Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Nomoto Karia "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (CD+DVD)
Artwork added, straight from Karly's blog! That's one jacket I'm looking forward to open. :)

Sunaga t̀ Experience "European Suite EP" (12")
Better late than never, the center label artwork has been added. I just saw it last Saturday at Shibuya DMR next to the P5 "we dig you" 12"'s.

Various Artists "Motivation Dusty Dance Hall compiled by Towa Tei"
This one was supposed to be released 5/31 but is being delayed , no new date yet. Let's hope for June. until 8/2.

After three sold out 7" singles and a contribution to "Readymade digs Classics", Fender Rhodes player Ino Hidefumi finally has a first album coming out. Included are 4 songs from the now rare 7"'s, and a bunch of new recordings. Most (if not all) are covers. The album is highly acclaimed by artists from the club scene such as Konishi Yasuharu, Sunaga Tatsuo, Asamoto Hirofumi (Ram Jam World) and Kubota Takeshi.

Ino Hidefumi "Satisfaction"
猪野秀史 「Satisfaction」

1. Spartacus
2. What are you doing the rest of your life
3. Why are we at war
4. Billie Jean
5. Behind the rainbow
6. Midnight at the oasis
7. Love theme from spartacus #piano
8. Madsummer Reminiscence
9. Solid Foundation
10. Just the two of us
11. Soshu-yakyoku
12. Never can say goodbye

Innocent IRCD-0001
Out 6/9, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon,

After their Plastics revival unit Plastic Sex that released an album last year, ex-Plastics' leader Nakanishi Toshio and ex-Pizzicato Five singer Nomiya Maki are back again with another brand new project, Plastic Folk / Plastic Knife ("folk" when written out in katakana can also read "fork"). The concept revolves around playing glam rock in a folk way.

The band will also feature members Ōnishi Tsuru on guitar and bass, and also Noemi (dancer from girls-only bar Goldfinger) and Monō Akiko (actress who appeared in films "Stereo Future" and "Samurai Fiction") on chorus. When performing live, they will be joined by Funky Gong (of Joujouka), Yashiki Gōta, Shiino Kyōichi and possibly others.

Their first release will be no less than a 2-CD album, the first CD featuring only original songs, and the second one covers of David Bowie, Terence Trent D'arby, Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Tim Buckley, and also To's bands Plastics and Melon.

Plastic Folk / Plastic Knife "Billion Knives & Folks and Disk One"
プラスチックフォーク／プラスチックナイフ 「一兆のナイフとフォークそして円盤1」

CD 1
1. Electronic sound no.2
2. Sound kinder garden
3. Curse go back 2 devil
4. Electric circle dance
5. Neon rain drops
6. Hardcore indian
7. Buttercups and daisy fields
8. Triumph
9. Down by the Nile river
10. Electronic sound no.3

CD 2 (cover album)
1. Feel so good (words & music terence trent d'arby)
2. Candy says (words & music Lou Reed)
3. Space ball/richochet& words & music Marc Bolan)
4. Dream city (words & music Toshio Nakanishi)
5. Million years picnic (words & music Toshio Nakanishi)
6. Park (words Toshi music Hajime)
7. Just like you (words & music Bryan Ferry)
8. Siren (Tim Buckley)
9. I'm set free (words & music Lou Reed)
10. Lonely planet (words & music David Johansen)
11. Heaven (words & music David Byrne)
12. Eighteen (words & music Alice Cooper)
13. Final news (words & music Toshio Nakanishi)

Bridge EDG-023/4
Out 6/20, ¥3500
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower

The theme song for Shindō Matsuo's new film, "otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai - The Playboy Don't Cry", will be a cover of Scha Dara Parr's hit song "konya wa Boogie Back" interpreted by Takenaka Naoto and Watanababy who both appear in the film. And the track is produced by... Scha Dara Parr!

Takenaka Naoto & Watanababy "konya wa Boogie Back"
竹中直人＆ワタナベイビー 「今夜はブギーバック」

1. konya wa Boogie Back / Takenaka Naoto & Watanababy
2. koi no sanpomichi / Watanababy

Aer-born AZCL-35001
Out 7/5, ¥762 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Until now, Agenda archives could only be browsed by date posted (using the month links at the bottom of the top page), but there's now a new feature making it possible to browse archived monthly calendars. This should be more user-friendly since releases/events are displayed chronologically (instead of by posted date), and "update" entries aren't included.

Look for the "archived monthly calendars" at the bottom of the top and calendar pages.

The useful calendar is also available in these convenient formats:

• RSS feed
• iCalendar dump (for your iPod and other calendar software)
• WINKsite at http://winksite.com/chipple/agenda/ (for your mobile phone)

This upcoming collaboration single between GAKU-MC (East End) and Sakurai Kazutoshi (Mr. Children) will feature beats by Halfby and a remix by Fukutomi Yukihiro. The track is described as a soccer cheering song.

GAKU-MC/Sakurai Kazutoshi "te o dasu na!"
GAKU-MC/桜井和寿 「手を出すな！」

1. te o dasu na
2. te o dasu na (Remixed by Fukutomi Yukihiro)
3. te o dasu na (Remixed by DJ ajapai0

Toy's Factory TFCC-89173
Out 5/31, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Halfby goes major, with this first maxi single on label Toy's Factory. The single will feature rap group Olympic Lifts, and will be available as a limited edition digipak.

Official page at Toy's Factory

Halfby "screw the plan"

1. Screw The Plan feat. Olympic Lifts
2. The President Is Laughing To Cheat
3. Man Mountain
4. Screw The Plan (dEAD deAD HALF gOOD REMIX)

Toy's Factory TFCC-89175
Out 7/26, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Buy iTunes Japan Music Cards at Amazon

Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble "What A Wonderful World" (12")
A self-titled CD by Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble is expected in July!

Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five we dig you for vinyl 1 + 2" (12")
The final release date is 5/24, so be looking for it on the shelves today already. Or maybe not, there are only 1000 copies that will disappear very fast.

Watchers of Kyoto label Second Royal will be happy to learn that artist Rufus is finally releasing a full-length album! His previous releases included mini-album "introdufus" (2003) and maxi single "New Arrival EP" (2004), as well as contributions to compilations "Second Royal" and "Second Royal Volume 2".

Sound samples at Rufus' MySpace

Rufus "Long Distance"

1. Throw In
2. Planet Jam
3. The Amicable Split
4. Long Distance
5. Beat Shopping
6. Live at the Donald Nut Show
7. Eddie the Extreme (Remix)
8. Call Me Baby
9. Bounce With Me
10. New Arrival (L.D. Mix)
11. Out of Bounds

Second Royal SRCDS-012
Out 7/19, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

The fourth of Tei Towa's popular house compilation series will be out already at the end of May in August. This one is 100% reggae!

Various Artists "Motivation 4 Dusty Dance Hall compiled by Towa Tei"

(Title / Artist)
1. Hot This Year / Dirtsman
2. Twice My Age / Krystal & Shabba Ranks
3. Telephone Love / J.C. Lodge
4. One Blood / Junior Reid
5. Holding On / Sandra Cross
6. Sound / Junior Reid
7. Murder She Wrote / Chaka Demus
8. Pirate Anthem / Home T & Coccoa Tea & Shanba Ranks
9. The Bed's Too Big Whithout You (Sting cover) / Sheila Hylton

cutting edge CTCR-14459 CTCR-14497
Out 5/31 8/2 8/9, ¥2548
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower

See also:
"Motivation - Songs for Make-up" (#1)
"Motivation - Driving Sweets" (#2)
"Motivation 3 compiled by Towa Tei"

Nomoto Karia "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (CD+DVD)
Track list added! The unreleased track's title suggests it will contain an 11-minute remix by Konishi-san!

It's not a secret that Cubismo Grafico Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji loves steel drums, but who would have expected the Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble! This will include a self-remix plus two Cubismo long-time favorites. The record will be released in a simple white jacket.
A self-titled CD by Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble is also expected in July!

At the same time is released the vinyl edition of Harvard's latest album "Talkin and Loud".

Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble "What A Wonderful World" (12")

A1. What A Wonderful World
A2. What A Wonderful World (cubismo grafico strut remix)
B1. Ave Maria
B2. Blissful Calypso

Escalator ESC074T
Out end of July, ¥1500
Pre-order: Escalator

Yann Tomita will play a live event to celebrate the release of CD "Forever Yann Music Meme 2" and also the book "Forever Yann Music Meme 1".
A unique chance to see Doopees live!

Yann Tomita "Forever Yann Music Meme 1 & 2" release party
at Roppongi Super Deluxe

Live:
Yann Tomita
Doopees
Naives (Yann Tomita, Itō Seikō, Takagi Kan)
and more...

Opens at 19:30, starts at 20:00
Price: advance only ¥2800 (Gallery360゜ 03-3406-5823, stylus 03-5784-6730, Jet Set Tokyo 03-5433-3883)

Various Artists "Sunaga Tatsuo yoru Jazz - Special / Jazz Allnighters"
New title again (was "No.4" and then "EMI Edition"). Final(?) track list added (removed tracks are listed at the bottom). Release date pushed back to 5/17.

Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five we dig you for vinyl 1 + 2" (12")
Official release date: 5/10.

Well worth a mention, Readymade Entertainment, Tokyo. / Readymade International boss (and wife of Konishi Yasuharu) Hasebe Chisai's popular "secret diary" blog is being published as a book. The obi has a comment by manga artist Anno Moyoko.
Her previous book, 「有閑マドモワゼル」 (French title "vivre sa vie", 127 p.) was released in 2002 as part of a series of three, the two others by Konishi-san and Comoesta Yaegashi.

新・レディメイド＊はせべ社長のひみつダイアリー (the on-going blog)

"Readymade＊Hasebe-shachō no himitsu Diary" (Book)
「レディメイド＊はせべ社長のひみつダイアリー」
A5 size, 269 pages (Japanese)

Readymade International (ISBN: 4902824051)
Out 5/17, ¥1365
Order: Amazon, HMV

There's a new film by Shindō Mitsuo (C.T.P.P.) coming out this year, titled 「男はソレを我慢できない -Un homme ne peut endurer ça-」 ("otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai"). The film is shot in Shimokitazawa and one of its goals is to archive the area's atmosphere.

A "making of" DVD will be released before the film starts playing, and will include commentary by director Shindō Mitsuo and actors Takenaka Naoto and Koike Eiko.

Official site

"otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai -Un homme ne peut endurer ça-"
「男はソレを我慢できない -Un homme ne peut endurer ça-」
(formerly sub-titled "The Playboy, Don't Cry")
2006 / Japan / 91 mins.

Directed by Shindō Mitsuo

With
Takenaka Naoto
Suzuki Kyōka
Koike Eiko
Bengaru
Shimizu Michiko
Takahashi Yukihiro (ex-YMO)
Takahashi Katsumi
Nukumizu Yōichi
Ōmori Nao
Watanababy
Nakamura Tatsuya
Tanaka Takushi (Ungirls)
Kimura Kōichi
Hitoe
Saiki Shigeru
Hida Yasuto
Nomiya Maki (ex-Pizzicato Five)
Kishino You-ichi
Anzai Hajime
Tokyo Ca★bunny

At Shibuya Cine Amuse starting July 29, and also in other theatres