Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Wacky illustrator/designer/actor/personality Anzai Hajime, seen weekly on late-night TV show "Tamori Club", has a first solo single coming up. No clue what to expect, but it will be worth checking. The song is being featured on NHK's "minna no uta" through December and January.

A DVD containing a video clip and some extras will be included, and the limited edition will include a sticker of the happy characters.

Anzai Hajime "hoyahoyara-"
安齋肇 「ホャホャラー」

1. hoyahoyara-
2. hoyahoyara- (proron kei)
3. hoyahoyara- (Minus One = Anzai-kun ga kitemasen)
4. hoyahoyara- to hoyahoyahoyayan

DVD
hoyahoyara- (TV ban)
hoyahoyara- (kashi nuke)
omake (hoyahoya Chara Show-kai to Staff maki)

MHCL-1017/8
Out 1/24, ¥1575
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

Following their first self-titled album released in 2005, Chocolat & Akito will be back with a new album in February. The album will feature Shimizu Hirotaka (Little Creatures, ex-Bridge), and also John McEntire who mixed the whole album.

Chocolat & Akito "Tropical"

1. minaminami
2. akuma to tenshi
3. Tuning
4. Aventure
5. donadona
6. bōhatei
7. kōmori
8. gekkasuimoku
9. Dynamite
10. Melancholy

Victor VICL-62196
Out 2007/2/15, ¥2900 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon,

While in Paris last October, Fender Rhodes player Ino Hidefumi did a quick recording session with A.P.C. creator Jean Touitou. André Saraiva (Mr. A) is also featured on one song of this CD that will be available at A.P.C. shops only. It's limited to 500 copies.

Ino Hidefumi recently played his first concert in Fukuoka, place where he used to be the manager of an A.P.C. shop, which explains the brand's great support for the artist.

Ino Hidefumi + Jean Touitou "Three Easy Pieces"

1. It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)
2. As Tears Go By (Rolling Stones)
3. Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat (Bob Dylan)

APC APC-027
Out early January 2007 1/25, ¥1050
Buy at: A.P.C.

Keeping the quarterly pace, Sunaga Tatsuo will have a new compilation of his popular "Jazz Allnighters" series in February. This time he selects music from label Polystar and BounDEE (a large distributor). Included is Japanese trio West/Rock/Woods performing a cover of Everything But The Girl's "Each and everyone", song which Sunaga-san had selected for them to play, and also quasimode and Mannami Maki.

Various Artists "Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.7 Polystar/BounDEE hen"
オムニバス 「須永辰夫の夜ジャズ～Jazz Allnighters №7～ ポリスター/バウンディー編」

(Title / Artist)
1. Mike's Dilemma / MC5
2. Fanfare / Lars Lystedt Sextet
3. Heather Mist / Jimmy Deuchar Sextet
4. What Is This Thing Called Love / Space Jazz Trio (Enrico Pieranunzi)
5. Man From Tanganyika / Adele Sebastian
6. Polar AC / Freddie Hubbard
7. Each and Everyone / West/Rock/Woods
8. Sister Sanctified / Stanley Turrentine with Milt Jackson
9. Riviera / Dizzy Reece
10. From This Moment / Don Rendell
11. Stephenson's Rocket / MC5
12. Down In The Village / quasimode
13. Disguise / Mannami Maki

P.J.L. MTCJ-3037
Out 2007/2/1, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, 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))
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.4" (Toshiba EMI)
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.5" (Columbia)
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.6" (BMG (RCA))

Crazy Ken Band have a new single lined-up for early 2007. All three songs will be used in the upcoming Fuji TV drama "konshū, tsuma ga uwaki shimasu" starting in January. One song is a new version of the song "tasukete" from album "Shock ryōhō" ("Shock Treatment").

Crazy Ken Band "tenyawanya desuyo"
クレイジーケンバンド 「てんやわんやですよ」

1. tenyawanya desuyo
2. ie ni kaerō yo
3. ta-su-ke-te
4. Jam-ru kokoro ("tenyawanya desuyo" instumental version)
5. tenyawanya desuyo (Karaoke)
6. ie ni kaerō yo (Karaoke)
7. ta-su-ke-te (Karaoke)

Substance BSCL-35025
Out 2007/2/21, ¥1260 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV

dahlia will play a live show in Tokyo for the first time in 3 years, celebrating the release of her new album "Beautiful, But Noir". Also performing will be vibes unit the fascinations.

dahlia "Beautiful, But Noir" Release Party
on 2007/1/12
at Shimokitazawa 440

Live: dahlia
Guest live: the fascinations, Sozoro
Cinema: KinoIglu (short films projection)

Opens at 18:30, starts at 19:30
Price: adv. ¥2500 (reserve by email/Pia 248-727/Lawson 36462), door ¥3000

One for the money, two for the show... or maybe not so. Readymade's Konishi Yasuharu selected his favorite Elvis tracks for an unusual compilation. This is a selection of rare groove, jazz & jive, soft rock, sweet and smooth Elvis that many have yet to notice, all in remastered quality. Many songs are little known ones from his films of the 60's.

The art direction is also by Konishi-san, and there will be a limited edition thin cardboard sleeve similar to the rest of the "Readymade digs..." popular series. This is a Japan-only release.

Elvis Presley "Readymade digs Elvis!"

1. My Baby Left Me
2. One-Sided Love Affair
3. Down In The Alley
4. Shake Rattle And Roll
5. Teddy Bear
6. Santa Bring My Baby Back
7. Fools Fall In Love
8. King Creole (Alternate Take 18)
9. I Got Stung
10. King Creole
11. Lover Doll
12. Such A Night
13. G.I. Blues
14. Tonight Is So Right For Love
15. I'm Coming Home
16. Rock-a-Hula Baby
17. Bossa Nova Baby
18. Night Rider
19. Kissin' Cousins No.2
20. It's A Wonderful World
21. Hawaiian Paradise
22. Beach Shack
23. Do The Clam
24. Shake That Tambourine
25. Stop, Look And Listen
26. Long Legged Girl
27. Double Trouble
28. Old MacDonald
29. Baby, If You'll Give Me All Of Your Love
30. Who Needs Money
31. Hey, Hey, Hey
32. Spinout
33. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Movie Version)
34. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
35. What A Wonderful Life
36. Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do (Finale Version)

BMG BVCM-31211
Out 2/21, ¥2427 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

This dirt cheap CD+DVD set by the unit of Terada soichi and Kanazawa Akiko features Comoesta Yaegashi and Paradise Yamamoto on a few tracks.

Thanks to Nick for the heads up on this one!

Omodaka "Cantata No.147" (CD+DVD)

1. otemoyan
2. asadoya yunta
3. Fortunate 1Mark (A-4 mix)
4. hanagasa ondo
5. Cantata No.147 (Video mix)
6. kokiriko bushi (Video mix)
7. Monkey Turn (Mahoroba mix)
8. otemoyan (Inst.)
9. asadoya yunta (Inst.)
10. hanagasa ondo (Inst.)

Far East Recording FER-06896
Out 11/28, ¥1096 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Far East Recording (Japan only?)
I got my copy at Mechano in Nakano Broadway

There's a Japanese tribute to Sheryl Crow featuring at least a few interesting artists: Shinohara Tomoe (produced by Kagami), Toki Asako (Cymbals), Suzuki Momoko (ex-Cosa Nostra), ... Worth a check!

Audio samples can be heard at HMV and Tower Records

Various Artists "Tribute to Sheryl Crow"
オムニバス 「トリビュート・トゥ・シェリル・クロウ」

(Title / Artist)
1. Everyday Is A Winding Road / Ganaha Mina
2. Soak Up The Sun / Shinohara Tomoe
3. All I Wanna Do / sosui
4. Diamond Road / Kushibiki Sayaka
5. If It Makes You Happy / I-lulu
6. My Favorite Mistake / Tachibana Izumi
7. Strong Enough / Katō Izumi
8. C'mon C'mon / Neo
9. Love Is A Good Thing / Suzuki Momoko
10. The First Cut Is The Deepest / Toki Asako
11. Home / Toriyama Masaki

For-side.com GYCL-10019
Out 12/20, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV

Groove Unchant, who produced dahlia's latest album "Beautiful, But Noir", has a new 7" being released on New Year's Day. The title track features scat chorus group Pecombo, and the B-side was made together with Tanaka Tomonao (novaFASE, OneFourOne). This is a second release on Groove Unchant's own label Unchantable Records.

Groove Unchant "7 uomini d'oro feat. Pecombo" (7")
グルーヴあんちゃん 「7 uomini d'oro feat. Pecombo」

A. 7 uomini d'oro feat. Pecombo
B. Break the Guinnes

Unchantable UCT-002
Out 2007/1/1, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out), HMV

Shindō Mitsuo's film immortalizing Shimokitazawa, "otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai", is being released on DVD in a deluxe edition. Aside from the movie, the DVD will also contain 40 minutes of bonus features.

"otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai" Deluxe Edition (DVD)
「男はソレを我慢できない」 デラックス版
(Region 2 / NTSC / Japanese language (no subtitles) / 16:9 / 93+40 min.)

Geneon GNBD-7378
Out 2007/3/9, ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (25% off *), HMV
* Discount at time of writing

Cornelius' latest album "Sensuous" is being pressed on vinyl, straight from the high-quality 24bit 96KHz studio masters.

Cornelius "Sensuous" (12")

1. Sensuous
2. Fit Song
3. Breezin'
4. Toner
5. Wataridori
6. Gum
7. Scum
8. Omstart
9. Beep it
10. Like a Rolling Stone
11. Music
12. Sleep Warm

Warner WPJL-10002
Out 2007/2/21, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV

I just learnt about this, but beautiful singer dahlia (aka Kaori) has a new album that came out last month! The producer is Groove Unchant who had also helped out with her previous album "Musics for my funeral", and the song "I'm Hip" features the fascinations' Watanabe Masami.

Audio and video samples at dahlia's official site and Happiness Records

dahlia "Beautiful, But Noir"

1. Eta Carinae
2. RICH WOMAN
3. Interlude ~a scheme~
4. I'm Hip
5. Rose, her name is Rose
6. CIENNA's
7. Beautiful, but Noir
8. Bossa Bambina
9. sweety~Ending

Happiness HRAD-00022
Out now (11/22), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, , Spotify, Amazon U.S.

"Beautiful, but Noir"

Album teaser (Song: "Eta Carinae")

Idol unit Perfume has a new winter-themed song that will be available for download only starting tomorrow. Unfortunately for iPod owners, it won't be sold on iTunes, but rather on the sites mora and Yahoo! Music in ATRAC (Sony format).

The girls will be playing a Christmas live show at Harajuku Astro Hall on 12/21. Tickets are ¥3150 through Pia (243-459)/Lawson/e+, or ¥3657 at the door, +drink.

Perfume "Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow" (Download)

Out 12/20
Buy: mora, Yahoo! Music

Nagoya indies label abcdefg*record has a magazine+CD compilation coming up next February. All tracks are previously unreleased new songs.

Various Artists "Intro.2007"

1. sai / White
2. miette-one / hello- hajimemashite
3. naivepop or petitfool / HOSIKUZU LONELINESS
4. sprito / fall
5. pasteboard / snowsheep
6. Yucca / something's coming
7. Quesa / Hang Rider
8. POTIONS / GHOST RIDER
9. YOSHIMI / Lovers
10. YOUNG TONGUE / shiroi hata ni shiroi te
11. pirka / garden
12. roly poly rag bear / one star
13. STEAK ON THE RICE / capoera song

abcdefg*record a-g035
Out 2007/2/28, ¥2520
Order: abcdefg*record (Japan only, limited edition shipping earlier), Amazon, HMV, Tower

Idol Suzuki Ami is to collaborate with Buffalo Daughter for a single. This is part of a series of three collaboration singles, the other two with THC!! and Kirinji. You would need all three to enjoy(?) a narration drama of which part is served as a bonus track on each single. There will be a limited edition.

There's also an album coming a bit later that will include the title track.

Suzuki Ami joins Buffalo Daughter "O.K. Funky God"
鈴木亜美 joins Buffalo Daughter 「O.K. Funky God」

1. O.K. Funky God
2. O.K. Funky God (Dub Ver.)
3. “Join” (Narration drama)

Avex AVCD-31189
Out 2007/2/28, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV,

Tanaka Tomoyuki (FPM) says goodbye to 2006 in class with this compilation for Dojima Hotel, a recently opened hotel in Osaka designed by the same company that did Claska in Meguro, Tokyo.

Various Artists "The Suite Music for Dojima Hotel"

1. Grandadbob / Hide Me (Al Usher Dance Mix)
2. Conga Starr / Peas (Boris Horel Mix)
3. Tiga / (Far From) Home
4. Whitey / Non Stop
5. The Ripoff Artist / Baby Daddy (Akufen's Baby Steps Rmx)
6. Sebastien Tellier / La Ritournelle
7. Sao Paris / Ria (Fla & Chris Carrier Rmx)
8. Rekindle / Splash
9. Mugison / Murr Murr
10. Analogik / Special Vacation
11. Sono / Hyperballad
12. Mocky / Fightin' Away The Tears (feat. Feist)
13. Fantastic Plastic Machine / Tell Me feat. Benjamin Diamond (Bossa Version)

Transit General Office TGO-3
Out 12/31, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Nomoto Karia "Dance Music"
Track list and a bunch of details have been announced by columbia*readymade regarding the upcoming album! With a title like "Dance Music" and a steady BPM of 135, I can't wait!

Lately I rarely do this kind of update announcements, there are too many small ones, and most can be caught if you use a feed reader that lets you know when an entry has changed (on PC I use SharpReader).

Those who haven't yet can subscribe to the agenda and calendar feeds here: Agenda RSS Calendar RSS

Last year, indies pop band nakamakov released a 7" containing a Konishi Yasuharu remix of the very cute song "Early early morning". This remix is being released on CD for the first time, together with 5 songs from their first mini-album (2002-2003) that was only sold as CD-R at their shows.

nakamakov "nakamakov"

1. brunch
2. sakana
3. enrai
4. taba no ma no kyūsoku
5. natsu, owaru
6. Early early morning (Readymade Mix 2005-2006)

Whistle CORNER-003
Out 1/20, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV
Already available at a few smaller shops: Moodsville, mona records, Cornershop, ...

Fantastic Plastic Machine, a definite leader of Japan's club scene, has a 2-CD greatest hits album coming up soon! Aside all those songs we already love, it looks like we will get a few previously unreleased songs and new versions. Surely a must for all fans, old and new.

The artwork will be done by Groovisions, and feature a yet-to-be-unveiled new character by Kuntzel+ Deygas named Neko. The limited edition will contain a sticker.

Fantastic Plastic Machine "FPMB ; Fantastic Plastic Machine Best"

Gold Side
1. Why Not? feat. Yamamoto Ryōhei
2. City Lights feat. Seth Timbs (Fluid Ounces)
3. Never Ever (Extra Vocal Mix) feat. Takamiya Maki
4. Paparuwa
5. One Minute of Love
6. Different Colors
7. Fanfare feat. Tahiti 80
8. You
9. Don't You Know? feat. Clazziquai Project
10. Whistle Song
11. Tell Me (Bossa Version)
12. I'm Still A Simple Man (Performed by Hirth Martinez)
13. God Save the Mona Lisa (Performed by Roberto Menescal & Carlos Lyra)
14. subete o yurashite (On A Chair) feat. Kahimi Karie
15. Why Not? (Tomita Lab Remix)
16. Strings in Heaven

Black Side
1. Beautiful Days feat. Nakano Yoshie (Ego-Wrappin') & Heaven L. Clayborne
2. Reaching for the Stars feat. Incognito
3. Tell Me feat. Benjamin Diamond
4. Spectacular feat. Verbal (m-flo)
5. Dance Dance Dance Dance feat. Su (Rip Slyme)
6. Paragon
7. A World without Love feat. Bonnie Pink
8. Days And Days feat. Coralie Clement
9. Todos Os Desejos ~yokubō~ feat. Clara Moreno
10. Love Is Psychedelic (Full Spoken Mix) Remixed by Bob Sinclar
11. Euphoria (Mondo Grosso Re-mix Radio Edit)
12. Reaching for the Stars (Masters At Work Remix Radio Edit)
13. Never Ever (Performed by PE'Z)
14. Submission

Avex AVCD-23155/6
Out 2007/2/7, ¥3300
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.,

This is probably as close as we will get to a full return of legendary Shibuya-kei unit Les 5-4-3-2-1. The Sally Kubota-led new pop project, Sally Soul Stew, features not one but both original vocalists, Hitomi and Arimi, and also a bunch of other like-minded female vocalists. Included appear to be several original Les 5-4-3-2-1 songs, surely in new versions, but also many brand new songs.

With a title like "uchū de Rendez-vous" (the Les 5-4-3-2-1's song also known as "Rendez-vous à l'univers"), the direction sure seems same as it used to be! A must buy!

Sally Soul Stew "uchū de Rendez-vous ~Rendez-vous à l'univers~"
サリー・ソウル・シチュー 「宇宙でランデヴー」

1. Sally Soul Stew no Theme
2. Heart ni OK! feat. Hirayama Miki
3. mahō no Tambourine feat. Nakashima Yumi (Go! Go! 7188)
4. The End Of The World feat. Kojima Mayumi
5. Jazuru kokoro feat. Hitomi (les 5-4-3-2-1)
6. uchū de Rendez-vous feat. Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville)
7. otoko no ko onna no ko feat. Toki Asako
8. Change of Me feat. Matsuno Arimi (les 5-4-3-2-1)
9. Dance senka feat. Kuminko÷Grape (budō÷Grape)
10. Tunnel tengoku feat. Go-Go 3
11. HeyHeyHeyHey feat. Juicy (The Pillow Talk 4)
12. Miracle Manege feat. Hayashi Ito

Vivid VSCD-297
Out 2007/1/24, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

DJ team Sindbad has a new project together with woodbassist/rapper Takatsuki, and a 10-song album is coming at us before the end of the year on highcontrast.

Sindbad feat. Takatsuki "Enter The Funniest Temple"

1. Enter the Funniest Temple
2. Take Us There
3. Counterattack of Django the Drunken
4. The Weir Kitchen Range is an Inside
5. The BUS (The Great BUS a.k.a The BUS)
6. My Island's Name
7. Welcome to the Mature Side
8. Parallel Music
9. Around'n'Round
10. Ms. Blue Daisy and Mr. Oaktree

highcontrast HCCD-9517
Out 12/20, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV,

Halfby has a new iTunes-only track, a Christmas version of the song "Halfbeat"! Available now!

Halfby "Halfbeat (Stroll of Rudolph Edit)" (Download)

Second Royal
Out now, ¥200
Sample/Buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Following Christmas song "Slalom '06", Halcali continue their seasonal monthly campaign counting down into 2007 with a new song produced by Cubismo Grafico! Words and music are by Katayama Yūgo (Miniflex, Yukari Fresh) with Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico).

Next up will be a Valentine's day song, to be released on February 1st.

Halcali "2 Higher Clap 007" (Download)

Epic/Sony ESXX-210 (Track 2)
Out 1/1, ¥210
Sample: Sony (click the corresponding blue 「視聴」 button)
Buy for PC (ATRAC): bitmusic, mora
Buy for mobile phone: Go to http://www.halcali.com/ or use the QR code below