YMCK has renewed it's official web site with a bang, the release of a music app for iPhone and iPod touch that lets you ad-lib in 8-bit fashion while listening to your favorite songs from your iPod's library.
There are two editions, but you'll want to pick the one that comes with a built-in exclusive new YMCK song, titled "Music Flowing"! And no worries, it's available in the iTunes App Store of 90 countries.
"YMCK Player (with song)" (iPhone App)
Out now (9/1), ¥350
Buy: 
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 22:53 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
On Sunday August 22, I went to Liquidroom in Ebisu for "Rocketman Summer Fes 2010", an event celebrating the 10 years since the debut of Rocketman, Fukawa Ryō's music unit.
Let me sum up those 10 years briefly. Rocketman first started on Readymade and it was a unit formed of Fukawa Ryō with producer Konishi Yasuharu. First album "Flying Rocketman" contained a good amount of spoken word comedy, and some music tracks (a few borrowing from Pizzicato Five songs). 2nd album "Rocketman Deluxe", still on Readymade, wasn't a 2-piece unit anymore, and featured some more music with producers including FPM, Comoestas and Fukutomi Yukihiro. Afterwards, Fukawa went to concentrate more on his musical talents as a songwriter, and released two original albums, "Love, sea & music" and "The Sound of Musique". Recently he has had some success producing idol trio Cosmetics, and this month he released his first greatest hits album.
The 6-hour event featured many of his collaborators since the beginning, as well as some of his comedian friends between each set. The place was quite packed, he said there were over 1000 people!
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 22:47 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Two weeks ago, on August 10, I had the chance to see what I believe was the first show by Club Aloe, a new band by 5 ex-members of Modern Choki Chokies, a collective that used to feature several dozens of members, one of my favorite bands of all time from the early/mid-90's.
The new band features Nullpyon (vocals), Isoda Osamu (guitar), Kajino Hideki (bass), Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums), and Inoue Kōichi on "electric taishō-goto". While describing themselves as "beauty and health punk band", they're actually a mix of many genres. Formerly in Modern Choki Chokies, I believe Nullpyon used to be a sort of dancer/entertainer, with some vocal parts.
All the band members were just way too good for the tiny venue, Mandala 2 in Kichijoji, making me feel very spoiled! Isoda Osamu's crazy guitar solos were awesome, and the bass and drums really tight. I was also amazed by the taishō-goto, a rare instrument I hadn't seen before, actually a 100-year old type of koto, here in an electric variation.
Posted on August 28, 2010 at 02:00 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
J-death techno label Speedking Productions brings a 3rd compilation of original tracks. The 2-CD release features Yoshida Tetsuto, Bubble-B, Cherryboy Function, Leopaldon, Hally (VORC Records) , omoshiro Sangokushi and many others.
Out at the same time is a re-issue of volume 1, now remastered and "separated" (non-mixed).
Various Artists "Speedking Vol.3"
(Title/Artist)
CD 1
1. Take me the dance floor / SamplingMasters AYA
2. Hypermedia Selector / Yoshida Tetsuto
3. Roll you up / Cherryboy Function
4. Twilight NU ZONE / MISSILE CHEWBACCA
5. seven force / DJ io & Tsu-ji-
6. SUNDAY EVERYDAY / DJ SHARPNEL
7. D.G.R. / Dee! feat. Rakutensai
8. keep on dancing (hard hard hard) / genkai LOVERZ
9. Dangerous / m2dy
CD 2
1. Final Rave / Yam
2. KAWASAKI IMPACT / BUBBLE-B
3. Reloaded World / M-Project ft. GUHROOVY
4. Baby into the RAVE / SamplingMasters MEGA
5. faminator / Hally
6. EXCITING HYPER NIGHT / LEOPALDON
7. Yellow Warriors (360000 Death) / omoshiro Sangokushi
8. S.D.I -Shousei Dust Identity- / 232COMIT
9. Hold U Now (Pornstar's Hardcore Remix) / DJ SHIMAMURA
Speedking Productions SPK-05
Out now (8/25), ¥2100
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only)
Various Artists "Speedking Vol.1 Remastered and Separated"
(Title/Artist)
1. Rave Hurricane / yam (a.k.a.SmileHunters/Valou)
2. Kawasaki Emergency / BUBBLE-B
3. Playing with 92's / DJ io
4. tōsōsanbika ~Running Machine~ / DJ TECHNORCH
5. Scritti Politici / Yoshida Tetsuto
6. beat the meat (2 old MEGADANCE) / Missile Chewbacca
7. The Snap of death / Vultures of Death (from pile of sogshit)
8. Activate / Warping Allergen
9. DEATH BULLDOZER / LEOPALDON
10. PARTY LOVER / M-Project&AGITATOR
11. Pump This Party!! / Dee!
12. CYBER HOLIC -The Paradise of Shousei- / 232COMIT
13. RAVE200008 / DJ SHARPNEL
14. Pessimism (BREAK MIX) / DAT Zoid
Speedking Productions SPKR-01
Out now (8/25), ¥1890
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only)
Posted on August 26, 2010 at 21:21 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Half-Chinese neo-Shibuya-kei unit Panda 1/2 has a new single available for download on iTunes starting right now. Titled "Shanghai wa yoru no 6ji", with a big wink to Pizzicato Five (taking account for the time difference), this fun track has a definite Shibuya-kei touch. This is their first major release.
Audio sample at Victor (click the "WMP" icon)
Panda 1/2 "Shanghai wa yoru no 6ji" (Download)
Victor VE2ML-15285
Out now (8/25), ¥200
Order: 
Posted on August 25, 2010 at 00:20 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Sunaga Tatsuo has produced the first album of instrumental jazz band TRI4TH (MySpace) (pronounced in Japanese like "Triforce"), who recently played Konishi Yasuharu's soundtrack live for musical "Talk Like Singing". This album features guest musicians Jukka Eskola (trumpeter of Five Corners Quintet) and Italian saxophonist Max Ionata.
TRI4TH "TRI4TH"
1. WISDOMINANT feat. Jukka Eskola
2. Yellow Butterfly
3. Little Italy feat. Max Ionata
4. Janome De Dance
5. The Way Of The World
6. Hustle March
7. BMW no onna
8. Sahara
9. PC-caution!
10. Sonic City
11. A Rainy Holiday
P-Vine PECF-3007
Out now (8/25), ¥2500
Order: Amazon, HMV, CDJapan, Tower (Japan only)
Posted on August 24, 2010 at 23:02 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Following the release of album "Maverick" last June, Meg has a new single coming, her 2nd this year. This double-A-sider is produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule).
The single is available in advance starting today on iTunes Japan.
Meg "Passport / Paris"
1. Passport
2. Paris
3. Paris (T12X-mix)
Universal UPCH-5666
Out 8/25, ¥1200
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, CDJapan, , Tower
Posted on August 18, 2010 at 22:14 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
On Friday August 6, I went to mona records in Shimokitazawa for an event called "Rehabilitation", featuring a show by mid-90's indies band "yes, mama ok?". 5 years ago leader Kongōchi Takeshi suddenly started showing up on variety TV programs in Japan, acclaimed for representing Japan and getting a 4th place in an air guitar contest in Finland (watch on YouTube). This prompted for a brief comeback, and the release of boxed set "Incomplete Questions" (2008) reissuing of their now rare CDs. This time was their first show in 4 years, and hopefully the band might be caught on stage more regularly! This time the show sold out in a day, and needless to say mona records' small 3rd floor space was packed!
Posted on August 15, 2010 at 20:09 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove) has a new mini-album coming next week! This is his first original solo release since the "Title" series (2004). The first pressing comes as a digipak.
All tracks can be sampled at his official site by clicking "Cruise Sample" (part of a random track is played each time).
Ishino Takkyū "Cruise"
1. Feb4
2. Spring Divide
3. SpinOut
4. Hukkle
5. Arek
6. Y.H.F.
Ki/oon KSCL-1614
Out 8/18, ¥2300
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, CDJapan, Tower
Posted on August 14, 2010 at 12:03 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Crazy Ken Band has a brand new album out this week! Included is an album version of title track from single "1107" released last month, and a cover of Korean singer Park Sang Chul's "mujōken" (original at YouTube), for a total of 21 tracks!
There's a limited edition containing a bonus DVD of 7 songs from a recent live show in Osaka.
Crazy Ken Band "Mint Condition"
1. 1107 -album version-
2. Mint Condition
3. Singapura
4. Hong Kong Typhoon
5. Body Talk
6. Hideaway
7. eye catch -mekurumeku sekai-
8. Revolution Pop
9. MOTTAINAI
10. migaki
11. Yokosukan Miracle
12. Station Wagon
13. Revolution Funk
14. eye catch -from editor-
15. kebyō
16. kankō Twist
17. mujōken
18. eye catch -negishi jocky club-
19. Merry Christmas 4-093
20. Shantung
21. chisō
DVD (Limited edition only)
Official Bootleg Live DVD (Mint Condition 2010 at BigCat Osaka 2010.6.18)
1. Medley - Intro / chōjamachi Blues
2. Hama-fū
3. Zero
4. Medley - Hong Kong Typhoon / kebyō / Singapura
5. Request corner (romen densha)
6. Suzy Wong no sekai
7. Girlfriend
8. 1107 (PV) (Live video ver.) (Bonus video track)
Limited edition (CD+DVD)
DoubleJoy International UMCK-9369
Out now (8/11), ¥3800
Order: Amazon (20% off on pre-orders), HMV (15% off), YesAsia, CDJapan, Tower (Japan only)
Regular edition (CD only)
DoubleJoy International UMCK-1365
Out now (8/11), ¥3000
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, CDJapan, , Tower (Japan only)
"1107"
Posted on August 12, 2010 at 22:41 | Tweet | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0)
Continue reading in the August 2010 archive.
Next entry: "Gig report: Fujimura Tohru + Yasuda Toshiyuki "Shimokitazawa Silent Disco"" (August 5, 2010 at 23:50)
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