Tokyo's Coolest Sound

After "Tell Me", here comes a second cut from FPM's upcoming 5th album "Imaginations". This one is a cover of Lil' Louis' "French Kiss". Out on the same day as the album.

Fantastic Plastic Machine "French Kiss" (12")

A. French Kiss
B. Obsession

L'Appareil-Photo Bis BIS-33
Out 2/22, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out)

Fantastic Plastic Machine "Imaginations"
Track list added!

A double remix 7" by Osaka club scene singer Maki Rinka is being released by Moodsville Records as the 3rd installment of their popular EP series of which the first two were Qypthone and Riez!. Remixers are none other than Konishi Yasuharu, hiding under his monicker DJ 440, and Boot Beat aka Kamiya Naoaki, who recently released his first 12" titled "Like a Bossa e.p.".

Sound samples at Moodsville

As for the original version, it can be heard on album "Cinematica" , out last September on Victor.

Maki Rinka "What Girls Want For A Man!"
マキ凛花 「だって女の子だもん！」

A. DJ 440's Top Billin' Mix (remixed by DJ 440)
B. The 4 Piano Sound Mix (remixed by Boot Beat)

Moodsville ville-004
Out 2/10, ¥1260
Order: Moodsville (Japan only, free shipping on pre-orders), for international orders once released check Jet Set

Fans of ex-Flipper's Guitar Ozawa Kenji rejoice, a new album is coming this March. This album is entirely instrumental.

Ozawa Kenji "Ecology of Everyday Life"

1. The River
2. Voices From Wilderness
3. Ecology Of Everyday Life
4. Jetset Junta
5. The Sea (I Can Hear Her Breathing)
6. Sol Le Pido A Dios
7. Shadow Work
8. Sleepers Awake / Mathrimba

Toshiba EMI TOCT-25919
Out 3/8, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Kyoto artist Collette, who was first heard on the 1998 Bungalow compilation "Sushi 4004", finally has a promising first CD mini-album coming up on the great Second Royal label. Straight to the shopping list.

Collette "Le petit ange de collette"

1. Memphis
2. B.M.D.
3. Bended Song
4. The Love Song Never Sung
5. Daybreak
6. Dixie Soundcrash

Second Royal SRCDS-011
Out 3/2, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Pizzicato Five "meikyokushū", "Best" + 15 re-releases
Details added regarding the two greatest hits albums. Also more details about the re-releases, which will contain the same songs as originally, though artwork has all been redesigned (artwork has yet to be published).

YMCK, who use an iBook and Logic to create their 8-bit sounds, will play a free live show at Apple Store Ginza.

YMCK live at Apple Store Ginza
on 2/4 (Saturday)

Place: Apple Store Ginza
Price: Free!
Starts at 19:00

Fantastic Plastic Machine "imaginations"
Artwork added! Is he being influenced from wearing a lot of Mastermind lately?

Buffalo Daughter's 5th album has been announced for release. Like their previous release "Pshychic" , it will be a CD/SACD hybrid disc.

Buffalo Daughter "Euphorica" (SACD Hybrid)

1. Mutating (5:02)
2. Beautiful You (4:28)
3. Peace (4:39)
4. Sometime Lover (6:21)
5. Bird Song (4:27)
6. Elephante Marinos (5:33)
7. Lost Guitar (6:59)
8. Winter Song (6:18)
9. Deo Volente (4:42)
10. Three-bass (remix) (6:52)

V2 V2CL-10002
Out 4/2, ¥2600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon,

A 5th anniversary of the break-up can't go without a bang... As you can see below, most of Pizzicato Five's Columbia catalog is being re-released on the new columbia*readymade label.

Pay particular attention to the two new greatest hits albums "pizzicato five we love you" and "pizzicato five i love you" (listed at the top), respectively selected by Moodsville's Hirabayashi Shinichi and Konishi Yasuharu. Konishi-san's is to contain two brand new remixes by himself of "The world without you" and "Stars".

The re-releases will include a combined release of the first 3 Columbia EPs, "London-Paris-Tokyo + This Year's Model + Readymade Recordings", totalling 18 previous releases available once again. The track lists are same as originally, but the artwork has all been redone.

Official page at columbia*readymade

Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five we love you"
Greatest hits album selected by Moodsville's Hirabayashi Shinichi.

1. We Love Pizzicato Five (from Pizzicato Five TYO)
2. Rock n' Roll (from Bossa Nova 2001)
3. Nata di Marzo (from Romantique 96)
4. Happy Sad (from Happy Sad (single))
5. I (from Pizzicato Five R.I.P.)
6. If I Were A Groupie (from Overdose)
7. Do Re Mi (from A Television Workshop e.p.)
8. Such a Beautiful Girl Like You (from Playboy Playgirl)
9. Someone's In Love With Someone (from A Message Song e.p.)
10. Tout Va Bien (from Sweet Pizzicato Five)
11. La règle du jeu (from Pizzicato Five R.I.P.)
12. Thank You (World Peace Now Mix) (from This Year's Girl)
13. The Night Is Still Young (from A Television Workshop e.p.)
14. Roma (from Pizzicato Five)
15. Icecream Meltin' Mellow (from Romantique 96)
16. Les grandes vacances - a. Studio b. Kamakura c. Enoshima (from Voyage à Tokyo e.p.)
17. Questions (from Overdose)
18. On the Sunny Side of the Street (from Overdose)
19. Coda (from Romantique 96)

columbia*readymade COCP-50906
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five I love you"
Greatest hits album selected by Konishi Yasuharu.

1. The Awakening (from Romantique 96)
2. La guerre est finie (from Pizzicato Five)
3. A New Song (from Last Studio Live DVD)
4. Silent Night (from great white wonder)
5. Passing By (from Sister Freedom Tapes)
6. Serial Stories (from Pizzicato Five)
7. The world without you (from Pizzicato Five) (new remix!)
8. Such a Beautiful Girl Like You (from Playboy Playgirl)
9. Triste (from Baby Portable Rock)
10. Drinking Wine (from Playboy Playgirl)
11. To Our Children's Children's Children (from Sister Freedom Tapes)
12. Stars (from Playboy Playgirl) (new remix!)
13. The Great Invitations (from Playboy Playgirl)
14. I Hear a Symphony (from Playboy Playgirl)
15. Summertime Summertime (from Pizzicato Five R.I.P.)
16. Ma vie, l'été de vie (from Happy End of the World)
17. The Night Is Still Young (from great white wonder)

columbia*readymade COCP-50918
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "London-Paris-Tokyo + This Year's Model + Readymade Recordings"
「『超音速のピチカート・ファイヴ』＋『最新型のピチカート・ファイヴ』＋『レディメイドのピチカート・ファイヴ』」
columbia*readymade COCP-50890
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "This Year's Girl"
「女性上位時代」
columbia*readymade COCP-50891
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Sweet Pizzicato Five"
「スウィート・ピチカート・ファイヴ」
columbia*readymade COCP-50892
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Instant Replay"
「インスタント・リプレイ」
columbia*readymade COCP-50893
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Bossa Nova 2001"
「ボサ・ノヴァ2001」
columbia*readymade COCP-50894
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Overdose"
「オーヴァードーズ」
columbia*readymade COCP-50895
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five TYO"
columbia*readymade COCP-50896
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Romantique 96"
「ロマンティーク96」
columbia*readymade COCP-50897
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Happy End of the World"
columbia*readymade COCP-50898
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five JPN - Big Hits And Jet Lags 1993-1997"
columbia*readymade COCP-50899
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Playboy Playgirl"
プレイボーイ・プレイガール
columbia*readymade COCP-50900
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five"
columbia*readymade COCP-50901
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "ça et là du Japon"
「さ・え・らジャポン」
columbia*readymade COCP-50902
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five R.I.P - Big Hits And Jet Lags 1998-2001"
columbia*readymade COCP-50903
Out 3/31, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "singles" (2 CDs)
columbia*readymade COCP-50904
Out 3/31, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, Amazon U.S.

The final release of the collaboration unit Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr is to be a DVD of the live show they gave at Summer Sonic 05.
Included are the two videos for Twilight previously featured on the album's limited edition DVD, another one for "Saint☆ojisan", plus two commentary tracks.
There will be a limited first edition with mirror coating.

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "The Last Gigs" (DVD)

Live at Summer Sonic 05
1. Numbers
2. Saint☆ojisan
3. B.A.P.
4. ANI VS Taki
5. Taki VS ANI
6. eisū/kana
7. kizaiya Rock'n'Roll
8. hitsujitachi no Elegy
9. Love Love Session
10. Twilight

Clips
1. Twilight (Abstract na ringotachi)
2. Twilight (fuzoroi no neji yashiki)
3. Saint☆ojisan

Audio tracks
1. Main
2. Taki ANI Commentary (live only)
3. zenin Commentary (live and clips, with all members)

Ki/oon KSBL-5818
Out 3/24, ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (22% off *)
* Discount at time of writing

I was really waiting for this one! Part of legendary indies label Nagomu's re-issue series, Zin-say!'s turn has finally come! Zin-say! was a pre-Denki Groove unit featuring Ishino Takkyū, Pierre Taki and friends. The concept involved simple new wave melodies, very silly, often repetitive lyrics, as well as costumes and make-up and ridiculous dances.
The release, selected by Ishino Takkyū et al., will contain remasters of Zin-say!'s greatest hits, as well as maybe some previously unreleased tracks. Stay tuned!

If you're a Zin-say! or Nagomu fan, you know this is an essential. Denki Groove fans who aren't afraid to jump into the past should also definitely check this out.

Zin-say! "Zin-say! Nagomu Collection"
人生 「人生 ナゴムコレクション」

1. Zin-say no Theme
2. karankoron no uta
3. maboroshi no Homerun oo
4. All Night Long
5. bakattsura Funk
6. otoko no naka no otoko
7. All Night Long (oyasumi Version)
8. Venezuela no akai hoshi
9. maboroshi no Homerun oo ~ horukanaru furusato
10. sekai ano mise kono mise
11. kyo_fu Chameleon ningen
12. Kiss×3
13. Punks Not Dead (satsujin)
14. osabishi yama
15. P-two (ikasuze kanojo)
16. ebi nage High Jump
17. sabaku
18. oyaji no shi
19. ore no karada no kinniku wa dore o totte mo kikai daze
20. Ruhmba De Obaba
21. ore ga tatami da! tonosama da!
22. itae yo
23. warumono sanka
24. We Are The Meidaimae (Live)
25. ebi nage High Jump (Live)
26. iya, yamete yo
27. ai o komete motto motto
+ secret track "ai o komete motto motto" (sonosheet version)

Nagomu DDCH-2513
Out 3/23, ¥2600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

"'Peanuts' Original Soundtrack"
Track list added

This is Harvard's 3rd album, including a few new versions of songs previously released on "Lesson" and "Oracle". There's yet another album planned for release this year.

Harvard "Talkin & Loud"

1. Loud Lovesong
2. Mad Gemma
3. Back to Next to (New Version)
4. No Hidden Place
5. Songs They Never Play on the Turntable
6. I Will Rock Paris (New Version)
7. Classic Death Metal (New Version)
8. Fly (or Fly) (New Version)
9. She's Got It
10. Noise Talkin
11. Looks Like Chloe Sevingy

Escalator ESCD-060
Out 3/2, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Now this has got to be the ultimate Valentine's Day gift for any Readymade lover. This special box of nine rose-flavored square chocolates by Mary was designed by Readymade boss Hasebe Chisai, and the box contains a compilation CD of also sweet music selected by her husband, Konishi Yasuharu.

The set can be ordered at Takashimaya department stores in Kyoto and Osaka, and also on the online shop (Japan only). The set is expected to be limited to only 1000 copies, so order early!

In Japan, Valentine's Day being a day where girls give chocolates to boys, this year I know just what I'd like.

Readymade × Mary: 2006 Valentine's original CD set

Delivers on February 12, 13 or 14 at your choice
Price: ¥3150 (incl. tax)
Order: Takashimaya (Japan only)

Update (2006/2/23): Double rectification. Sunahara Yoshinori did contribute at least a song to this mini-album.

Aco's next mini-album features a song produced by Sunahara Yoshinori.

Aco "mask"

1. ya-yo!
2. guilty
3. i know what boys like
4. rikunoritō
5. cover grrrl
6. fuan na no (new version)

Ki/oon KSCL-946
Out 2/22, ¥2427 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Halcali's 2nd single on Epic is coming this February, and guess what, it's produced by good old O.T.F! We sure were afraid that they wouldn't be around anymore.
The title track is said to heavily sample "The Magnificient Seven"(!?).

Halcali "Twinkle Star"

1. Twinkle Star
2. Check!! check!! it!!

Epic ESCL-2801
Out 2/22, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Konishi Yasuharu is responsible for the soundtrack of new TV drama "kui tan" based on the manga of the same name., where food always find its way in middle the detective plots. The music is to be classical with a remix twist, in a similar way as the great "Readymade Digs Classics" album. Track 3 is co-arranged by Arai Toshiya (Kofta).
The artwork was also designed by Konishi-san.

TV soundtrack "kui tan Soundtracks : Remixed"
「喰いタン Soundtracks : Remixed」

1. Brindisi from "La Traviata" (Verdi)
2. Bolero (Ravel)
3. Spring from "The Four Seasons" Allegro (I) (Vivaldi)
4. Funiculi Funicula (Denza)
5. Opera "die Walkure" Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner)
6. Concerto for Harpsichord No. 5 in G minor BWV.1056 (Bach)

Vap VPCD-81537
Out 3/1, ¥2096 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

YMCK will perform a free mini-live this weekend to promote their latest album "Family Racing".

YMCK free mini-live
on 1/8 (Sunday)
at Tower Records Shinjuku (Flags 7F, South-East exit)
Starts at 16:00

Those who buy the album at Tower Records Shinjuku are given a ticket allowing to stand in the reserved live space and to receive a signed card after the show.

There will also be a free mini-live at Tower Records Yokohama More-s on 1/14 (Saturday).