interactive Brainwave Visual Analyzer, a software which allows brain waves to be used as inputs on a computer.
** "OK" features the lyrics: "To know it is to love it", a possible reference to the Music/PhilSpector-penned song "To Know Him Is to Love Him".
* SpecialGuest: Cyberpunk writer William Gibson co-wrote "Floating Away". He also sings on it.
** American writer William S. Burroughs speaks the opening lyrics of "Be A Superman" (and the album as a whole). He can also be heard on "I Tre Merli".
* TranslatedCoverVersion: "Pocketful of Rainbows" is sung in Japanese (but a english version was also recorded as a bonus track).

Due to the musical evolution of each YMO member ten years after their last collaboration as as a group, ''Technodon'' stands out compared to their previous albums, with more focus on ambient ("Nostalgia"), world-music ("I Tre Merli") and house ("Hi-Tech Hippies"), all played through an abstract arrangement. Reception to the album was mixed, with longtime YMO fans not recognizing their favourite band.

While it is the band's last album (for now), they didn't stop performing together. Takahashi and Hosono formed the duo " and have continued to do so under the name "HASYMO" (Human Audio Sponge Yellow Magic Orchestra) before getting their original brand back.

* CoverVersion: "Pocketful Of Rainbows", originally interpretated by Music/ElvisPresley. Early in the album's conception, Music/HaruomiHosono wanted to include an Elvis cover and Music/YukihiroTakahashi planned another cover of "Love Me Tender".
* FaceOnTheCover: The trio is vertically stretched out.

** "Silence of Time" contains lines of lyrics: the song's title, "Quiet Explosion" (or "Quiet Erosion) and "Inside Me". They are repeated throughout the track.

''Technodon'' is the eigth and last album by Japanese technopop trio [[Music/YellowMagicOrchestra Yellow Ma...]] [[SameFaceDifferentName Not YMO]]! It was released in 1993, ten years after their previous album {{Music/Service}}.