A tribute album for famous songwriter Ryōichi Hattori (1907-1993), a pioneer of Japanese pop music, has been released. The album contains covers and reworks, performed by various artists including Konishi Yasuharu feat. Miyako Kōda (dip in the pool), Scha Dara Parr, Keiichi Sokabe & Inokashira Rangers, Tjiros, Magokoro Brothers, and many more.
Aside from the CD and digital release of this album, two 7" cuts have of the first 4 songs been announced to be coming on April 20: "Oshare Middle / Tokyo No Yane No Shita" (CDJapan, Amazon, Tower) and "Hey Hey Boogie / Kaimono Boogie" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower).
Various Artists "seiki no uta, kokoro no uta -Ryōichi Hattori Tribute-"
オムニバス 「世紀のうた・心のうた -服部良一トリビュート-」
(Title / Artist)
1. Hey Hey Boogie / Magokoro Brothers
2. Oshare Middle (Contains Samples Of "oshare musume") / Scha Dara Parr
3. Kaimono Boogie / Keiichi Sokabe & Inokashira Rangers
4. Tokyo No Yane No Shita / Konishi Yasuharu feat. Miyako Kōda
5. Wakare No Blues / Tjiros
6. Osaka Boogie Woogie / Hitomi Yaida
7. Aoi Sanmyaku / Kanji Ishimaru
8. Tokyo Boogie Woogie / Nozomi Fūto
9. Soshū Yakyoku / Yoshio Inoue
Nippon Columbia COCP-42193
Out now (2/21), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records †, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
Posted on March 3, 2024 at 23:56
| Released on February 21, 2024
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IGUWANNAS is a rock band from Kyoto that was formed in 1994, and has released two albums in the 2000s before breaking up in 2013. 10 years later they're back with the digital release of two new songs: one which was first played as a new song in their farewell show 10 years ago ("NandemoYokattaNoni"), here released as it was found in a recording from back then, and the other which is a brand new one ("NingenDesu").
Both of their previous albums are now also available digitally: "FALL iN LOVE WiTH EiGHT BEAT... " (2002) (, Spotify, YouTube Music) and "Rock'n'Roll After School" (2009) (, Spotify, YouTube Music).
A show will be held in Tokyo on April 6 at Top Beat Club, also featuring The Bawdies and Yoru no Strangers. Tickets are on sale via e+.
IGUWANNAS "NandemoYokattaNoni" (Download)
IGUWANNAS 「なんでもよかったのに」
DECKREC/UK.PROJECT DCRC-0089
Out now (2/28)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
IGUWANNAS "NingenDesu" (Download)
IGUWANNAS 「人間です」
DECKREC/UK.PROJECT DCRC-0090
Out now (2/28)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
"NandemoYokattaNoni"
"NingenDesu"
Posted on February 28, 2024 at 23:26
| Released on February 28, 2024
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NUBACK (pronounced Noo-back), the solo project of singer-songwriter Dai Nakamura (also of Blank Music, BANK and Vacation Three, ex-Arch), has just released two new tracks on Bandcamp.
The new songs should become available in a month or so on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
This NUBACK release follows "Kanata / Tagai Chigai" out in September last year. Dai Nakamura also released two songs in December under his own name: "Goodbye / for Alison".
NUBACK "Yuragi / Always Changing" (Download)
1. Yuragi
2. Always Changing
Too Young Records
Out now (2/25)
Sample/buy: Bandcamp
Posted on February 27, 2024 at 23:59
| Released on February 27, 2024
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Voodoo Club (𝕏, Instagram) has released a brand new single digitally. Check out the music video of "If You Fall In Love" (Japanese title "koi ni ochitara") below! The B-side is a cover of "My Coo Ca Choo" originally by Alvin Stardust.
This follows the 7" single "Theme of Voodoo Club" released for Record Day 2023.
A 2nd 7" single has also be announced to be coming for Record Store Day on April 20, titled "Cynical Baby c/w ki ni naru omae".
Upcoming shows include event "Rock'n'Roll Animal" on March 3 at Hatagaya Club Heavy Sick inn Hatagaya, "Rock'n'Roll Circus" on April 4 at Ogikubo Top Beat Club, and label event "Beat East x Donut 'Beat Donut'" on April 25 at Shindaita Fever.
Voodoo Club "If You Fall In Love c/w My Coo Ca Choo" (Download)
暴動クラブ
「恋におちたら c/w 俺のあの娘」
(Japanese title: "koi ni ochitara c/w ore no ano ko")
1. If You Fall In Love
2. My Coo Ca Choo
Beat East
Out now (2/14)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
Posted on February 25, 2024 at 12:40
| Released on February 14, 2024
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Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan (𝕏, Instagram), nicknamed Konneki, is known both as a comedian and musical artist. Here comes her first full-length album, titled "Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan Republic", and like her previous works it is produced by CMJK (Cutemen, ex-Denki Groove). The album has sounds of no wave, synth wave, jazz, ambient, heavy metal, hard electro, drum'n'bass, ballad, etc. Aside from CMJK's tracks, two were written/arranged by George (of MOP of HEAD) ("George JAZZ" and "Gam'n") and two (co-)written/(co-)arranged by Shintaro Yamaguchi (aka ShinYMG).
The album consists of original songs except for covers of "Since Yesterday" (Strawberry Switchblade) and "Time After Time" (Cindy Lauper). The songs "So" and "Since Yesterday" were previously released as a digital single, though these have been updated into album versions.
This also follows the release of "Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan E.P" digitally in January last year: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY.
A performance in Tokyo Tower was held on February 22, and a document movie of it can be watched on YouTube.
Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan "Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan Republic" (Download)
1. Democratic People Republic of KON NEKI
2. So (Album Version)
3. Since Yesterday (Album Version)
4. George JAZZ
5. Ami
6. Name In The Moon
7. Konya
8. WHITE WOLF
9. Time After Time
10. Gam'n
11. Junk
12. Riviera
22nd Century Tunes 22CT-73
Out now (2/21)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
"So" (Single version)
Posted on February 24, 2024 at 00:30
| Released on February 21, 2024
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In homage to the famous composer and hitmaker Kyōhei Tsutsumi, who passed away in 2020 (at the age of 80), singers Miki Hirayama & Maki Nomiya got together as a duet to sing two of his unreleased songs. Both songs, "Artist" and "Hot na chikyū yo", have lyrics written by long-time collaborator lyricist Jun Hashimoto and arranged by Akimitsu Honma who was also a frequent collaborator in recent years.
The two songs were first released digitally, and are now available as an album on CD and digitally with for bonus tracks live performances by the two singers of some famous songs by the composer taken from a show of Maki Nomiya's Shibuya-kei show series on September 18, 2023 at Billboard Live Tokyo.
Miki Hirayama & Maki Nomiya "Artist / Hot na chikyū yo"
平山みき & 野宮真貴 「アーティスト/ホットな地球よ」
Disc1
1. Artist
2. Hot na chikyū yo
Disc2
1. MC
2. kurenai Hotel / Maki Nomiya
3. Hey Girl / Maki Nomiya
4. manatsu no dekigoto / Miki Hirayama
5. isuka dokoka de / Miki Hirayama
6. Friends / Miki Hirayama & Maki Nomiya
7. Artist / Miki Hirayama & Maki Nomiya
8. Dancing Seventeeen / Maki Nomiya
Space Shower Music DDCB-12985
Out now (2/14), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records †, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
"Artist"
"Hot na chikyu yo"
Posted on February 23, 2024 at 23:32
| Released on February 14, 2024
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This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live.
"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.46) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on February 15 from 20:30 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: February 16, 2024 from 10:30 a.m.
This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks, including the times below:
Listen to the Spotify playlist of some of the songs played (some replaced according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.
Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts which you can listen to.
1. Yucca "3am" (2024)
The first song is a new one by indie-pop band Yucca (Bandcamp, Facebook, 𝕏), which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. In January they released this brand new song titled "3am" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ). Check out the music video below.
It had been 8 years since their previous song. Most (if not all) of Yucca's music can be found on Bandcamp.
🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Yucca, Color Filter
2. Color Filter "Light and Shadow" (2023)
Color Filter (Bandcamp) is a unit led by Ryuji Tsuneyoshi that started in the late 90s and made several releases in and out of Japan across a decade (some of those can be found on Spotify and other download/streaming platforms). The unit resumed its activities a few years ago, joined by vocalist Minami Taga (also a singer in dream pop duo macominaming (𝕏)).
"Light and Shadow" is their latest song, available on Bandcamp, along with four more.
Color Filter will perform at café North Marine Drive in Shibuya on April 21, 2024. Details should be announced later here.
3. Frontier Backyard with Neil & Iraiza "Enjoy The Ride" (2024)
2024 marks the 20th of Frontier Backyard. To kick it off, they were joined by Neil & Iraiza (𝕏, Instagram) for a collaboration song titled "Enjoy The Ride" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which was released digitally in January.
Frontier Backyard is the unit of TGMX and Tadaaki "TDC" Fukuda, and Neil & Iraiza is formed of Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda and Hirohisa Horie.
4. Keichi & The Coconut Groove "Voyage to Cythera" (2024)
(Japanese title: ケイチ&ココナッツ・グルーヴ Keichi & Coconut Groove 「シテール島への船出」 "Cythera-tō e no funade")
Keichi & The Coconut Groove (𝕏, Instagram) is a young band self-described as the Shibuya-kei of subscription music age. "Voyage to Cythera" is a new song from their latest single released in January, "Tell Me You Are There" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).
Keichi & The Coconut Groove will host an event titled "Neuromantic" on Tuesday March 19 at Moonromantic in Aoyama, Tokyo. Also playing will be Ruan with Exotic Club and Tyrkouaz. Find details here.
🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Frontier Backyard with Neil & Iraiza, Keichi & Coconut Groove, YMCK
5. YMCK "TEN" (2023)
YMCK recently celebrated its 20th anniversary! They released in September a new album titled "TEN+TEN" (read "Ten Ten") (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The double album is made of 20 tracks, ten original songs that revisit all of their previous works, plus the brand new song "TEN" (played this time), and ten remixes and covers by other artists.
"TEN+TEN" is also available as a 2-CD set via Amazon.
6. AOI12SAI "Sea of Neon" (2023)
(Japanese title: あおい12さい 「Sea of Neon」)
AOI12SAI (Instagram, 𝕏) is a singer-songwriter also active as part of ARAKAWAYA. She has released at the beginning of this year the new song "Sea of Neon" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). This song follows the mini-album "POV" released in May last year.
AOI12SAI will perform at BAR OPK in Nishi-Ogikubo on February 17, 2023. Details can be found here.
🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: AOI12SAI, Dai Nakamura
7. Dai Nakamura "Good Bye" (2023)
(Japanese title: Dai Nakamura 「グッドバイ」)
Dai Nakamura (aka NUBACK, Blank Music, also of bands BANK and Vacation Three) released a new single of two songs recently, one of which is "Good Bye" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music).
These songs followed the full-length album "Room, Sea and Me" out in February 2023. Dai Nakamura also recently released music as Blank Music ("Last Night / Zero") and NUBACK ("Kanata / Tagai Chigai"). More from NUBACK is expected to be coming very soon. Stay tuned!
Thank you for tuning in! Information about replays can be found at the top of the page.
Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some older ones on Mixcloud.
Posted on February 16, 2024 at 13:05
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From the excellent series of city pop compilations "City Music Tokyo" selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei), comes a new vinyl release of a selection from the cross-label compilation "City Music Tokyo interchange". Many of the songs are available on vinyl for the first time.
This compilation was first released in September 2023 as a 17-track CD exclusive to Tower Records, and also digitally with a few tracks removed ( (Japan), Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY).
Find a list of all previous releases of the series below.
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo interchange" (12")
(Title / Artist)
A1. tōzakaru inu / Souki Urakami
A2. watashi o hanasanai de / Orangeade
A3. underline / Manabu Imada
A4. wakai / Ornithology
A5. Believe in Love / Blue Peppers
B1. Sunset Beach feat. Hiyori Nara / City Himes
B2. Million Miles Away -Edit / Milk Talk & Vantage
B3. dakishimetai yo (feat. HIMI) / LAGHEADS
B4. DAYZ / AAAMYYY x MONJOE
B5. INVISIBLE feat. Kurumi / Yusuke Hirado
Insense Music Works Inc. IMWVR-1025
Out now (1/24), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records †
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
Previous releases of the "City Music Tokyo" series:
- "City Music Tokyo invitation"
- "City Music Tokyo junction" (Tower Records exclusive CD) and its vinyl edition (see City Pop on Vinyl 2022)
- "City Music Tokyo tremolo" (Tower Records exclusive CD) and its vinyl edition (see Record Store Day 2023)
- "City Music Tokyo signal"
- "City Music Tokyo parallelism"
- "City Music Tokyo corner" and its vinyl edition (see Record Day 2023)
- "City Music Tokyo multiple"
- "City Music Tokyo invitation" (Tower Records exclusive CD)
- "City Music Tokyo reflection" (Amazon, HMV, Tower)
Posted on February 12, 2024 at 11:01
| Released on January 24, 2024
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Natsu Summer (Facebook, Instagram) has released just recently a new 7", of her latest song "Think of Summer". The city pop reggae song was written and arranged by her main producer Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei).
First released digitally last October, and also featured on Natsu Summer's first mix CD "Endless Natsu Summer" (exclusive to Tower Records), the song is now available physically in full for the first time. The B-side is an instrumental version exclusive to this 7".
Natsu Summer will DJ on February 13 at a release event for SAKUra's 7" single, to be held at restaurant Chompoo at Shibuya Parco. It seems that this will be the singer's first public appearance, who was 12-year-old at the time of the recording (in 2021). The event details can be found here.
Natsu Summer "Think of Summer" (7")
ナツ・サマー 「Think of Summer」
A. Think of Summer
B. Think of Summer (Instrumental)
Insense Music Works IMWVR1026
Out 1/24, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) †
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
Posted on February 11, 2024 at 23:53
| Released on January 24, 2024
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The Caraway (𝕏), the guitar pop solo project of Osamu Shimada (Swinging Popsicle), has just released a brand new album, titled "Our brilliiant weekend". It had been 18 years since the first self-titled album (2006). The new album consists of all new songs.
Guest musicians include Momoko Kawakami (of Keichi & Coconut Groove) who plays trumpet on "Our brilliant weekend", Mayumi Ikemizu (Three Berry Icecream) playing accordion on "Cookies dances waltz at midnight", and Hisashi Iwabuchi (Sloppy Joe) on bass on "All up to you".
Check out the sampler clip below, and find the whole album on CD or digitally at Bandcamp or disques blue-very. Within Japan, the CD can also be ordered directly from The Caraway's official online shop. Distribution through other shops (such as Amazon and Tower Records) will start on February 24.
The Caraway "Our brilliant weekend"
1. Sunday morning biking
2. Fall in love again
3. Our brilliant weekend
4. Birthday girl
5. Venus in motion
6. Cookies dances waltz at midnight
7. Love is a miracle
8. All up to you
9. Long tailed Sally
10. Last night
11. When I look into the camera
blue-very label blvd-036
Out now (1/28), ¥2273 (excl. tax)
Order: Bandcamp, disques blue-very, Tower, Amazon
Sampler clip
Posted on February 4, 2024 at 10:14
| Released on January 28, 2024
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Continue reading in the January 2024 archive.
Next entry: "°C-want you! "Costello Megane" (7")" (January 31, 2024 at 21:01)
日本の音楽シーン関係のプレスリリースは こちらのメールアドレス までお送りお願いいたします。
Please send your Japan music scene press releases to this email address.