Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Korean unit Humming Urban Stereo has a 3rd album out now, on which one song features Dahlia. There's also a YMCK remix in there!

Humming Urban Stereo "Vol 3: Baby Love"

1. Dark Circle
2. Rainbow
3. Mambo Mood (feat. Dahlia)
4. Triangular (feat. shi-uhn)
5. Space loves disco (feat. Simone of D'SOUND)
6. 간이역 (narration. 최강희)
7. Siempre, Sera un zorro
8. Baby Love
9. Insomnia
10. Ozon
11. 지랄
12. Waltz sofa #3
13. Erotic Actress (album version)
14. Hawaiian Couple - YMCK Mix
15. Mambo Mood - Bunny's kid scat ver.

CJ Music CMCC0797
Out now (2/9)
Order: HMV, YesAsia

Hatori Miho (ex-Cibo Matto) has made the music for the film adaptation of classical music-themed comic "shindō". Out now!

Shindo movie official site

(I tried to fill-in with correct English titles and composers below.)

Original soundtrack "shindō"
オリジナルサウンドトラック 「神童」

1. resilience No.1
2. Innocence
3. haru no uta ~ Songs without Words Op. 62/6 (Mendelssohn)
4. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata), 3rd movement (Beethoven)
5. Vena
6. Have a good day!
7. Étude Op. 10, No. 4 (Chopin)
8. Impromptu, Opus 142 #2 D 935 (Schubert)
9. resilience No.2
10. arteria
11. "a ripple song" -with wao-
12. Magnolia
13. Piano Sonatas K.310 excerpt (Mozart)
14. Avancer
15. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor K 466, excerpt from 2nd movement
16. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor K 466, 3rd movement
17. Numen
18. "a ripple song" -uta- Sound
19. Ripple Song

Epic ESCL-2939
Out now (3/21), ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Out soon is a new Disney compilation, this time all newly recorded club-oriented covers. Cubismo Grafico, Nakatsuka Takeshi, Sindbad, Fredo and Rufus are in!

There will be vinyl cuts of Cubismo Grafico c/w Q.,Indivi (Rhythm Republic RR12-88489 out 4/1), and LA Stylez c/w Nakatsuka Takeshi (RR12-88490 out 5/30).

Various Artists "Lovebeat Disney"

(Title / Artist)
1. Part Of Your World (The Little Mermaid) / Q.,Indivi
2. A Whole New World (Aladdin) / Cubismo Grafico
3. Some Day My Prince Will Come (Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs) / Nakatsuka Takeshi
4. I'll Try (Peter Pan 2) / LA Stylez
5. Baby Mine (Dumbo) / Sindbad
6. Beauty And The Beast (Beauty And The Beast) / Clazziquai Project
7. If I Never Knew You (Pocahontas) / Rufus
8. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella) / Fredo, Temple & Healthy Boy
9. Can't Help Falling In Love (Lilo & Stitch) / Cargo
10. When She Loved Me (Toy Story 2) / A Hundred Birds feat. TeN

Walt Disney AVCW-12512
Out 4/18, ¥2427 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Speaking of Cubismo Grafico, he appears on a recent cover album of legendary label Niagara Records founded in 1975 by Ōtaki Eiichi ("Niagara" is a word game on his family name which means "big waterfall"). It's worth noting that it's the first time that Chabe sings a song in Japanese under the name Cubismo Grafico.

Various Artists "Niagara Autumn & Winter ~Niagara Cover Special~"

(Title / Artist)
1. saraba Siberia tetsudō / Goggle-A (Goggle Ace)
2. ki no ha no Sketch / Shione to Dan
3. Lakeside Story / Takenaka Eri
4. za dokusho / Dōjima Kōhei gakudan
5. Speech Balloon / Beautiful Hummingbird
6. yubikiri / Ahh! Folly Jet
7. Water Color / Waltz Elegy
8. Fjord no shōjo / Cubismo Grafico

NMNL TOWER-1015
Out now (3/2), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Despite his numerous works on other projects (especially Cubismo Grafico Five), it's almost three years after previous album "Foga" that Cubismo Grafico is finally back with a new solo album! This one is set to contain 10 songs under the theme "night". The French title is a wink to his first album's, "Tout!".

Video for "Sequenced Time" on YouTube

Cubismo Grafico "Nuit"

1. Sweet Fizzz
2. Goodbye Madness
3. Our After Hours
4. Trike City Lights
5. Sequenced Time
6. Honey Dipped
7. Valvoavox
8. Survive Animal Nightlife
9. Mixx Beauty
10. The Moon Saves Us

KIT/Escalator XQAV-1072
Out 5/30, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Grand Gallery, the label of Ide Yasushi, offers a second compilation of club-ish tracks by Japanese artists under the theme "Holiday".

Official release page

Various Artists "Grand Gallery Presents Holiday 2"

1. Akakage / Lovely Day
2. Takizawa Kentaro / Starship
3. DJ Kawasaki feat. Lena Fujii / Bright Like Light
4. Studio Apartment / Isn't She Lovely (DJ Oji Lovely Vocal Remix)
5. A Hundred Birds feat. TeN / Sweet Lullaby
6. Central / More And More
7. Sleep Walker / Into The Sun
8. Soil&Pimp Session / Summer Goddess
9. Aurora / Fly From East (Kyoto Jazz Massive Remix)
10. Daishi Dance / Let Life Loose
11. Mondo Grosso / Star Suite (Shelter Album Mix)

Grand Gallery GRGA-0026
Out 4/25, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

(Artwork to be added when available.)

Fukutomi Yukihiro, leading club music producer and also ex-programmer for Pizzicato Five (think "Happy End of the World"), has a 2-CD compilation of his remixes for Japanese and foreign artists coming up. The compilation will contain 20 tracks, and celebrates his 100th remix!

Tower Records and HMV will each give away a bonus CD-R of a previously unreleased rare track. (The two CD-R's have different content.)

Various Artists "The Transformer - Remix Works by Yukihiro Fukutomi"

Disc 1 (Japanese Remix Best)
1. Kirinji / futagoza Graffiti (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
2. Pizzicato Five / Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji ~the night is still young~ (talking toolbox mix)
3. The Indigo / Sweet Radio (feat. Nishidera Gōta a.k.a Nona Reeves) (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
4. Flipper's Guitar / Big Bad Disco (Remixed by Zin Yoshida and Yukihiro Fukutomi)
5. m-flo / Come Again (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
6. AH / Supernaturally (Song of the Psychic Queen of Ecstasy) (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
7. Hamasaki Ayumi / Trauma (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
8. Suite Chic / without me (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
9. mink / omajinai (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
10. Hal From Apollo'69 / Bleeding T.V. (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)

Disc 2 (International Remix Best)
1. Fukutomi Yukihiro feat. Akiko / The Transformer (New track)
2. Stateless / Hool (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
3. Arto Lindsay / The Prize (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
4. Jazzanova / Coffee Talk (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
5. Choro Club / Changeable Weather (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
6. Incognito / Cadadia (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
7. Orquesta De La Luz / La Puerta (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
8. Fabio Nobile / Zozoi (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
9. Leo Mendez Group / I Feel Love (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
10. Cubismo Grafico / Jamaica Song (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)

Cutting Edge CTCR-14538
Out 4/25, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, , Amazon U.S.

Trivia!
An early track list also included this track:
Nakashima Miki / Love addict (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)

Jazz singer Agawa Yasuko who debuted in 1975 and is still active to this day, has a remix album coming up. The whole is produced/supervised by Sunaga Tatsuo, who is a big fan of hers, and features international artists.

This coincides with the release of a compilation of her songs, also selected by Sunaga-san.

Agawa Yasuko "Re-Mode: Club Jazz digs Yasuko Agawa"
阿川泰子 「リ・モード： Club Jazz digs Yasuko Agawa」

1. Send One Your Love (Nicola Conte New Perspective Rework)
2. L.A. Night (Five Corners Quintet Remix)
3. New York Afternoon (Quasimode Remix)
4. Skindo-Le-Le (Gerard Frisina Remix)
5. Some Morning (Calm Remix)
6. Surrender (Azul) (Gira Mundo Remix)
7. Beauty And The Beast (AHB Remix)
8. Zanzilbar (Povo Re-work)
9. L.A. Night (Slowly Remix)
10. Voo Doo (Rasmus Faber Joint Remix)
11. When The World Turns Blue (Melodies Of Love) (Sunaga t̀ Experience remix)

Victory VICP-63772
Out 4/255/23, ¥2520
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

Trivia!
An early track list also included this track:
Dukes Place (Electric Bop Mix)

Yet more Sunaga Tatsuo goodness, this time a selection of his favorite songs from jazz vocalist Agawa Yasuko's vast repertory, which counts over 300.

Also out on the same day is a remix album titled "Re-Mode", also produced by Sunaga-san.

Agawa Yasuko "Tatsuo Sunaga digs best of Yasuko Agawa"
阿川泰子 「Tatsuo Sunaga digs best of Yasuko Agawa」

1. The Universe Is Calling You
2. Triste
3. New York Afternoon
4. Pardon My English
5. futari de ocha o (Tea For Two)
6. Night And Day
7. Take My Love For Real
8. Away
9. Fly Like An Eagle
10. The Gentle Rain
11. Speak Low
12. shiawase wa Paris de (The April Fools)
13. My Favorite Things
14. Zanzibar
15. Duke's Place
16. Teach Me Tonight

Victor VICP-63773
Out 4/25 5/23, ¥2520
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

A few days ago, I had a look at the Sunaga Tatsuo section at Tower Records and was almost scared by the number of compilations in there! Will he ever stop!?

The answer is: not yet! Here comes a 8th installment (in less than 2 years) of his popular "Jazz Allnighters" series, this time focusing on the King label. This one includes a good number of Japanese artists.

Various Artists "Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.8 King hen"
オムニバス 「須永辰緒の夜ジャズ～Jazz Allnighters №8～ キング編」

(Title / Artist)
1. Blue Bossa / Art Farmer, Phil Woods
2. yamame / Miyazawa Akira
3. Always Love (Sunaga t Experience Remix) / Fabio Nobile
4. Tico Tico / Shiraki Hideo
5. My Favorite Things / Helen Merrill
6. Notte in Algeria / Piero Umiliani
7. Istanbul Mambo / Eri Chiemi
8. Nassie Goreng / Ake Persson
9. Bernie's Tune / Frank Morgan
10. Sayonara Blues / Shiraki Hideo
11. Devil's Island / Lee Konitz, John Zorn
12. The Guardman / Secret Agent Man
13. Blen Blen Blen / Misago Tadaaki & Cuban Boys
14. Ossi / Paolo Fresu

Seven Seas KICJ-517
Out 4/25, ¥2477 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: 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))
"Sunaga Tatsuo no yoru Jazz: Jazz Allnighters No.7" (Polystar/BounDEE)

Trivia!
Some early track list also included this track.
Afro Blue / Dee Dee Bridgewater

To coincide with the re-issue of Tei Towa's "Future Listening!" which is accompanied by a new remix album titled "Future Recall 3", it looks like we will also get this 12" EP of new remixes!

Towa Tei "Future Recall 3 EP" (12")
テイ・トウワ 「Future Recall 3 EP」

hug Columbia HUGEP-701
Out 4/17, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

(Track list and artwork to be added when available.)

For those who want to know what entries have been updated recently (often adding a track list, artwork or more information), there's now a Recently updated entries part at the bottom of the Agenda top page.

Another new recent feature is that you can now quick search the Agenda straight from your address bar! In the Agenda's URL, just after /agenda/ simply add a ? and then the words you want to search. You can enclose a phrase in double quotation marks (e.g. "a phrase") for exact matches.

Example: http://www.chipple.net/mt/agenda/?readymade

This also works just for the main chipple.net blog for a site-wide search.
e.g.: http://www.chipple.net/mt/?readymade

For past new feature announcements, search for "new feature:".

Not even one year after release of the great "Love, sea & music" (one of my most-played albums in 2006) already comes a brand new album from Rocketman (aka Fukawa Ryō).

This time he suggests a yet more club/house sound with plenty of piano played by himself. Music and lyrics are of course his own, and the album will again feature a bunch of guest vocalists. 6 tracks are co-produced by Yoshida Tetsuto, 3 of those also featuring Arai Toshiya on guitars.

Rocketman "The Sound of Musique"
ロケットマン 「サウンド オブ ミュージック」
(Working title "Romantique66")

1. Departure
2. Fly Away feat. Karin
3. Everyday feat. eico
4. Love Girl feat. jenny01
5. In The Light feat. Sakai Yū
6. Love Song For You
7. Ostend
8. Don't Stop The Music
9. Sunset Story feat. Kohrogi Mari
10. Romantique 66

Sunset/Columbia COCP-50986
Out 5/9, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

The Fascinations will play a free in-store live at Village Vanguard in Shimokitazawa, celebrating the release of cover album "My Funny Vibraphone" available only at Village Vanguard shops.

The question is where in that crowded shop can they possibly make room for a vibraphone let alone a full band!? Let's see.

The Fascinations in-store live
on 4/6 (Friday)
at Village Vanguard Shimokitazawa

Starts at 20:00
Free!

Tokyo scat chorus group Pecombo has a 2nd album just out, featuring a long list of guests that includes (of those I know) The Fascinations and accordionist Tanooka Saburō (of sabou et mamie).

Pecombo will perform for free at Tower Records Shinjuku (7F) on Sunday April 8 from 14:00.

Samples at official release page

Pecombo "Serendipity"

1. sparkle
2. Sambe de Toquio
3. Love's in need of love today
4. songbird
5. phscgds
6. Vamos Pranchar
7. Burro Tipico
8. Ganjour-Bleu
9. chilumi
10. izayoi
11. O Pato
12. happywackyfeelin'
13. chura yuki

highcontrast HCCD-9520
Out now! (3/21), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV,

Kyoto label Second Royal has a limited edition compilation being released for the upcoming Nagisa Music Festival where Halfby, Handsomeboy Technique and Fredo can be caught outdoors. The CD is selected by Matsuno Mitsunori (Fredo) and consists of recent, previously released songs by the label's artists.

Otherwise only be available at the festival, the CD will also be sold at Tower Records' online shop and a few selected locations (including Shinjuku and Shibuya). Orders can also be placed at Second Royal's web shop (Japan only?) from March 21, and those who order there will receive a free bonus badge.

Official release page at Second Royal

Various Artists "Second Royal - Limited Edition for Nagisa Festival 2007"

1. Halfby / Soulful Lover Puppy
2. Rufus / Long Distance
3. Handsomeboy Technique / 8000 Laurels
4. Fredo / Grande
5. Halfby / Girls At Bass School
6. Fredo / Fun In The Sun
7. Collette / Le Petit Ange De Collette
8. Handsomeboy Technique / Miami Radio Flash
9. Fredo / Freaky!
10. Halfby / Flicker Song
11. Satoru Ono / One Thousand Steps
12. Handsomeboy Technique / Affections

Second Royal SRCD-014
Out 3/21, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Digiki, French ambassador of desktop music in Tokyo (and resident DJ of the overly-packed regular event Juliana), has a first decently released album (if I may) coming up on new indies label Tokyo Fun Party. Must! check!

Digiki can be caught live for free at Apple Store Shibuya in company of Chimidoro, on Sunday March 25 from 20:00 until 20:30.
There's a release party on April 29 (Sunday, next day is Golden Week), details at Tokyo Fun Party.

Digiki "Beat Vacation"

1. Kraftpunk
2. Cease & Desist
3. Desktop Music
4. Paper Bits
5. Wikifi
6. Non Plus
7. Skip Skap
8. Pancaked Again
9. Song For Morizo
10. Beat Vacation

Tokyo Fun Party FUN-3617
Out 4/25, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV,

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Kaji Hideki's first album "Mini Skirt", recently re-released in a deluxe edition with DVD (Amazon, Amazon U.S.), Jet Set now brings us a 7" of the hit song "La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~" coupled with a new Halfby remix!

Kaji Hideki "La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~" (7")

Felicity HIMTK-1002
Out 4/5, ¥953 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out)

I had completely overlooked this new compilation put together by Sunaga Tatsuo, containing nothing but jazzy songs featuring Japan's best female vocalists. Included are two brand new songs, by Sunaga t̀ Experience and pianist Akiko Grace, and a bunch of other essential tracks by Nomiya Maki, Natsuki Mari, akiko and many more.

Various Artists "Miss Vocalies, Tokyo -with her Strikes Sextet-"

1. Natsuki Mari / ichiban suki na mono
2. hitomitoi / Wake Up!
3. Muramoto Reyna / It's you
4. Nomiya Maki / mori no koibitotachi
5. Asa festoon / Malaga no himawari
6. arvin homa aya / Just As We
7. Mannami Maki / Sound Of Dawn -Dedicated To Tadayuki Naito's Picture Blue Lotus-
8. akiko / Mood Swings
9. Matsuo Kazuko / anata to yoru to ongaku to
10. Sunaga t Experience feat. arvin homa aya / Nervous Track (Nervous Love)
11. Akiko Grace / Echo of pure mind

Gate GAGJ-0024
Out now (3/7), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Natsuki Mari is to bring us a very unexpected cover of the Blue Hearts' "Linda Linda", a rocking "beat punk" anthem. This is nothing that you'd expect her to sing and it's hard to imagine what it will sound like. Will she make this song into a laid back arrangement, or will we see her jumping down from an amp? :) Only time will tell.
The B-side is the song "One Night Only" from the musical "Dreamgirls".

The single will be accompanied with a DVD containing a music video directed by herself, though there's also a regular version with just the CD.
Each version will have a limited edition digipak.

Natsuki Mari "Linda Linda" (CD+DVD)
夏木マリ 「リンダリンダ」

1. Linda Linda
2. kimi e -One Night Only-
3. Linda Linda (Instrumental)
4. kimi e -One Night Only- (Instrumental)

DVD
1. Linda Linda

Special edition (CD+DVD)
Avex Trax AVCD-31029/B
Out 5/16, ¥1890
Order: Amazon (15% off on pre-orders), HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

Regular edition (CD only)
Avex Trax AVCD-31030
Out 5/16, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, , Amazon U.S.

Sally Kubota (ex. Les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift) came back this year with his solo unit Sally Soul Stew. There will be a special show featuring himself and a bunch of the female vocalists which appeared on the recently released album.

Sally Soul Stew live
Sally Kubota, the 20th Anniversary of a Debut
サリー久保田 メジャーデビュー20周年記念コンサート
on 5/5
at Shibuya Chelsea Hotel

Featuring:
Sally Kubota
Kojima Mayumi
Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville)
Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville)
Kogure Shinya (Hicksville)
Shirane Kenichi
Hitomi
Kuminko÷Grape (budō÷Grape)
Hayashi Ito
Juicy
... and more

Guest act: The Young Folks
DJ: Jimmy Mashiko

Opens at 18:00, starts at 19:00
Price: advance ¥3300 (reserve here), door ¥3800 +drink

Singer Ayuse Kozue has a self-produced 4th single coming up, and it will include a remix by Halfby. The 2 first tracks are mixed by Tei Towa, and "omoidasu yo" features Clammbon's mito on bass and also girl rapper Bumble Bee.

Her next single will likely be produced by Tei Towa.

Ayuse Kozue "eyes to eyes"
鮎瀬梢 「eyes to eyes」

1. eyes to eyes
2. omidasu yo
3. Pretty Gooday (pretty good HALFBY remix)
4. eyes to eyes (instrumental)

Toy's Factory TFCC-89184
Out 5/9, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Though a bit outdated, this recently out nice-priced compilation seems to be a great introduction to a bunch of artists from the indies pico-pico scene, featuring Hazel Nuts Chocolate, Misswonda, Aprils, Plus-Tech Squeezebox, macdonald duck eclair, and more.

Aside from a missing YMCK song, the track list is same as the "Join2 -Chip Toy Company-" rental-only compilation released in October 2005.

Various Artists "Chip Toy Company"

1. Hazel Nuts Chocolate / Love + Piece + Icecream!
2. Misswonda / Wonderful Tangent
3. Rufus / believe it! (or not)
4. Aprils / ki-ra-me-ki-Moon Diver
5. Plus-Tech Squeeze Box / Dough-Nuts Town's map
6. macdonald duck eclair / my honey dip
7. Refely / Shine
8. Plamo Million Sellers / Tilt
9. Fredo / Fantastic Festa

Pictus DLCP-2071
Out now (2/28), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Nomiya Maki has a new book coming up, in which she shares with us her tips to live fashionably (the English title is "25 Tips to Live in a Fashionably Way"). The book is also said to be packed with new photos (after checking, it contains a short photo diary section with several photos per page).

On Thursday 3/15 from 10:00 (opening time) at the Aoyama Book Center located inside HMV Shibuya, will be sold tickets allowing to get a signed book from the hands of Maki. The sign event will be held on 3/25 (Sunday) from 14:00 at HMV's gallery space.
(Tickets are of the book's price, and are to be exchanged for the book at the sign event.)

Nomiya Maki "oshare ni ikiru Hint" (Book)
野宮真貴 「おしゃれに生きるヒント」

(Unofficial approximate translations)
Chapter 1: おしゃれ哲学 (Fashion-conscious philosophy)
Chapter 2: 装いのすすめ (Dress advice)
Chapter 3: 恋と私 (Love and me)
Chapter 4: ハッピーライフ (Happy life)

Total 144 pages.

East Press
ISBN: 978-4872577723
Out 3/22, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

dorlis has a 3-track EP coming soon featuring three songs previously released for download.

"Mens Killer ☆ Sisters" features Ōnishi Yukari and is produced by Sunaga Tatsuo, "wakuwaku nukegake daisakusen" features SOFFet, and "Love ◎〇△▲ Derby" features Nomiya Maki, accordionist coba, and Nakata Yoshitaka (capsule)!

dorlis "Swingin' Party 2 ~wakuwaku♪Jive×Jazz×Jam~"
dorlis 「Swingin' Party 2 ～ワクワク♪Jive×Jazz×Jam～」

1. wakuwaku nukegake daisakusen
2. Love ◎〇△▲ Derby
3. Mens Killer ☆ Sisters

Supanippa/Victor VICL-36239
Out 4/18, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Singer dorlis has a download-only track coming up, featuring Nomiya Maki, accordionist coba, and remixed by Nakata Yoshitaka (capsule)!

This is the third of a series of collaboration tracks available for download at OnGen. The first featured Ōnishi Yukari and was produced by Sunaga Tatsuo.

All three songs will be released a month later on one CD, titled "Swingin' Party 2".

dorlis × Nomiya Maki × Nakata Yasutaka feat. coba "Love ◎〇△▲ Derby" (Download)
dorlis×野宮真貴×中田ヤスタカ feat. coba 「ラブ◎〇△▲ダービー」

Out 3/14, ¥200
Buy (download) at OnGen (Japan only)

This funky/party hip-hop compilation features only previously unreleased/new/analog-only tracks. Included is "Peace Island", actually a cover of Wack Wack Rhythm Band's great "Wack Wack Rhythm Island", as well as a Wack Wack cover of Ugly Duckling's "Dumb It Down". (These two tracks are also being released on 7" on 3/23.)

Sound samples at Handcuts

Various Artists "Peace Island"
オムニバス 「ピース・アイランド」

1. Steady Diggin Workshop / Our Road (Dr Rubberfunk ft Mr Guder Remix)
2. Speech Defect / Zoobiz (Japan edit)
3. Abdominal feat. Anonymous Twist / Sway with the Capital A
4. Mercedes Boy (A.Y.B Force) / The One
5. DJ Format feat. Abdominal & D-sisive / Seperated At Birth (Fingathing Remix)
6. Boca45 / Meaning of Live feat. Emski (Lark Chillout Remix)
7. Bulljun (A.Y.B Force) / illbenut's
8. DJ Aeon Seven / Funky Furious
9. Ugly Duckling / Left Behind (Wichita mix 7" ver)
10. Wack Wack Rhythm Band / Dumb it Down
11. Breakestra / Deuces Up, Double Down (Organ lead version)
12. Speech Defect with Wack Wack Rhythm Band / Peace Island

Handcuts HJCR-87
Out 3/14, ¥2280 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Voice actress and singer Momoi Haruko has an album coming up on which she covers popular anime theme songs with 8-bit Famicon picopico arrangements.
The CD also includes short instrumental/karaoke versions of all songs.

Release official site

Momoi Haruko "Famison 8-bit"
桃井はるこ 「ファミソン8bit」

Expected tracks (subject to change)
1. Touch (from Touch)
2. koi no jumon wa sukitokimekitokisu (from sasuga no sarutobi)
3. hadashi no Flone (from kazoku Robinson ryōryūki - fushigi na shima no Flone)
4. Lum no Love Song (from Urusei yatsura)
5. Delicate ni suki shite (from mahō no tenshi Creamy Mami)
6. yume ippai (from chibi Maruko-chan)
7. fushigi na Melmo (from Melmo-chan)
8. hajimete no chū (from kiteretsu daihyakka)
9. Moonlight densetsu (from bishōjo senshi Sailor Moon)
10. sogen no Maruko (from haha o tazunete sanzenri)
11. L wa Lovely (from The kabocha Wine)
12. arearearare-chan (from Dr. Slump Arare-chan)
13. Romantic ageru yo (from Dragonball)
14. kimi wa hoehoe musume (from Idol hakkenden) (Vocal iri Arrange Version) (Bonus track)
15. Touch (from Touch) (Karaoke)
16. koi no jumon wa sukitokimekitokisu (from sasuga no sarutobi) (Karaoke)
17. hadashi no Flone (from kazoku Robinson ryōryūki - fushigi na shima no Flone) (Karaoke)
18. Lum no Love Song (from Urusei yatsura) (Karaoke)
19. Delicate ni suki shite (from mahō no tenshi Creamy Mami) (Karaoke)
20. yume ippai (from chibi Maruko-chan) (Karaoke)
21. fushigi na Melmo (from Melmo-chan) (Karaoke)
22. hajimete no chū (from kiteretsu daihyakka) (Karaoke)
23. Moonlight densetsu (from bishōjo senshi Sailor Moon) (Karaoke)
24. sogen no Maruko (from haha o tazunete sanzenri) (Karaoke)
25. L wa Lovely (from The kabocha Wine) (Karaoke)
26. arearearare-chan (from Dr. Slump Arare-chan) (Karaoke)
27. Romantic ageru yo (from Dragonball) (Karaoke)
28. kimi wa hoehoe musume (from Idol hakkenden) (Original ongen version)

Five Records VGCD-0070
Out 3/21, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Here comes a very interesting tribute album to Hosono Haruomi (Sketch Show, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Happy End).

The 2-CD set will include appearances and many surprising collaborations, such as Sakamoto Ryūichi + Minekawa Takako (a return!), Yano Akiko + Rei Harakami, Takahashi Yukihiro, Jim O'Rourke with Kahimi Karie, Tei Towa + Natural Calamity, Cornelius + Sakamoto Ryūichi, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Koshi Miharu, and many more.
Covered songs are from Hosono's solo career, his bands YMO, Happy End, Sketch Show and also some songs he wrote for other people.

Release official blog (some sound samples)

Various Artists "Hosono Haruomi Tribute Album - Tribute to Haruomi Hosono"
オムニバス 「細野晴臣トリビュートアルバム - Tribute To Haruomi Hosono」

Disc 1
1. Hosono Haruomi / rokkabaimaibeibii -Piano Demo ver.-
2. Van Dyke Parks / Yellow Magic Carnival
3. Sakamoto Ryūichi + Minekawa Takako / kaze no tani no Nausica (Original: Yasuda Narumi)
4. Koshi Miharu / wagamama na kataomoi (Original: Matsuda Seiko)
5. Little Creatures / High School Lullabye (Original: Imo-kin Trio)
6. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra / Absolute Ego Dance (Original: YMO)
7. Takano Hiroshi + Harada Ikuko / owari no kisetsu
8. miroque / Omukae De Gonsu
9. Tei Towa + Natural Calamity / Honey Moon
10. kuchiroro / Peking Duck
11. World Standard + Koike Mitsuko / 3ji no komoriuta

Disc 2
1. Yanokami (Yano Akiko × Rei Harakami) / koi wa momoiro
2. Takahashi Yukihiro / Sports Man
3. Hatakeyama Miyuki + Hayashi Yukiko + Bophana / Midnight Train (Original: Three Degrees)
4. Cornelius + Sakamoto Ryūichi / Turn Turn (Original: Sketch Show)
5. Toybox "ginga tetsudō no yoru"
6. Woodstock Vets (John Simon, John Sebastian, Geoff Muldaur & Garth Hudson) / chōchō san
7. Vagabond + Katayose Akito / Black Peanuts
8. Tamaki Aya + Taniguchi Takashi + Yamasaki Tetsuya / kaze o atsumete (Instrumental)
9. Sakerock All Stars (Sakerock + Takada Ren + Asa-chang) + Terao Saho "nihon no hito" (Original: HIS)
10. Jim O'Rourke + Kahimi Karie "fūraibō" (Original: Happy End)
11. Hosono Haruomi / Humming Blues -Demo ver.-

commmons RZCM-45511/2
Out 4/25, ¥3400
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.,

(Thanks to Nick for the reminder!)