Tokyo's Coolest Sound

New idol pair unit Vanilla Beans, whether you'll call it Akishibu-kei, Akiba-kei or neo-Shibuya-kei, are definitely worth keeping an eye out for! Their names are Rena and Rika, and their debut single "U ♥ Me" ("U Love Me") is coming next week. There's a limited edition with bonus DVD with video clip.

Audio and video samples at Tokuma artist page
The video sample can also be seen at YouTube.

Vanilla Beans "U ♥ Me"
バニラビーンズ 「U ♡ Me」

1. U ♥ Me
2. a little crying
3. U ♥ Me (Instrumental)
4. a little crying (Instrumental)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Tokuma TKCA-73258
Out 10/3, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (10% off *), HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Tokuma TKCA-73263
Out 10/3, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Halcali will perform a rare full live set at Shibuya Club Quattro on December 21! They will share the stage with kuchiroro, to who they lent their vocal talents on the recent album "Golden Love", and also Shibuya-kei-related unit Hoff Dylan.

Haru-sama Roro-sama Dylan-sama
ハルさま　ロロさま　ディランさま
on 12/21
at Shibuya Club Quattro

Live:
Halcali
kuchiroro
Hoff Dylan

Opens at 18:00, starts at 19:00
Price: adv. ¥3990 (e+, Pia 271-037), door ¥4490, + 1 drink
Pre-reserve at e+ until September 30 (¥250 service fee)

After a very very long original release hiatus (going back to the album "VOXXX" in 2000), Denki Groove is back with a new single! The track is to be the theme song of film "Gumi Chocolate Pine" directed by Kelarino Sandorovich (aka Kera of Nagomu fame), which is based on a manga of the same name by Ōtsuki Kenji.

Audio and video sample at official site, "discography" page

Denki Groove "shōnen Young"
電気グルーヴ 「少年ヤング」

1. shōnen Young
2. otoko ippiki Electrō (Don't Stop)
3. shōnen Young (Movie Mix)

Loopa KSCL-1186
Out 12/5, ¥972 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Who's behind it is a secret to be kept, but let's say that a popular young Tokyo DJ is releasing some swinging cut-up breakbeat tracks that shouldn't be missed!

Look for more over the following months.

Three Good Rules "3GR's Teaching Materials" (12")

A. 3GR'S Teaching Materials
B. Old McDonaldo To The Core

Sand Step SSR-001
Out September October November 12/26, ¥1344
Order: Jet Set (once out)

Avex brings us a collaboration album of club artists and female vocalists with the mysterious(?) Tokyo Pudding (why is a pudding releasing CDs anyway?). Featured are the likes of Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone), Kaji Hideki, Hayashibe Tomonori (Plus-Tech Squeeze Box), Yasuda Toshiyuki (formerly half of Fantastic Plastic Machine), remixes by Jazztronik, YMCK, last of who singer Midori also sings chorus, among others.

Various Artists "Tokyo Pudding presents Tokyo Soundscapes"

1. Tokyo 007
2. Tokyo Hello Good-bye
3. Jane Doe
4. Tokyo Sparkle
5. ame-tsubame
6. No No Pudding, No No Tokyo
7. Jane Doe Jazztronik Remix
8. Tokyo Soundscapes YMCK Remix

Avex Trax AVCD-23357
Out 11/7, ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Jazz vocalist akiko has a Christmas album coming up, produced by Konishi Yasuharu! Aside from an instrumental track written by akiko, titled "12gatsu 25nichi no asa." ("The morning of December 25"), all songs are covers of Christmas standards everyone knows. "Winter Wonderland" will feature Ska Flames, who for the first time in their 20-year career collaborate on another artist's track.

The mastering was done in an unusual approach, first cutting an analog version and then digital remastering the result.

akiko "a white album"

1. Auld Lang Syne
2. Santa ga machi ni yatte kuru (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town)
3. Jingle Bell Rock
4. Santa Baby
5. The First Noel
6. sorisuberi (Sleigh Ride)
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
8. Winter Wonderland
9. 12gatsu 25nichi no asa.
10. The Christmas Song
11. mama ga Santa ni Kiss o shita (I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
12. Santa ga machi ni yatte kuru (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town) (Remix)

Verve UCCJ-9088
Out 11/7, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Alternate catalog number for "regular edition" which appears to have been canceled: UCCJ-2062

Asia Engineer's next single will contain a song written/produced by Konishi Yasuharu and heavily sampling Kasagi Shizuko's "Tokyo Boogie Woogie" (written by Hattori Ryōichi). He seems quite hyped about it, so should we be!

Asia Engineer "Orion"
エイジアエンジニア 「Orion」

1. Orion
2. One Love
3. Tokyo Boogie Woogie AE357 × 524 Version
4. hitori no Merry Christmas (Reggae Christmas Remix) (Remix by e-mura (Rub-A-Dub Market))
5. Orion (Instrumental)
6. One Love (Instrumental)
7. Tokyo Boogie Woogie AE357 × 524 Version (Instrumental)
8. hitori no Merry Christmas (Reggae Christmas Remix) (Remix by e-mura (Rub-A-Dub Market)) (Instrumental)

rhythm zone RZCD-45733
Out 11/28, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Electro-pop artist Meg has a new single coming arranged by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule)! That sexy jacket should make it hard to overlook on release day.

The song and its video can be sampled on her web site, in the discography section.

Meg "OK"

1. OK
2. I'm in LOVE
3. OK (sugiurumn remix)

Universal UPCH-5500
Out 10/3, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Taiwanese band Won-Fu (MySpace) has a new album being released in Japan with some Japanese versions. YMCK have collaborated on track "Shopping tengoku".

Won-Fu "Modern Monsoon Groovin'"
旺福 「青春舞曲 ～Modern Monsoon Groovin'～」

1. Everyday Wow Wow (Japanese version)
2. megane wa iranai (Japanese version)
3. utsukushiki sekai (Japanese version)
4. seishun o tsuppashire!!
5. koharu biyori
6. minikui ahiru
7. Cry Baby
8. boku wa Pop Idol
9. Lady's Night
10. Shopping tengoku
11. Tonight
12. Time
13. Way Woo
14. Everyday Wow Wow

Youth YOUTH-025
Out 9/19, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

m-flo's upcoming remix album, of songs from the album "Cosmicolor", includes remixes by Fantastic Plastic Machine, Sunaga t̀ Experience, Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), Ishino Takkyū, Akakage, Dexpistols, Ram Rider, Alex of Clazziquai Project, and more!
Included is a bonus non-stop mix CD.

m-flo "electriCOLOR -COMPLETE remix-"

CD1 -REMIX CD-
1. loves Minmi / Lotta Love (yasutaka nakata capsule mix) (Remixed by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule))
2. loves Monkey Majik / Picture Perfect Love Kuchiroro remix) (Remixed by Kuchiroro)
3. loves Doping Panda / she loves the Cream (Dexpistols Remix) (Remixed by Dexpistols)
4. loves Amuro Namie / Luvotomy (Camp Three-o-three remix) (Remixed by Ishino Takkyū)
5. loves Alex (Clazziquai Project) / Love Me After 12AM (Ram Rider Remix) (Remixed by Ram Rider)
6. loves melody. / Stuck In Your Love (Akakage's Tropical Smile) (Remixed by Akakage)
7. loves Chan, Thaitanium, Edison Chen, Ryohei / Love Me, Hate The Game (DJ Deckstream Remix) (Remixed by DJ Deckstream)
8. loves Koda Kumi / Simple & Lovely (Buzzer Beats Remix) (Remixed by Buzzer Beats)
9. loves Crystal Kay / Love Don't Cry (KGN8 Remix) (Remixed by Stephen McGregor)
10. loves Hinouchi Emi & Ryohei / Summer Time Love (Remix Tokyo Mode) (Remixed by Sunaga t̀ Experience)
11. loves Chara / Love to Live By (FPM eclectic electric mix) (Remixed by Fantastic Plastic Machine)
12. loves Star Trek™ / Love Long and Prosper (Diplos love long and shoot strong mix) (Remixed by Diplo)
13. loves Bonnie Pink / Love Song (Danny Byrd Remix) (Remixed by Danny Byrd)

CD2 -MIX CD- (Mixed by Pedro Winter a.k.a Busy P <Ed Banger Records>)

Rhythm Zone RZCD-45631
Out 9/26, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, , Amazon U.S.

FPM has a remix that made it even on the international release of Fatboy Slim's new 2-CD remix album! The remix has been heard before at least on "Sound Concierge #702". The Japanese edition of the remix album includes a bonus track, "Because We Can" from the movie "Moulin Rouge"'s soundtrack.

Fatboy Slim "The Greatest Hits Remixed"

1. Right Here Right Now (Redanka Mix)
2. Song For Shelter (Chemical Brothers Remix)
3. Everybody Needs A 303 (Plump DJs Remix)
4. Weapon Of Choice (Junkie XL mix)
5. The Rockafeller Skank (Mulder's Urban Takeover Mix)
6. Star 69 (Timo Maas Remix)
7. Praise You (Mike D and Ad Rock)
8. Sunset [Bird Of Prey] (Darren Emerson Mix)
9. Love Island (Manumission Mix)
10. F***ing In Heaven (Simons GT Mix)
11. Kidda's Fatboy Bouillabaisse (Bonus Track)

1. Don't Let The Man Get You Down (Justice Mix)
2. Retox (Dave Clarke Remix)
3. Mi Bebe Masoquista (X-Press 2 Remix)
4. The Journey (The Fantastic Plastic Machine Red Special Remix)
5. Jin Go Lo Ba (Jon Carter Remix)
6. The Joker (Kid Carpet Remix)
7. Wonderful Night (Chief Xcel Worldwide Mix)
8. Talking Bout My Baby (Midfield General's Disco Reshuffle)
9. Ya Mama (Krafty Kuts Remix)
10. Champion Sound (Switch Remix)
11. Because We Can (Bonus Track For Japan)

Skint EICP-865
Out 9/19, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

While we're impatiently waiting for a new album, which has been said many times to be on the way, Denki Groove offers us a new live DVD of their show at Fuji Rock last year. The track list is qute different from the 2004-released "2004 Summer ~Live & Clips~", even including a rare live performance of "Shangri-La", and the price is nice too!

Denki Groove "Live at Fuji Rock Festival '06" (DVD)
電気グルーヴ 「Live at Fuji Rock Festival '06｣
(59 min. / 16:9 / NTSC / All regions)