With every successive release, Thundercat further solidifies himself as one of the most innovative, talented musicians out there. This time, he released a cover of the venerated Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s song “Thousand Knives.”
Thundercat injects a healthy dose of jazz and funk influences into his cover while preserving the whimsical spirit of the original. From the thunderstorm sound effects in the beginning to the bubbling effect on the bass guitar in the background, “Thousand Knives” feels as playful as it is artful. Something new Thundercat included in his version is the lyrics. Whereas the original piece was instrumental only, Thundercat adds his lush falsetto, which acts as a dance partner for the insane guitar riffs as they tango over the verse.
Despite the busyness of the music, which at times has as many as six different instruments or effects going at once, it never feels overwhelming, which is a further credit to Thundercat’s composition talent.
This cover of “Thousand Knives” is part of a tribute compilation A Tribute To Ryuichi Sakamoto: To The Moon And Back, which will be released on December 2. You can listen to “Thousand Knives” below. Enjoy!