LSD Revamped by Osamu Sato
LSD Revamped by Osamu Sato pressed on translucent red vinyl by Ship to Shore PhonoCo.
Funky Solution
Enter a dream sequence this week with LSD Revamped by Osamu Sato. The soundtrack to Asmik Ace Entertainment's entirely surreal adventure game from the PlayStation is here to grace our turntables in all its psychedelic muse. Pressed on translucent red vinyl by Ship to Shore PhonoCo. the soundtrack to Osamu Sato's LSD: Dream Emulator will take you on a literal trip and back.
Fax Factory
This is seriously one of the most surprising releases to come out of the video game vinyl scene for me this year. A literal passion project turned obsession from Ship to Shore PhonoCo... LSD Revamped is a true treat. Being a release that this New York-based label unironically dreamt about producing ever since the company's inception, I can say without a doubt to be able to hold this album in my hands is as surreal as experiencing a 10-minute dream sequence within this wonderful cult classic!
Long Tall Eyelash
For those that may not know, LSD Dream Emulator was a Japanese exclusive game for the PlayStation. Wanting to create the antithesis of what games were at the time, Mr. Sato and the team at Asmik Ace Entertainment in 1998 released this whacky adventure game that flew completely under the radar of many gamers due to its small print run and Japanese exclusivity. Becoming somewhat lost to time itself, it has since gained a modern-day resurgence and cult following in recent years. Thrusting the player into isolated 10-minute dream sequences, you the player are left to explore an ever-changing universe of rooms that constantly shift your perception of reality the more you play. The music from the game itself is constantly ripped apart, pieced back together, and shifted into microscopic fractions of larger samples and is just as dynamic as the game itself — lending for unique experiences with each consecutive playthrough. The included compositions in this release make for a truly elegant and complete literation of Mr. Sato’s work and one that had me completely enthralled from beginning to end!
Professional Problem
A hypnotic choreographic dance of subconscious bits and latent bass beats transition in and out of the speakers as you drop your needle into this bright rotating disc. A pluck of the stylus ignites an electronic jungle of tones that drills deep into your psyche. Otherworldly vocalizations spring up from the ground as echoing snares cascade across a neon-colored canopy — giving way to an ambivalent and altogether surreal waterfall of jazzy horns, flutes, and guitar tones that bathes over you in this pure synthetic shower. Entering this world of sounds feels like an invitation into something so otherworldly it’s such a pleasant experience on this format and one I likely won’t forget. There’s just something about this album that completely takes over your mind and holds you in its own private corridor all before releasing you back into the land of the awoken with the last run-out groove. LSD Revamped is a true oddity of video game music, and I am so glad it's finally on vinyl.
Say Cheeze
Ship to Shore PhonoCo. has released yet another amazing album and it is the culmination of their years of hard work and dedication. To witness their dreams become a reality is super cool to see. As one of the most ambitious releases I've seen this New York label produce, I can't help but get caught up on one critical aspect of this release: the triple gatefold. The packaging for this release falls completely flat for me, unfortunately. While the artwork itself is truly impeccable and stunningly hypnotic, I find it a shame that the cardstock used to present this gorgeous release is so flimsy. Everything isn’t all bad here though! The artwork by Mr. Sato himself is an absolute treat to gaze at and the triple gatefold opens up into this truly psychedelic tapestry of bright and hypnotic colors, it’s honestly frame-worthy! Tracklisting wise, this one is a bit of an issue to me as well. The included remixes and alternate versions of songs are mixed throughout the grooves here, and while it flows pretty well, I can’t help but wish that they were isolated on their own LP for enjoyment beyond the original compositions from Mr. Sato. I’m sure sequencing is to blame here, and I totally understand the decision that was made to make this release as cohesive as possible!
Typhoon Tribe
The mastering here is as impeccable as always when it comes to a Ship to Shore PhonoCo. release. Dietrich Schoenemann of Complete Mastering always does such an excellent job in making sure their albums are some of the best on the market, and LSD is an absolute banger. The bass presented here on this album is absolutely insane. The large and open noise floor gives way for all the intricate and playful orchestrations from Mr. Sato to just pop up out of the grooves, I love it! From all the soft melodic passages to the reality sundering trip-hop beats, I can't help but feel like this is one of the best sounding albums I've heard ever come out of Ship to Shore PhonoCo.'s warehouse.
Album Details
Music by:
Osamu Sato
Remastered for vinyl by:
Dietrich Schoenemann
Artwork by:
Osamu Sato
Vinyl produced & distributed by:
Ship to Shore PhonoCo.
Where to buy?
This album is still readily available directly from Ship to Shore PhonoCo.’s website and Osamu Sato’s Bandcamp page. Each copy of the album comes with a digital version of the album that you can listen to immediately while you wait for your vinyl to arrive which is really nice! As one of the most unique releases I have seen this year and from Ship to Shore PhonoCo. I can’t help but highly recommend this album, especially if you are a fan of the hypnotic early trance music from Japan that was all the rage in the ’90s and continues to wow us all to this day!