On "Yoo-hoo," his first new work in roughly three and a half years, Sakamoto reflects his live experiences overseas in recent years while loosely folding in a wide range of sounds — blues, mood kayo, '60s soul, surf instrumentals, funk, Afro-funk — all wrapped in gem-like, modern, soulful grooves that sway with an exquisite, perfectly balanced comfort born of superb band ensemble. And once again, the lyrics, cut from his own singular perspective, are truly one of a kind. Just looking at each of the song titles enriches your imagination and daydreams, calling to mind the feeling of watching the subtitles in the "next episode" previews of classic TV serials of years past, letting your thoughts wander over the story and wondering excitedly what will happen next. Ten tracks in all. A perfect fusion of sound, lyrics, and the imagery of words. And a sense of wistfulness. Humanity. A realm all its own. The lingering resonance of "Yoo-hoo." A beautiful masterpiece.
All 10 tracks, including the October 2025 digital single "Ojiisan e," the November digital single "Anata no Basho wa Arimasu ka?," the January 2026 digital single, and "Mahi" from the studio live footage. The CD is a 2-disc set (first-press limited edition) that comes with a bonus CD containing instrumental versions of all 10 album tracks.
As with the previous album, this one was recorded primarily with the members of the Shintaro Sakamoto band: Yuta Suganuma on drums, AYA on bass and backing vocals, and Toru Nishiuchi on sax and flute. Guest player Manami Kakudo appears on marimba on two tracks. Recording engineering and mastering by Soichiro Nakamura. Artwork by Shintaro Sakamoto.