Tokyo's Coolest Sound

It's his first movie as a director, you might have guessed it from the title, it's Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys' Paradise Yamamoto!

This is a 30-minute film about a foreign boy and a Japanese girl who both discover the world of Manbonsai, the art of putting small figurines around a bonsai to make it look like a big tree. This film is presented as part of Yoshimoto Director's 100.

Bonsai Girl
盆栽少女
(Japanese title "bonsai shōjo")

Director: Paradise Yamamoto

Starring Kamiya Mika
With Kopeikin Ebony (?) and more
Special appearances by Nagisa Yōko, Sugisaku J-tarō

Music by Shimizu Nobuyuki

At Shinjuku Lumine the Yoshimoto (Lumine 2, 7F)
From 4/19 (Saturday) until 25 (Friday), starting at 21:45

At Shibuya Yoshimoto Mugendai Hall
From 4/21 (Monday) until 25 (Friday), starting at 21:40

At Jinbocho Kagetsu
From 4/19 (Satuday) until 25 (Friday), starting at 12:00 and 13:30

Price: adv. ¥800, door ¥1000

A bunch of great indie-pop units will share a stage in Shimokitazawa: future guitar pop band Aprils who recently made the soundtrack for animated film "kaede Newtown", Hazel Nuts Chocolate who is said to have plenty of new songs as she's busy preparing her 3rd album, new-comer techno-pop idol Aira Mitsuki who's major debut single "China Discotica" is just out, and Furil who I have yet to learn about.

Pure Pop Fes vol.1
on 4/26 (Saturday)
at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar

Live:
Aprils
Hazel Nuts Chocolate
Aira Mitsuki
Furil

Opens at 18:00, starts at 18:30
Price: adv. ¥2300 (reserve at Aprils for a free light stick or at Hazel Nuts Chocolate for a free mini-sticker), door ¥2800, + drink (¥500)

Reggae Disco Rockers, the funky club-reggae band, has a compilation of works with other artists coming out. The theme is female vocals, and included are songs by Toki Asako (ex-Cymbals), eico, Jazztronik, bird, Mansfield, dorlis, Wada Akiko, their Pizzicato Five cover from the tribute album, and more.

Various Artists "Beautiful Girls -The Strictly Best Works Collection-"

1. Reggae Disco Rockers feat. Ako / Zone Id -Beautiful Girls-
2. Reggae Disco Rockers (Tribute to Pizzicato Five) / kimi mitai ni kirei na onna no ko
3. Toki Asako / doyōbi no koibito (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)
4. Itō Yuna / stuck on you (Reggae Disco Rockers Kiss & Tell Remix)
5. eico / Tiny Tiny
6. m-flo loves Yoshika / let go (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)
7. Heartsdales / Candy Pop feat. Soul'd Out (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)
8. Nakashima Mika / yuki no hana (Reggae Disco Rockers Flower's Mix)
9. Jazztronik / Para a Terra (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)
10. bird / sanpo shiyō (Reggae Disco Rockers J-Wave Living in Tokyo Remix)
11. Mansfield / Love you more (R.D.R.mix)
12. arvin homa aya / Dear Friends
13. dorlis × Reggae Disco Rockers / kisetsu o shiranai kodomotachi
14. Coba-U / suna ni kieta namida
15. Reggae Disco Rockers feat. Ako / Zone ID -Revisited-
16. Wada Akiko / ano kane o narasu no wa anata (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)

Flower Records FLRC-059
Out 4/2, ¥2580 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

unchained groove (aka Groove Unchant) produces this compilation of R&B covers. Featured artists include Toki Asako (ex-Cymbals), eli (girl it's U, ex-Love Tambourines), Suzuki Momoko (Cosa Nostra), Yoshimi (Sonicberry Favour), Maki Rinka and more.

Official release page at label site (samples on the "songs" page")

Various Artists "Island Moon ~Groove Love~"

1. Toki Asako / Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (Regina Belle)
2. Hitomitoi / Kiss Of Life (Sade)
3. Suzuki Momoko / I Like It (Jomanda)
4. eli / Waterfalls (TLC)
5. Toki Asako / Close To You (Maxi Priest)
6. nao (pluschic like her) / I love your smile (Shanice)
7. Maki Rinka / Together Again (Janet Jackson)
8. Yoshimi / I Wish (Gabrielle)
9. Kaori (Dahlia) / You Gotta Be (Des'ree)
10. Suzuki Momoko / There's Nothing Like This (Omar)
11. ~Interlude~ Groove Love
12. nao (pluschic like her) / Before You Walk Out (Monica)

Kanaloa TKCA-73324
Out 5/21, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

See also:
Various Artists "Kyōhei Disco Night ~Tsutsumi Kyōhei Remix~"
dahlia "Beautiful, But Noir"
Groove Unchant "7 uomini d'oro feat. Pecombo" (7")

Trivia!
An early track list also included:
Yoshimi / Real Love (Mary J. Blige)

Chocolat & Akito will perform their music at a special event while illustrator Satō Yuri will produces live painting. Paper cutting master Hayashiya Shōraku will also show his tricks.
Food from vegetarian café Alaska will be available.

Official information page & reservations

utakata onpu na haru: Chocolat & Akito live
うたかた音符な春
on 4/26 (Saturday)
at Harajuku clementsalon*

Music: Chocolat & Akito
Live painting: Satō Yuri
Paper cutting: Hayashiya Shōraku

Opens at 20:00, starts at 20:30
Price: advance ¥3500 (reserve), door ¥4000

Out now:
Chocolat & Akito "Tropical"
Chocolat & Akito "Chocolat & Akito"

Jazz pianist and singer Kawano Emi and her trio will perform 3 evening sets at jazz bar Zinc in Asakusa. Drinks and some light food are available.
Sounds like a very pleasant evening!

Emi Kawano Trio live
on 3/28 (Friday)
at Asakusa Zinc

Kawano Emi (vocals & piano)
Tanaka Keisuke (electric bass)
Saitō Ryō (drums)

1st set 19:30 (until 20:10)
2nd set 20:30 (until 21:10)
3rd set 21:30 (until 22:10)

Price: ¥3000

Out now:
Emi Kawano Trio "Rainy Day" (12") (Audio samples)

Hasebe Novko and Isoda Osamu, both former members of early 90's band Modern Choki Chokies, will perform a live show on a Sunday afternoon. It's their first in about 3 years!

They will share the stage with an instrumental latin jazz band called Sekai Chizu (World Map), featuring vibraphone, piano, bass and drums. I believe the name is an anagram of the vibraphonist's name, Suzuki Chie.

Hasebe Novko & Isoda Osamu's weekly online radio "Kumazasa Jamboree"

Hasebe Novko w/ Isoda Osamu live
on 4/6 (Sunday)
at Kichijōji Manda-La 2

Live:
Sekai Chizu
Suzuki Chie (vibraphone), Morikatsu Satoshi (piano/keyboards), Umetsu Shigeharu (bass) and Miura Chizuko (drums)

Hasebe Novko w/ Isoda Osamu

Opens at 13:00, starts at 13:30
Price: ¥2500+drink

This all-genre club jazz compilation, while focusing on foreign artists, includes tracks by Japanese club artists Sindbad, Halfby, Fujisawa Shiho and Boot Beat.

Various Artists "Joyful Grooves!: Exceed"
オムニバス 「ジョイフル・グルーヴス! イクシード」

1. Don't Take It Too Hard
2. Eastside Connection / You're So Right For Me
3. Loyal Garner / You Are The Sun, Hawaii
4. Wouter Hamel / Cheap Chardonnay
5. Roman Andren / Let's Live Forever, Love
6. Pilot Jazou / More Time
7. Mark Murphy & The Louis Van Dyke Trio / Happy Samba
8. Buddy Rich & Mel Torme / Bluesette
9. Greetje Kauffeld / Tristeza (Mansfield Black Sheep Edit)
10. DJ Graham / It's Alright Now
11. Professor Longhair / Big Chief
12. Billy Wooten / Crown Royale
13. The Invaders Steelband / Calendar Song
14. Sindbad / Dumb Found (Your Song Is Halfby Mix)
15. Halfby / Man & Air
16. Shiho Fujisawa / Drum Crazy For DJ
17. Boot Beat / Theme Of Like A Bossa (Switch Version)
18. Ohmega Watts / That Sound (Quantic Soul Orchestra Mix)
19. Bobby Shad and the Bad Men / I Want You Back

P-Vine PCD-4388
Out 3/21, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

See also:
Fujisawa Shiho upcoming album "Happy Hour"
Boot Beat album "Switch"
Halfby album "Side Farmers"
Sindbad album "Sindbad"

Multi-talent Shinohara Tomoe brings us a new fun experiment combining visual arts and music. She will perform together with Steve Etō and Buffalo Daughter's Ohno Yumiko, and visual artist Mucho Muramatsu. DJ Lyoma, a Japanese mostly active in Berlin, will also be spinning.

Tomoe Shinohara Arts at MySpace

Tomoe Shinohara Live Paint Performance
on 4/13 (Sunday)
at Roppongi SuperDeluxe

Live act:
Shinohara Tomoe / Steve Etō / Ohno Yumiko / Mucho Muramatsu

DJ: Lyoma

Opens at 18:30, starts at 19:00
Price: ¥3000 (incl. 1 drink) (Reservations)

(Photos of the event are restricted to authorized staff.)

Tokyo's indies club scene's girl DJ and trackmaker, Fujisawa Shiho (MySpace), offers us a first full-length album featuring vocals by the likes of Pecombo and Qypthone's Izumi. Included is the single "Colorful na kimochi" that was released as a 12" E.P. last month, containing 3 different versions of the song.

The album features scratches by Kawanishi Suguru, and the whole is mixed and mastered by Yoshida Tetsuto (Readymade)!

Review
Tokyo's up-and-coming female DJ and trackmaker Fujisawa Shiho succeeds showing her skills on this first album. Melodious happy vocal house songs with groovy deep bass lines —such as "Happy Hour", "My Town" and "Swingin' Love"— are interleaved with instrumental jazz breakbeats tracks that prove she ranks way up there with Boot Beat, Kawanishi Suguru and Halfby. The cover of Pizzicato Five's "Drinking Wine" featuring scat vocal group Pecombo is also wonderful. Fans of any of the above, and of the otome house "genre" recently popularized by Towa Tei, don't miss this!

Audio samples at MySpace

Fujisawa Shiho "Happy Hour"
藤澤志保 「Happy Hour」

1. Happy Hour feat. hiro:n
2. a note from sky feat. Okada Kyōko
3. Uniting of Gene
4. kimi to iru basho de feat. Shōno Juli
5. Drum Crazy for DJ
6. Table ni hitobin no Wine feat. Pecombo
7. Swingin' Love feat. Okada Kyoko
8. Music Rainbow
9. Everything is alright! feat. Ōkawara Izumi (Qypthone)
10. Colorful na kimochi feat. Shōno Juli
11. Trip of Beat
12. My Town feat. Maiko Ueoku
13. Sunny Days feat. Okada Kyoko

eat records XQEN-1001
Out 4/23, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons brings us a compilation of calm songs, acoustic and then some, selected from its growing catalog. Included are songs with Minekawa Takako, Kahimi Karie, and lots more.

This is a special label sampler sold only at Tower Records.

Various Artists "Happy Holidays! by commmons"

1. kotoringo / konnichi wa mata ashita
2. Takagi Masakatsu / Perpetuum Mobile
3. fennesz + sakamoto / haru
4. Sakamoto Ryūichi + Minekawa Takako / kaze no tani no Nausica
5. Koyama Erina / Little Things
6. Jim O'Rourke + Kahimi Karie "fūraibō"
7. naomi & goro / Will you dance?
8. Aoyagi Takuji / utsushite nagameru
9. Kirinji / hanyū no shuku
10. Kuchiroro / Golden Week
11. Takada Ren / akatonbo
12. Moose Hill & Harada Ikuko / nenneko
13. Sakamoto Ryūichi / Fotografia #1

commmons RZC1-45883
Out 4/16, ¥1886 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Top club-jazz DJ Sunaga Tatsuo mixes Wada Akiko songs in his World Standard non-stop live mix fashion. A must!

Released at the same time as collaboration album "Wada ke" featuring Konishi Yasuharu, Crazy Ken Band and Reggae Disco Rockers.

Wada Akiko "World Standard Wada Akiko"
和田アキ子 「World Standard Wada Akiko」

1. Opening
2. Tiger & Dragon
3. arashi no onna
4. Papa no New Bag
5. kanashii uta
6. Rumba de Boom Boom (Reggae Disco Rockers Skankin' Mix)
7. World Standard Wada Akiko (Rhythm & Blues no jōō ~ machiwabite)
8. waratte yurushite
9. otoko to onna ga iru kagiri
10. Slow Ballad
11. Chorus Girl
12. yoake no Samba
13. furui nikki (Dynamite Soul Mix)
14. Free At Last '98
15. chūtoro
16. Wada shuten
17. yotta karatte
18. shunkashūtō
19. Last Metro
20. Morning Girl
21. watashi yume o miru no
22. ikiru (Hayashi Yūzō & Salon '68 Early Summer Remix)
23. haiiro no machi
24. saa bōken da
25. Hey (m-flo Loves Akiko Wada)
26. Akko ni omakase! ~ natsu no yoru no Samba
27. ano kane o narasu no wa anata(tachi)

Teichiku TECI-4003
Out 4/23, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

See also:
"World Standard.06 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix- Sunaga t̀ Experience works -pièces pour les femmes-"
"World Standard Schema"
"World Standard.05 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"
"World Standard.04 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-" (CCCD)

"LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible ...", a multimedia installation by musician Sakamoto Ryūichi and visual artist Takatani Shirō (Dumb Type), has been exhibited last year at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media and Tokyo's NTT ICC in 2007. Now it's finally making its way to your living room in DVD form, and that with 5.1 audio.

Exhibition details at Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (English)
Exhibition details at NTT ICC (English)

Sakamoto Ryūichi + Takatani Shirō "LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible ..." (DVD)
坂本龍一＋高谷史郎 「LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible ...」
(5.1 / Region 2 NTSC)

commmons RZBM-45890
Out 5/28, ¥4572 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (21% off *), Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of bossa nova, guitar/vocal duo naomi & goro offers us this cover album of songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joan Gilberto. It's a first release for them on commmons, and Sakamoto Ryūichi even lends his piano talents on two songs.

naomi & goro "Bossa Nova Songbook 1"

1. Aguas De Marco
2. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce
3. Samba De Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)
4. So Danco Samba (Jazz Samba)
5. E Preciso Perdoar
6. Esperanca Perdida
7. A Correnteza (The Stream)
8. Um Selo
9. Garota De Ipanema (The Girl From Ipanema)
10. Desafinado (Off Key)
11. Jou Jou Balangandas
12. Fotografia
13. Eclipse

commmons RZCM-45891
Out 5/28, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

arcorhyme are constantly trying out new show concepts, this Sunday they will perform at Après-midi Grand Cru, the pasta and wine restaurant located below Café Après-midi (the café). There will be two free sets with different songs. Charge is free, so drop by!

arcorhyme afternoon live at Grand Cru
on 3/16 (Sunday)
at Après-midi Grand Cru, Shibuya
(1-15-7 Jinnan 4F, on Kōen-dōri)

Set 1 starts at 13:00 (30 minutes)
Set 2 starts at 14:00 (30 minutes)

Price: Free! (+food/drinks)

Two very rare albums by easy listening band Hiroshi Okazaki and His Star Gazers are being re-issued for the first time on CD, in mini-LP sleeves. This band was the subject of a whole compilation previously released on Readymade in 2000, which itself has gone rare. 10 songs from these two albums were included on the Readymade compilation.

Hiroshi Okazaki and His Star Gazers "Gazing the Cygnus"
岡崎広志とスターゲイザース 「イージーリスニングの貴族達」
(Japanese title "Easy Listening no kizokutachi")

1. Massachusetts
2. So Danco Samba (Jazz'n'samba)
3. Route 66
4. Paris no meguriai
5. Ruby to shinju
6. omoide no San Francisco
7. Mais Que Nada
8. sottosayonara
9. isoshigi
10. Meditation
11. And I Love Her
12. Yesterday

Think!/Columbia THCD-75
Out 4/11, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Hiroshi Okazaki and His Star Gazers "Gazing the Orion"
岡崎広志とスターゲイザース 「イージーリスニングの世界」
(Japanese title "Easy Listening no sekai")

1. koi ni oborete
2. This Guy
3. The Impossible Dream
4. oishii mizu
5. nami mo tsutaenai
6. Born Free
7. Words
8. What Can I Do Dear
9. Quiet Night
10. anata no koto bakari
11. The Last Waltz
12. Sound of Silence

Think!/Columbia THCD-76
Out 4/11, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Regular club party Mōshiwake Night's DJ team has put together these two mix CDs, under "Urban" and "Idol" themes, totaling 100 songs! Each CD features two DJs selecting a dozen tracks in turn. Those selectors are DJ Mitsy, Uta Maru (Rhymester), and Okite Porsche (Roman Porsche).

You may examine the monster track lists below closely for details, but these seem like fun selections of club-oriented hit tracks.

Various Artists "mōshiwake nai to From Akasaka Urban Mix"
オムニバス 「申し訳ないとフロム赤坂 アーバンMIX」

Uta Maru mōshiwake Jr. Urban Mix 1
1. Kyōda Miho / yuuutsu na nettaigyo (Rum Coke Re-mix)
2. Kreva / Dan Da Dan feat. Cue Zero
3. Matsubara Miki / mayonaka no Door ~ Stay with me (More bounce to the ounce mix)
4. House Foundation+Akiko Wada / Free At Last (Original Vocal Mix)
5. Shimano Momoe / Cover Girl
6. Miho / Parallel (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
7. Karasawa Miho / 0°C/Stay with me (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)
8. Karasawa Miho / yume no hi ni
9. Furuuchi Tōko / Coat o katte
10. Jazztronik / Love Tribe (Main Mix feat. Miss Vehna from Soul Trip!!)
11. Fukada Kyōko / Easy Rider (Groove That Soul Mix)

Mitsy mōshiwake Urban Mix 1
1. Miho / Life (Incognito's Put Your Hands Up Remix)
2. Miho / Esperanza
3. Neo / amaku kiken ka kaori
4. Shimano Momoe / Hot Glamour (Original Flava)
5. Kohei Japan / Ms. Money
6. Rhymescientist / gekkō (DJ Jin Remix)
7. LM.C / Haunted House make a Secret
8. ZEEBRA / Tokyo's Finest feat. BIG-O
9. The Arrows / hokoRhythm
10. Mr. Beats a.k.a. DJ Celory / Happy Turn feat. Taro Soul, Hunger, Kin Da Sher Rock
11. Kreva feat. Mummy-D / Funky Glamorous (Rock-Tee's Funk-Tank Freak Show Remix)
12. KM-Markit / Me & My... feat. Katō Miriya
13. Itō Seikō & Tinnie Punx / Tokyo Bronx

Uta Maru mōshiwake Jr. Urban Mix 2
1. Radical TV / TV Idol
2. Ueto Aya / way to heaven (100db mix)
3. Ueto Aya / Message (Incognito Remix)
4. Minami-Aoyama Shōjo kagekidan "Mask" / Million Kiss
5. bishōjo Club / Do Your Best!! (Supa Funkalicious Remix)
6. Morita Club / Monsoon Asia no ashi no fune (genuine equator remix)
7. Dalian Girls / Dancing Star -Happy Lapirachu Style- (aquaorb remix)
8. Lead / Star Playa
9. w-inds. / It's In The Stars
10. w-inds. / Long Road
11. D-51 / No More Cry
12. BaBe / Give Me Up

Mitsy mōshiwake Urban Mix 2
1. Fishmans / Go Go Round This World!
2. Hiramatsu Eri / My Serenade
3. Kohara Akiko / nijiiro Time Machine
4. Kamita Mika / akiiro no kinyōbi
5. Ueto Aya / 1 million thanks
6. rough laugh / Weekend no Jazzman tachi e
7. Kojima Mayumi / amai koi (Single Version)
8. JiLL-Decoy association / like ameba
9. Original Love / koi no suisei
10. Karasawa Miho / Way to Love (cheers on the beach mix)
11. Mitsunaga Ryōta / Always
12. Furuuchi Tōko / sayonara ai shiteta hito (album mix)

Pony Canyon PCCA-02662
Out 4/16, ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Various Artists "mōshiwake nai to From Akasaka Idol Mix"
オムニバス 「申し訳ないとフロム赤坂 アイドルMIX」

Okite Porsche mōshiwake Jr. Idol Mix 1
1. Onyanko Club / natsuyasumi wa owaranai
2. Onyanko Club / katatsumuri Samba
3. Neo chakkiri musume / Pink no Cherry
4. Neo chakkiri musume / Animal Summer no natsu ga kuru!
5. Saitō Makiko / No! No! No!
6. chekki musume / chekkikko cherii Doll
7. ushiroyubi sasaregumi / ushiroyubi sasaregumi
8. Onyanko Club / Sailor fuku o nugasanai de
9. Onyanko Punklub / jaane
10. Onyanko Punklub / kashiko

Mitsy mōshiwake Idol Mix 1
1. Makise Riho / Miracle Love
2. Horikawa Sanae / Afrodina <seijo> no natsu
3. chekki musume / umi e ikō
4. Miura Rieko / suiheisen de tsukamaete
5. Onyanko Club / Linda
6. CoCo / hanbun fushigi
7. Kijima Sario / Positive de ikō!
8. yamadakatsutenai Wink / "T" Intersection
9. Paradise Yamamoto to Tokyo Latin Mood Deluxe feat. Sonoda Ruriko / gyutto! gyutto! dakishimete!!
10. Onyanko Club / taiikukan wa Danceteria
11. ushiroyubi sasaregumi / kashiko
12. Melody / Boom Boom My Heart
13. Ribbon / ano ko ni yoroshiku
14. Kudō Shizuka / Mugo n ... iroppoi
15. Fairchild / nanka ii kibun

Okite Porsche mōshiwake Jr. Idol Mix 2
1. CoCo / fushigi na Pocket
2. Miura Rieko / nichiyōbi wa dame yo
3. Yoshikawa Hinano / usagi chan Say Good Bye
4. DJ Mappie / Mappie no G suta
5. Hori Chiemi / Wa shoi!
6. unko chan / u~n koi shita toki kara...
7. Yoshikawa Hinano / Heart-gata no namida
8. Hano Aki with Ugougo-kun to Rhuga-chan / sho-gakuse- Is Dead
9. Melody / unmei '95
10. Fukada Kyōko / Swimming (Mansfield Mix)
11. Fukada Kyōko / kiminohitominikoishiteru
12. Fukada Kyōko & The Two Tones / Route 246 (Kyōko to Yoshio no Tokyo Love Story Mix)

Mitsy mōshiwake Idol Mix 2
1. Morio Yumi / Show Time
2. Fukuda Saki / Attack No.1 (Attack Samba No.1 Remix)
3. Minamino Yōko / toiki de Net (new ver.)
4. Karasawa Miho / 2AM
5. bishōjo Club 21 / Da Di Da Go! Go!
5. Fukada Kyōko / saigo no kajitsu
6. Idoling!!! / friend
7. Ueto Aya / binetsu -1980 Boogie Style-
8. Cassis / Love So Serious
9. Shimokawa Mikuni / If ~moshimo negai ga kanau nara~ (CMJK remix)
10. Morita Club / tikimeki mujō
11. UFO Mania
12. kira kira
13. Ishikawa Hitomi / machibuse (mōshiwake Street Stalk Remix - Remixed by Mitsy Mōshiwake)

Pony Canyon PCCA-02663
Out 4/16, ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

This remix album of music from the Wii game "No More Heroes" will feature artists such as 6955 and Hondalady.

Various Artists "No More Heroes Sound Tracks: Dark Side"

1. Yoshioka Taku Squad / It's kill or be killed mix
2. 6955 / N.M.H. 6955 mix
3. The Riot -okori no 10dai- / No More Riot
4. Fukuda Jun / Pure-White Giant Tiny Glastonbury
5. bloco 23 / Hustlin' 'n' Tusslin' [batucafro mix]
6. The Outer Rim Produced by Norihiko Hibino / N.M.H. The Outer Rim Remix
7. Hondalady / We Are Finally Cowboys [golden brown mix]
8. Takada Masashi / More (RX-Ver.S.P.L.)
9. Neutrino / The virgin child makes her wish without feeling anything [ver.v]

Grasshopper
Out 3/14, ¥2100
Order: ghmR Shop (once out, Japan only)

Itsco (MySpace) is a newcomer, having just debuted in January with a single titled "Water Lily" written by TGMX (Scafull King, Frontier Backyard, Cubismo Grafico Five), and she has a first album coming up. Most songs are written and produced by Asamoto Hirofumi (Ram Jam World), with lyrics by artists including Toki Asako (Cymbals), Cano Caoli and Saeki Kenzō.

The album includes one cover, of Adamo's "Mauvais garçon", best known in Japan for his song "Tombe la neige" (many Japanese even think it's a traditional Japanese song!). A limited edition will package a bonus DVD.

Last year, Itsco also sang on "Tokyo Pudding presents Tokyo Soundscapes".

Itsco "Its"

1. ainohi
2. Scatter Blue
3. Mother Water
4. kagami no kuni no watashi
5. shinkō no sakana
6. Water Lily ~Bad Bass Remix~
7. Anemone Bath
8. a no ri a ru ~I wanna be me~
9. Il y a
10. mafuyu no himawari
11. rokudenashi

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
avex trax AVCD-23575/B
Out 4/16, ¥3300
Order: Amazon (15% off on pre-orders), HMV, Tower, YesAsia

Regular edition (CD only)
avex trax AVCD-23576
Out 4/16, ¥2762 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Thanks to Rachael for the tip!

Polysics have a brand new album coming up! A limited edition will contain a bonus DVD of a live performance from last year at the Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.

A single will also be released a month in advance, including 2 non-album tracks. Find details below.

Polysics "We ate the machine"

1. Moog is Love
2. Pretty Good
3. Rocket
4. kizai tabechaimashita
5. DNA Junction
6. Kagayake
7. Pony to Lion
8. arigatō
9. irotokage
0. Mind Your Head
11. Digital Coffee
12. Boys & Girls
13. Blue Noise
14. Dry or Wet

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-1240/1
Out 4/23, ¥3360
Order: Amazon (15% off on pre-orders), HMV, Tower, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Regular edition (CD only)
Ki/oon KSCL-1242
Out 4/23, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

(Artwork to be added when available.)

CD single:

Polysics "Pretty Good"

1. Pretty Good
2. Super Spin Girl
3. Uno Dos
4. Pretty Good
5. Super Spin Girl

Ki/oon KSCL-1223
Out 3/19, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Arcorhyme side-work info! Nishimura Ikuyo has written lyrics, and Takanami K-tarō arranged one song ("Fragments") on this drama and soundtrack CD from anime Dragonaut -The Resonance-.

Anime Soundtrack "Dragonaut Drama & Character Song Vol.4"
アニメサウンドトラック 「ドラゴノーツ ドラマ＆キャラクターソング Vol.4」

1. Drama Chapter 9 ~Kazuki & Widow hen~
2. Drama Chapter 10 ~Asim & Garnet hen~
3. Kazuki & Widow no Theme "Fragments"
4. Asim & Garnet no Theme "Hide & Seek"
5. Kazuki & Widow no Theme "Fragments" (Inst.)
6. Asim & Garnet no Theme "Hide & Seek" (Inst.)

Konami GFCA-78
Out now (3/5), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Electro musician Midori Hirano will come from Kyoto to perform in an event organized by songs from thousand downfall and Ovum. Also playing are Fort Wayne and COM.A.

songs from thousand downfall & OVUM present
"el silencio del sol de la escena"
on 3/9
at Shinjuku Nine Spices (2-1-2 Kabukichō B1F)

Live:
songs from thousand downfall
OVUM
Fort Wayne
COM.A
midori hirano

Opens at 17:30, starts at 18:00
Price: adv. ¥2000 (reserver by emailing Midori), door ¥2300