Tokyo's Coolest Sound

kuchiroro's new album will feature a guest appearance by Halcali! Also being that they're now released on the Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons, it might be time for me to check them out.

kuchiroro "Golden Love"
口ロロ 「Golden Love」

1. Golden Love
2. Golden King
3. Cosmic Dance feat. Halcali
4. manatsu no Last Tune
5. natsukusa
6. obake jigen By Obk
7. Inner Light
8. Submarine no sei
9. Science Of Working People
10. Starflight -Planetarium Version-
11. Ningujounu
12. Golden Week

commmons RZCM-45625
Out 8/22, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, , Amazon U.S.

There's a relatively new genre called Akishibu-kei, a mix of Shibuya-kei and Akiba-kei (the latter referring to cosplay idols singing in high-pitched voices over electro-pop), which is getting acknowledged by this compilation of anime songs from Victor's discography.

Featured producers and artists include many that we know from the Shibuya-kei scene, such as Takanami K-tarō (both formerly of Pizzicato Five), Sakurai Tetsutarō (Cosa Nostra, Girl Girl Girl), Kikuchi Naruyoshi (Spank Happy), Okino Shuntarō (Venus Peter), Cano Caoli, Round Table, Tomita Keiichi (Tomita Lab), Pearl Brothers, and more. Included is also a new remix by Konishi Yasuharu!

However most (if not all) of these songs seem to have been previously released between 2002 and 2005, and it feels a bit unfortunate that "Akishibu-kei" would be first defined by a bunch of older anime songs while it shouldn't even be restricted to anime. Well nevermind the title, this still looks like it should be a good compilation, and the bonus Konishi remix should make it all worth it!

Audio samples of most tracks at Victor

Various Artists "AKSB ~kore ga Akishibu-kei da!~"
オムニバス 「AKSB～これがアキシブ系だ！～」

1. Dimitri From Paris / Neko Mimi Mode (Opening theme from "tsukuyomi")
2. Round Table feat. Nino / Let Me Be With You (Opening theme from "Chobits")
3. Yamano Yūko (Produced by Miyakawa Dan) / Beagle (Theme song from "kokoro toshokan")
4. Ogawa Noriko (Produced by Kikuchi Naruyoshi) / nami no toriko ni naru yō ni (From "tsukuyomi")
5. Toyoguchi Megumi (Produced by Tomita Keiichi) / ningen dakara (Image song from "Chobits")
6. Takanami K-tarō & Yama-K (Produced by Takanami K-tarō) / katakoto no koi (From "Chobits")
7. Suzuki Saeko / Dear Friend (From "keroro gunsō")
8. Kuwashima Hōko (Produced by Hashimoto Ichiko) / la maladie du sommeil (From "Rahxephon")
9. Tanaka Rie (Produced by Sakurai Tetsutarō) / hitomi no Tunnel (Image song from "Chobits")
10. Rocky Chack (Proudced by Hokari Hisaaki) / Little Goodbye (Ending theme from "Zegapain")
11. Pearl Brothers / ashita wa tabun daijōbu (From "N-H-K ni yōkoso!")
12. Okino Shuntarō / Cloud Age Symphony (Opening theme from "Last Exile")
13. Makino Yui (Produced by Cano Caoli) / Cestree (From "Zegapain")
14. marianne Amplifier feat. yuka (Produced by Hashimoto Yukari) / Pressentiment triste (Ending theme from "tsukuyomi")
15. Zaitsu Ichirō & Ogura Yūko / kaette kita kero! to March (Readymade Sergent Rock) (From "keroro gunsō") (Remixed by Konishi Yasuharu)

Victor VTCL-60001
Out 9/21, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Gravure idol Kobayashi Emi has a first single coming up, the song is a cover of "sukisukisu-" which Konishi Yasuharu had written for Hosokawa Fumie (famously big chested gravure idol)'s debut! A great cute pop track that's a lot of fun! While the original was arranged by Fukutomi Yukihiro, the new version is arranged and produced by Konishi-san. A must check!

The B-side is a cover of the theme song from anime "kiteretsu daihyakka" (キテレツ大百科, aka "Kiteretsu Encyclopedia"), it was arranged by Yoshida Tetsuto and features musicians Arai Toshiya (Mr.comicstore/Missing Linc/The Weedingmen, Kofta) and Hair's Ai Satteaux. A Readymade line-up!

Kobayashi Emi "sukisukisu- 2007 ~kobaemi Rhythm~" (CD+DVD)
小林恵美 「スキスキスー2007～こばえみリズム～」

1. sukisukisu- 2007
2. suimin fusoku
3. sukisukisu- 2007 (Karaoke)
4. suimin fusoku (Karaoke)

for-side.com GYZL-10004
Out 9/21 10/11 9/21, ¥2079
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

A month after the release of the 1968 film "Keroyon no bōken" comes its successor, "Keroyon no dai jidōsha Race" ("Keroyon's Great Car Race"). This live action film features the happy and singing frog who gets a car and tries to win the race against his enemy who will try many dirty tricks to keep Keroyon out. Featuring very real cool cars from the era, the film even pleases car lovers.

Unfortunately, this edition is a short version of the movie (80 minutes instead of the full-length 120-minute film) that was previously released on LaserDisc in the 90's. It misses many songs from the original, but is said to be more easily watched by a younger audience.

Release official site

"Fujishiro Seiji: Keroyon no dai jidōsha Race"
「藤城清治　ケロヨンの大自動車レース」 (DVD)
(1968 / Approx. 80 mins. / Color / Mono (Dolby Digital) / Probably region 2)

Columbia COBM-5531
Out 8/22, ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (25% off *), HMV, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

4-MC rap group Asia Engineer's upcoming full-length album is set to make Readymade fans happy! Included are the new Konishi Yasuharu-produced song "Bikini", and also "The Happiest Day of Life" produced by Yoshida Tetsuto, and "Tokyo 24ji" produced by Iwamura Manabu. As a bonus, the previously released Konishi-produced songs "jiyū ni aruite ai shite" and "Tokyo 7" (released together as a single last year) are also on there.

There will be a limited edition with a bonus DVD containing 10 (!) video clips.

Asia Engineer "aa subarashiki hibi"
エイジアエンジニア 「あぁ 素晴ら四季 日々」

1. haremoyō 2007
2. kimi wa kimi no mama de
3. The Happiest Day of Life
4. BIKINI
5. umi
6. jiyū ni aruite ai shite
7. aa subarashiki CM
8. sakura
9. junnatsu ~Jun-natsu~ -Special Waggaki Edition-
10. Who is No.1 entertainer?
11. TOKYO 7
12. nido ne no Waltz
13. JOURNEY
14. Tokyo 24ji
15. hitori no Merry Christmas

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Super Hero
2. Deluxe Encounter
3. Oh! Wonderful Life
4. Eternal Pose
5. Mo' One Punch
6. jiyū ni aruite ai shite
7. junnatsu ~Jun-natsu~
8. hitori no Merry Christmas
9. kimi wa kimi no mama de
10. haremoyō 2007

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-45595
Out 7/11, ¥3620 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (15% off *), HMV, , Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-45596
Out 7/11, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.