Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Hip-hop unit Asia Engineer's new single is produced by Konishi Yasuharu. "Tokyo 7" heavily samples Pizzicato Five's "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" ("The night is still young").

The single comes in two flavors, a regular cheaper edition, and a limited edition that comes with a DVD described as "AE Live Graphics", and each has different artwork.

Asia Engineer "jiyū ni aruite ai shite / Tokyo 7"
エイジアエンジニア 「自由に歩いて愛して / Tokyo 7」

1. jiyū ni aruite ai shite
2. Tokyo 7
3. jiyū ni aruite ai shite (Instrumental)
4. Tokyo 7 (Instrumental)

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2? NTSC))
Rhythm Zone RZCD-45365B
Out 4/5, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Regular edition (CD only)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-45366
Out 4/5, ¥1050
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five CUT UP" (Download)
iTunes Music Store Japan links have been added!

Fantastic Plastic Machine "Imaginations" (12")
Artwork added

Kinbara Chieko "Strings of Life" / "Time To Love" / "If You Only" (12")
Two more 12" singles added here. I'd expect them all to come out at once at the end of April, but who knows. The album expected in May has yet to be announced.

Follow-up to "L.D.K. Lounge Designers Killer" released last September, a new capsule album is coming this May! They promise a high level of dancefloor-oriented electro-club music.

There will be a limited edition, contaning a CD-sized vinyl record holding the song "School of Electro".

Thanks to reader Michael for the hint!

capsule "FRUITS CLiPPER"

1. CS Entrance6
2. FRUITS CLiPPER
3. jelly (album edit)
4. crazEEE Skyhopper
5. Five STAR
6. Endor
7. Robot Disco
8. super speeder judy jedy
9. megalopolis
10. dreamin dreamon

contemode YCCC-10005
Out 5/10, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Nagisa Yōko "Hey You!"
The great latest mini-album has been re-released! It had been suddenly deleted a few days after the original release last November.

There's a new Wada Akiko greatest hits album out just yesterday, containing collaborations with artists such as Konishi Yasuharu, Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), Comoesta Yaegashi and m-flo. Also included is a remix by Jazztronik.
Art direction is also done by Konishi Yasuharu.

Wada Akiko "Rhythm & Blues no jōō"
和田アキ子 「リズム＆ブルースの女王」

1. Rhythm & Blues no jōō
2. Boy And Girl (Altemate English Version)
3. Hey!
4. Funky Friday
5. kanashii uta
6. yume
7. nayami muyō! (Readymade Mix)
8. Tiger & Dragon
9. manatsu no yoru no 23ji
10. ai no hikari
11. Sunny
12. Rumba de Boom Boom
13. wakareru nante mottai nai ne.
14. Dynamite-a-go-go!!!
15. ai no tame dake ni
16. Free At Last (Original Vocal Mix)
17. onna tomodachi
18. ano kane o narasu no wa anata (Jazztronik Remix)

Teichiku TECE-28633
Out now (3/22), ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Singer Nobuchika Eri, always produced by Ōsawa Shinichi (of Mondo Grosso, Sakura Hills Disco 3000, and bird fame), has a first remix album coming out including contributions by Fantastic Plastic Machine, Matthew Herbert, and more.

Nobuchika Eri "Nobuchikaeri.rx"
信近エリ 「Nobuchikaeri.rx」

1. Lights (FPM obsession mix)
2. Sing A Song (Royksopp i kramsno_ remix)
3. I Hear The Music In My Soul (Mutiny's 'special edition' remix)
4. Voice (Azzido Da Bass remix)
5. kodō (Herbert's pikey remix)
6. yume no kakera (Linus Loves remix)
7. hidamari (Akufen clueless mix)

SMEJ Associated AICL-1744
Out 5/10, ¥1748 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Two weeks later, this series of three 12"'s will also be released, including some of the original versions.

Nobuchika Eri "Nobuchikaeri.rx01" (12")
信近エリ "Nobuchikaeri.rx01"

A1. Lights (FPM obsession mix)
A2. I Hear The Music In My Soul (Mutiny's 'special edition' remix)
B1. yume no kakera (Linus Loves remix)
B2. yume no kakera (Original)

SMEJ Associated AIJL-5290
Out 5/24, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Nobuchika Eri "Nobuchikaeri.rx02" (12")
信近エリ "Nobuchikaeri.rx02"

A1. Voice (Azzido Da Bass remix)
A2. Voice (Original)
B1. Sing A Song (Royksopp i kramsno_ remix)
B2. Sing A Song (Original)

SMEJ Associated AIJL-5291
Out 5/24, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Nobuchika Eri "Nobuchikaeri.rx03" (12")
信近エリ "Nobuchikaeri.rx03"

A1. kodō (Herbert's pikey remix)
A2. kodō (Original)
B1. hidamari (Akufen clueless mix)
B2. hidamari (Original)

SMEJ Associated AIJL-5292
Out 5/24, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Jazz singer akiko, who has been produced by Sunaga Tatsuo and Konishi Yasuharu, has a self-selected greatest hits album coming out. It will include a few previously unreleased tracks.
The limited edition will include a mini photo book.

akiko "Collage"
akiko 「コラージュ」

1. Intro ~ Hommage To Girl Talk
2. Around the World
3. Funky Monkey Baby (Previously unreleased)
4. Old Devil Moon
5. Mood Swings
6. I Miss You
7. So Tired
8. Far Beyond
9. Interlude ~ Blues
10. You've Changed (Previously unreleased version from "akiko's Holiday" session)
11. Good Morning Heartache
12. Prelude To A Kiss (Previously unreleased take from "Hip Pop Bop" session)
13. sukindo re re
14. Interlude ~ God Bless the Child
15. Upstream
16. Fly Me To the Moon
17. Do You Know?

Verve UCCJ-2049
Out 4/5, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

DJs, this 12" EP containing 4 tracks from Fantastic Plastic Machine's latest album "Imaginations" will contain extended mixes of "don't you know?" and "paparuwa".

Fantastic Plastic Machine "Imaginations" (12")

1. don't you know? feat. Clazziquai Project (12" Extended Mix)
2. dance dance dance dance feat. Su (Rip Slyme)
3. paparuwa (12" Extended Mix)
4. slippin' on down feat. Bob Arkin

l'Appareil-photo bis bis-34
Out 3/30, ¥1470
Order: HMV, Tower

Last Sunaga-san for now (I think), but not least. A new original Sunaga t̀ Experience 12" EP is on its way!

Sunaga t̀ Experience "European Suite EP" (12")

A1. Cuba Libre
A2. Metropili
B1. In Case of Emergency

Flower Records FLRS-067
Out 4/15 5/1, ¥1365
Order: Tower

Next up from Sunaga Tatsuo's "All nighters"/「夜ジャズ」 series is a collection of tracks from major label Toshiba EMI.

Various Artists "Sunaga Tatsuo yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.4"
オムニバス 「須永辰緒の夜ジャズ～Jazz Allnighters №4～」
(aka "Special Jazz Alnighters")
(aka "EMI Edition")

1. Samba To Come / The Diamond Five
2. Darma Bums / Nicola Conte
3. My Girl Shirl / Donald Byrd
4. Crazy Driving / Shiraki Hideo Quintet
5. Loungin' / Guru
6. Stardust From Tomorrow / Sun Ra Arkestra
7. Oscalypso / Curtis Fuller
8. Invitation / Lenny McBrowne
9. Yorks Sauna / Don Scaletta
10. The St. Vitus Dance / Horace Silver
11. I've Had A Little Talk / Horace Silver
12. I'm On My Way / Henry Cain
13. Lion's Den / Kenny Drew
14. Nature Boy / Ike Quebec

Toshiba EMI TOCT-25991
Out 5/17, ¥2477 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Also:
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.1" (Sony)
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.2" (Universal)
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.3" (Victor (Prestage/Riverside))

Trivia!
These are alternate tracks that were once listed at various sources in this release's track list but didn't make it to the final track list. (These are not included!)
"Sasuke" Opening Theme
Taboo / マックス・レス
Bohemian's Dilemma / Nicola Conte
Help! / Ronnie Dunn Quartet
On The Brink Of It / Vince Jones
A Secret / Billy Taylor
Me 'n You ?

Just catching up with Sunaga-san, whose site seems to lack a bit of updating. I had completely missed this January-released 3rd of the "Allnighters" series.

This 3rd installment of the series focuses on jazz labels Prestage and Riverside, and also includes "To Iskol'hof" by Denmark's Bent Axen Sextet.

Various Artists "Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.3"
オムニバス 「須永辰緒の夜ジャズ～Jazz Allnighters №3～」

1. To Iskol'hof / Bent Axen
2. Cleopatra and the African Knight / Johnny "Hammond" Smith
3. So Tired / Bobby Timmons
4. Hootin' / The Jazz Five
5. You Go To My Head / Bill Evans
6. Under The Paris Skies / Roy Haynes with Booker Ervin
7. I've Got You Under My Skin / Joe Henderson
8. Solar / Dave Pike
9. Englishman in New York / Mari Nakamoto
10. Congo Call / Prince Lasha Quintet featuring Sonny Simmons
11. The Trolly Song / Evans Bradshaw
12. I Long To Belong To You / Eric Kloss
13. Nuttville / Big Horns Bee
14. Love Theme From "Spartacus" / Yusef Lateef

Victor VICP-63287
Out 1/21, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Also:
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.1" (Sony)
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.2" (Universal)

Record banchō Sunaga Tatsuo teams up with Italian label Schema to deliver this mix CD featuring one new song by Sunaga t̀ Experience!

Various Artists "World Standard Schema"

1. P. Fedreghini & M. Bianchi / You Are A Star-Shining Star (Rmx)
2. Gerardo Frisina / Jazz Ally
3. Rosario Giuliani Quartetto / Il Sorpasso
4. Quartetto Logreco / Giant Steps
5. Rosalia De Souza / Vivo Sonhando
6. Soulstance / Main Stream
7. Invisible Session / 'till The End
8. Les Hommes / Mood Is Modal
9. Rosalia De Souza / Ondemanda O Meu Amor
10. S-tone Inc / Emotional Dancing
11. Gerardo Frisina / Tokyo's Dream
12. Schema Sextet / Lotar
13. Sunaga t̀ Experience / Cuba Libre
14. Luis Ferri / My Love Samba
15. Quintetto Logreco / Yes And No
16. Dining Rooms / Thin Ice

Schema FIN-010
Out 3/31
Order:

Also:
"World Standard.04 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-" (CCCD)
"World Standard.05 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"

Probably mostly (if not only) tracks that will appear on the May-released "5 minutes of pizzicato five", but for those who can't wait these will be available on iTunes Music Store Japan and other download sites by the end of March!
p&art sasanoooha's track was previously available on "24 décembre e.p.".

Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five CUT UP"

Sunaga t̀ Experience "radio P5"
Yoshida Tetsuto "The Ultimate Pizzicato Lesson 5-4-3-2-1"
Cubismo Grafico "PizziCUT Five UP Anthems"
Boot Beat "exam from 524"
Handsomeboy Technique "Yikes! Peach Cut 5'24"!!"
Halfby "pizzichannelesson 5~ HALFBY no josei jōi jidai"
Kawanishi Taku "A revolt of turntable & p5"
Cardiff Girl "Talhot Strings (good morning cardiff girl)"

columbia*readymade
Out 3/29

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

This Pizzicato Five mix album will feature 5 minutes anything-goes P5 cut-up mixes by Sunaga Tatsuo, Tokiwa Hibiki, cubismo grafico, Yoshida Tetsuto, Handsomeboy Technique (who made his track's length 5:24!), Halfby, Boot Beat, Kawanishi Suguru...
No need to mark your calendars though, just remember it's out on the international Konishi day: 5/24!

At least some of these tracks will be available in advance on iTMS Japan. (Details)
All songs be previewed on Columbia's Pizzicato Five discography.

By the way, there will be a special Pizzicato Five campaign allowing anyone to be able to get original P5 goods! You have to buy ALL 17 CDs released on 3/31 PLUS this one, and send-in all 18 proofs of purchase to get the stuff. Beware though, this offer may well be void outside of Japan.

Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five we dig you"
(Formerly entitled "5 minutes of pizzicato five")

1. Halfby "pizzichannelesson 5~ Halfby no josei jōi jidai"
2. Tokiwa Hibiki "Pizzicato Five no kangaeta koto wa nan desuka."
3. Boot Beat "exam from 524"
4. Kawanishi Suguru "A revolt of turntable & p5"
5. Yoshida Tetsuto "The Ultimate Pizzicato Lesson 5-4-3-2-1"
6. Sunaga t̀ Experience "radio P5"
7. Cubismo Grafico "PizziCUT Five UP Anthems"
8. Pizzicato Five "Bossa Nova 3003"
9. pandart sasanoooha "Pizzicato Five X"
10. Cardiff Girl "Talhot Strings (good morning cardiff girl)"
11. Handsomeboy Technique "Yikes! Peach Cut 5'24"!!"

columbia*readymade COCP-50928
Out 5/24, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Late night short series Steam kakarichō's first DVD is just out, and already a second DVD is to be released in a week! Unlike the first series, these will feature not real comedians but the original characters Dick Tarō, Ikura-san, Recycle Suzuki, itoshigo Of Talking Machine, Geisha Tank, Maru-chan and Medetai-sensei.

"Steam kakarichō: kakarichō Original hen" (DVD)
「スチーム係長 －係長オリジナル編－」
(Region 2 / NTSC / 4:3 / Japanese audio / Stereo)

Main feature: 24 min.

Special features: 16 min.
- Character introduction
- Advice from "itoshigo Of Talking Machine"
- Theme song original music clip (ver.2)
- Train Surfer (sample episode)

(contents subject to change)

Paramount PPAB-112342
Out 3/24, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (pre-orders currently 22% off!)

Nomoto Karia "tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" remixes
iTunes links added!... even though at this time they're not even to be found using the iTMS search!

The first full album by hardcore punk band Struggle For Pride will be produced by Illicit Tsuboi and feature Kahimi Karie among other guests such as Kan & 麻暴 (MSC), Abraham Cross, S-One The Gangsta (Scramble Crossing), Tera-P & D.O (Entotsu Entertainment).

There will be a cardboard sleeve limited edition including a bonus DVD.

Struggle For Pride "You Bark We Bite"

1. Reflector
2. Blockpain
3. Despise You
4. Tears For Fears
5. Moral Guidance
6. Feeling In Soil
7. Summer Never Ends
8. Mobs
9. You Bark, We Bite.

Limited edition (cardboard sleeve, with bonus DVD)
tearbridge NFCD-27017B
Out 5/17, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Regular edition (CD only)
tearbridge NFCD-27018
Out 5/17, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Zin-say! "Zin-say! Nagomu Collection"
It's remastered!! (If you've heard any Zin-say! stuff, you know a lot of it sounded like crap!) Also secret bonus track detail added.

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

There will be a restrospective exhibition of Puffy's career in celebration of their debut 10th anniversary. A special Web site has also been opened at puffy10.com.

Puffy 10th Anniversary 【PUFFY10展】
at LaForet Harajuku Museum 6th floor

Date: 4/7 (Friday) to 4/12 (Wednesday)
Time: 11:00 to 20:00 (last day until 18:00)
Price: ¥10 (!), or free for ones 10 years or younger, owners of a LaForet member card, and those whose name is "Ami", "Yumi", "Ōnuki" or "Yoshimura"

The very cute stop-animation 5 minute film "komaneko - hajime no ippo" (I had talked about it before on my main blog), about a cat recursively making puppets and shooting a stop-animation flick using those, is coming out on DVD this April.

The main feature can be viewed entirely online at Excite Cinema.

komaneko official site

"komaneko - hajime no ippo" (DVD)
「こまねこ はじめのいっぽ」
(Region 2 (probably) NTSC, 4:3 aspect ratio, approx. 30 minutes.)

Main feature "komaneko - hajime no ippo" (English chapter titles are unofficial.)
#1. koma tori suru neko. (The stop-animator cat.)
#2. satsuei kaichō... janai mitai. (Lights, camera, action... or not quite.)
#3. kū o kiru neko Punch. (The cat punch that cuts the air(?).)
#4. hitokoma hitokoma ai o komete. (Frame by frame with love.)
#5. himitsu. (Secret.)
(total 5 minutes)

Special features:
- Making of
- "video conte"

Geneon Entertainment GNBD-1143
Out 4/14, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (10% off *)
* Discount at time of writing

Also, this picture book is available since last week.

"komaneko ehon" (Book)
「こまねこえほん」
30 pages, 14x20cm

Kōdansha ISBN 4062132826
Out now (3/6), ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

It's official, Karly is a remixer! Her self-remix of "tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (the first cut)" is to be released on iTunes Music Store Japan and other Japanese download sites on March 15, along with another remix by Kagami.
From columbia*readymade.

30 sec. samples on columbia*readymade's news page
And don't miss Karly's new photos in the gallery!

Nomoto Karia "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (karly mix)" (Download)
野本かりあ 「東京は夜の七時 (karly mix)」

columbia*readymade COKM-30026
Out 3/15, ¥200
Sample/Buy:

Nomoto Karia "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (kagami mix)" (Download)
野本かりあ 「東京は夜の七時 (kagami mix)」

columbia*readymade COKM-30027
Out 3/15, ¥200
Sample/Buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

See also (on iTMS Japan):
"tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (The First Cut)" (1/11-released original version)

To celebrate its issue #300, magazine Sound & Recording will include a bonus DVD containing a video directed by Takagi Masakatsu for brand new Cornelius song "toner"!

Sound & Recording April 2006 (No.300)

Includes bonus DVD of Cornelius song "toner"
(DVD is of NTSC format and may be region 2 only.)

Rittor Music
Out 4/15 3/15, ¥1000
Pre-order now: Amazon

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "The Last Gigs" (DVD)
Track list and details added!

After TakBam, Okamura to Takkyū and Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr, Ishino Takkyū's new collaboration unit is with Kawanabe Hiroshi of Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, and the name is InK (surely stands for "Ishino and Kawanabe")! Their sound is said to mix elements of different styles such as lounge, electro, rock and dub.
There will be a limited edition DVD-sized 2-pane digipak! Order early!

A first sample can be heard in this Vodafone commercial.
InK official site

InK "C-46"

1.Black Out On Sunday Night
2.Into The Sound
3.Bassline
4.Metall Position
5.Constantinople
6.Oh... Tell Me...
7.Sketch For Autumn
8.Good That You Come

Ki/oon KSCL-976
Out 4/26, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

InK "C-46" (2LP)

Ki/oon KSJL-6124/5
Out 5/12, ¥3059
Order: (not yet)