Tokyo's Coolest Sound

April 28 is Shibuya day (4=shi, 2=bu, 8=ya), and to celebrate, a neo-Shibuya-kei information web site has opened! The content is all in Japanese, but still you can find lots of links to artists who fall under the category.

That's not all... Some young DJs have found freely downloadable tracks on the web, and put together 6 compilations! All you need to do is follow each song's "download" link, and proceed to download the right MP3. Collect them all while you can. Rōmaji track lists are included here below.

Neo-Shibuya-kei web site
Free compilations

"Drive de kikitai Girl Pop"
「ドライブで聴きたいGirl Pop」
Compiled by Fujimoto Mikako (IndiesNews.com)

1. Lamp / saishū ressha wa 25ji
2. miette-one / Rain and Snow
3. roly poly rag bear / green
4. Les Stereo-Phonic Theatre / Roma-shiki koi no wasurekata
5. Quinka, with a Yawn / mae o muku hito
6. naivepop or petitfool / Tuesday tte nanyōbi?
7. N0 Return / midsummers lament
8. Strawberry Machine / chiisana ouchi
9. Furil / Wonder land
10. Soda fountains / koi no senpūki
11. three-weeks-old lovesick puppy / emptypark
12. Sucrette / Love Prologue

"Neo Elepop Freedom"
Compiled by Ueken (Elektel)

1. hikari Curator / cosmic love
2. Nacchan Peak / DATA28Channels
3. Sonicberry Favour / sister! sister! (fly me to the mars)
5. Yoshimi / first love
6. Clam Chowder Tetraple Jack / Instant World's End
7. Elektel / Arrivederci Roma

"Neo-Shibuya-kei Net Surf Music"
「ネオ渋谷系ネットサーフミュージック」

1. Sucrette / koi to kuchibue
2. Rissen / S.S.S (Secret Summer Sniper)
3. Soda fountains / koi no senpūki
4. Sonicberry Favour / green hill
5. tetrapletrap / Filmcut 100
6. Clam Chowder Tetraple Jack / Instant World's End

"NEOSB ~kore ga Neo-Shibu-kei da!~"
「NEOSB～これがネオシブ系だ！～」
Compiled by Yasuda (DJ)

1. futari no Mojipittan (fine c'est la mix)
2. wa-zu wa-zu no mahō (easter egg mix)
3. Piacevole! (Peppermint Mix)
4. Sucrette / Love Prologue
5. Clam Chowder Tetraple Jack / Instant World's End
6. Strawberry Machine / chiisana ouchi
7. Soda fountains / kinmokusei

"hidamari pop show #1"
Compiled by Masao ((Mu)nakata Yasutaka no kai)

1. Clam Chowder Tetraple Jack / Instant World's End
2. Rissen / S.S.S (Secret Summer Sniper)
3. hikari Curator / a tissue of lies
4. Slowcamp / world
5. Lamp / saishū ressha wa 25ji
6. Lodge / ako no uta
7. naivepop or petitfool / Tuesday tte nanyōbi?
8. Elekibass / who loves the sun
9. imette-one / Rain and Snow
10. N0 Return / boss'n roll baby last mix
11. Les Stereo-Phonic Theatre / Kinky-Boots!
12. Strawberry Machine / chiisana ouchi
13. Nacchan Peak / Tonali
14. Furil / Wonder land
15. Soda fountains / jitensha ni notte
16. Sonicberry Favour / atakamo
17. hikari Curator / Pure Heights 201
18. Lamp / hōmatsu kitan

"Route Neo 428"
Compiled by Aoyama (Neo-Shibuya-kei web)

1. Soda fountains / Live Se
2. Soda fountains / koi no senpūki
3. miette-one / Rain and Snow
4. Sucrette / koi to kuchibue
5. naivepop or petitfool / Tuesday tte nanyōbi?
6. three-weeks-old lovesick puppy / emptypark
7. roly poly rag bear / green
8. balloon skirt / Favor Cycle
9. Audrey Shoes / my favorite shoes
10. Lodge / ako no uta
11. Elekibass / who loves the sun
12. Rissen / S.S.S (Secret Summer Sniper)
13. tetrapletrap / Filmcut 100
14. Clam Chowder Tetraple Jack / Instant World's End

Round Table feat. Nino has a new single coming up, and I hear that it features Kinbara Chieko strings, with the strings arrangement by solange et delphine's Hase Yasuhiro.

The title track is also the ending theme to late night TV Tokyo show Web-tama 3.

Round Table featuring Nino "koi o shiteru ~Web-tama 3 Ending Theme"
Round Table featuring Nino 「恋をしてる　～「うぇぶたま３」エンディングテーマ」

1. koi o shiteru
2. Symphony
3. takaramono (homemade demo mix)
4. koi o shiteru (without Nino)
5. Symphony (without Nino)

Flying Dog VTCL-35031
Out 6/25, ¥1100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia,

Fender Rhodes player Ino Hidefumi, whose first album "Satisfaction" is still a top seller to this day, has a new 7" coming up. This is said to be a cut from an upcoming 2nd album being planned for June! Clear vinyl!

Ino Hidefumi "Serendipity" (7")
猪野秀史 「Serendipity」

A. Serendipity
B. Sentimental Promenade

Innocent Record IREP-0006
Out 5/4, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out), HMV

Ban Hiroshi (aka Ban-chan, Bambino) is back with a new 7" single together with a female vocalist named Eve. Included are two covers, of James Brown's "I got you" and The Specials' "Little bitch", with original Japanese lyrics.

The whole is produced by Osaka DJ Groove Unchant (who produced dahlia's latest album "Beautiful But Noir"), mixed and mastered by Tanaka Tomonao (novaFASE).

Hiroshi & Eve "Tin Tin / Give me ah-ray!!" (7")
ヒロシ＆EVE 「Tin Tin / Give me ah-ray!!」

A. Tin Tin (I Got You)
B. Give me ah-ray!! (Little Bitch)

Unchantable UCT-003
Out now (4/12), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

A new band fronted by Lily Franky, named Tokyo Mood Punks, and featuring Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) on percussion and keyboards, has a first single out now. The other members are Tomizawa Taku a.k.a chikoku (Group Tamashii) on guitar, Sasanuma Noriyoshi (Sly Mongoose) on bass, and Matsushita Toku (Zazen Boys) on drums. A version of the title track was recorded at Abbey Road.

Official release page with music video (until April 28)

Tokyo Mood Punks "Jamie"
Tokyo Mood Punks 「ジェイミー」

1. Jamie
2. suiyō no bara
3. Jamie (Studio Session at Abbey Road Studio, London)

tearbridge NFCD-27077
Out now (4/16), ¥858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Hosono "Harry" Hauromi (YMO, Sketch Show) brings his label daisyworld back from the dead.

The first releases will coincide with his 61st birthday on July 9. These are a collection of rare musical works of his, ranging from TV shows to events since the 80's until recent years, and also a compilation of songs (old and new) by artists who he featured on his radio show "Daisy Holiday" (since 2002 on Inter FM, archived playlists).
Both CDs are produced by himself.

Towa Tei fans will find another new track on "Motivation 7" released at the same time.

Hosono Hauromi "Hosono Hauromi Archives Vol.1"
細野晴臣 「細野晴臣アーカイヴス Vol.1」

1. Roochoo Divine
2. Rainbow Road
3. Walkers
4. Walking Vibration
5. Ceremony
6. Seeing Beauty
7. Lucky
8. Garcon
9. Cirque
10. Pantomime
11. Tente
12. Festa
13. Afro Jane
14. Talking Dog
15. Tragic Suite Of Titanic
16. It Was Sad When That Great Ship Went Down

daisyworld COCP-35066
Out 7/9, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.
　
Various Artists "Daisy Holiday presented by Hosono Haruomi"
オムニバス 「デイジー・ホリデー presented by 細野晴臣」

1. Harry Breuer / Minute Merengue
2. Koshi Miharu / Typewriter
3. Beau Hanks Sextet / Power House
4. Beautiful Hummingbird / Edelweis (Japanese Demo Ver.)
5. Tei Towa / Channel ginga
6. Takada Ren / kaerimichi
7. James Lovelock / Gaia Message
8. Koshi Miharu / Royal Apron
9. Humming Kitchen / Panorama no oka
10. Aoyagi Takuji / kyō ga owaru koro ni
11. Conte: pon pon jōki
12. Beau Hanks Saxophone Soktet(?) / Toy Trumpet
13. Koshi Miharu / Café du carrefour
14. Vagabond c.p.a. & Harry Hosono Jr. / Old Music Master
15. Koshi Miharu / yume ~ sore wa Dream
16. Tin Pan / hoshizora no Strat
17. World Standard / Allegria Polycure Symphony
18. Hosono Haruomi / Great Ship Went Down
19. Kicell / kimi no inu
20. Conte: Elevator
21. Hosono Haruomi & World Shyness / Hong Kong Blues
22. Hoshino Gen / Daisy omisojiru

daisyworld COCP-35067
Out 7/9, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Escalator band Avalon keep gaining popularity worldwide. They're back with a 3rd mini-album of 6 brand new songs.

Avalon "Avals Variations"

1. Chartreuse
2. The Art of Fugue
3. Arcadians
4. Prescription Aria
5. Opus Sabre Dance
6. Bluebeard

Escalator ESCD-077 / XQAV-1577
Out 5/28, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

See also:
"4 Gospels For 2 Testaments"
"Tate House 6 Don'ts"

In 1998, Yann Tomita released a boxed set of 3 CDs and 1 CD-ROM with the title "Music For Living Sound". 10 years later, here comes this new edition where the CD-ROM is replaced by 2 DVDs more suitable to this day's technology.

A review of the original release can be found at Japanese Electronic Music (technopop.info).

Yann Tomita "Music For Living Sound ~ Cool Sounds From Real Life" (3CD+2DVD)
ヤン富田 「Music For Living Sound～Cool Sounds From Real Life」

CD 1
1. Sensory Sound Systems In A.S.L.
2. Solar & Planetary Influence Sound
3. Murmur Of Living Experience
4. The Living Sound
5. Refreshing Sound
6. Laughter Robot In Silicon Valley
7. Talk To Me, Talk To Me
8. Take A Walk

CD 2
1. Switched On/Off RCA Mark II Synthesizer
2. Vinyl Beat Of Two Turntables With Cybernetics & Bi
3. Flash To The Bionic Beat & An Analysis Of His Brai
4. Prepared Record #9 For Inevitable Chance
5. Introduction Of Aeolian Harp
6. Magic Music Of The Spheres
7. Summer Song

CD 3
1. Airport By The Lab.
2. Air Vibes From The Airport
3. Animal/human Preservation Encompasses Tours,Biolog
4. Music Life
5. Introduction Of Bionic Music
6. My Brain, My Muscle And My Heart For Bionic Music
7. In & Out/yin & Yang
8. Living By The Airport

CCRE Music CCRM-6016
Out 6/25 canceled?, ¥5900
Order: Amazon (15% off on pre-orders), HMV, Tower

Fantastic Plastic Machine is contributing a remix of the theme song from the film "ginmakuban sushi ōji! ~New York e iku~", based on the late night TV drama "sushi ōji" (aka "Sushi Prince"). The single is being released as the name of the character impersonated by Dōmoto Kōichi (KinKi Kids) who sings the song described as "rock dance music".

A limited edition includes a DVD with the main track's music video, while the regular edition contains a bonus track. True evilness to poor fans, it's Johnny's way.

Maizu Tsukasa "No More"
米寿司 「No More」

Limited edition (CD+DVD)

1. No more
2. No more (RYKYUDISKO ReCHAMPLOO)
3. No more (Fantastic Plastic Machine remix)

DVD
1. No more (Music video)
2. No more (in Miyakojima)

Johnny's JECN-0164~5
Out 4/30, ¥1600
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

Regular edition (CD with bonus track)

1. No more
2. shugyōuta
3. No more (RYKYUDISKO ReCHAMPLOO)
4. No more (Fantastic Plastic Machine remix)

Johnny's JECN-0166
Out 4/30, ¥953 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Shibuya-kei idol duo Vanilla Beans are back with a new single, follow-up to last year's "U ♥ Me". This comes after a swift member change (goodbye Rika, hello Risa), be nice ok!

This new release comes with a DVD with 2 music videos, and all design and visuals are said to be by Hiro Sugiyama (Enlightenment).

Official release page
Video of the former Rena and Rika performing for the Japanese Embassy in Denmark!?

Vanilla Beans "Nicola"
バニラビーンズ 「ニコラ」

1. Nicola
2. Nostalgy
3. Nicola (Instrumental)
4. Nostalgy (Instrumental)

Tokuma TKCA-73321
Out 5/21, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (10% off *), HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Nomiya Maki's big recital might be over, but she's not taking it easy just yet! Indeed, he will be appearing on stage as part of Plastic Sex, her unit with Nakanishi Toshio (Plastics).

DISCO 08: Plastic Sex live
on 4/26 (Saturday)
at Sangenjaya Heaven's Door

Plastic Sex (Nakanishi Toshio (Plastics), Nomiya Maki (ex-Pizzicato Five), Kuni Sugimoto (ex-Natural Calamity), Ōnishi Tsuru (Magnolia))
tokyo pinsalocks
Clarabell
Microchips and Fish (Miura Toshikazu (Kera & the Synthesizers), Hirai Yoshito (ex-Penpals), Dr.Yana (ex-Zeppet Store))

Opens at 18:30, starts at 19:00
Price: adv. ¥2500, door ¥2800

Kinbara Chieko is back this year with two new albums, "Sweetest Day ~ Romance For Strings" in April and this night-themed second one in May.

This album features collaborations with Jeff Mills, Inoue Kaoru (Chari Chari) and Ananda Project, and also a duet with Josh Milan (Blaze).

Kinbara Chieko "Velvet Night ~ Pray For Strings"
金原千恵子 「Velvet Night～Pray For Strings」

1. Autumn Moon feat. Heather Johnson -Ananda Classix Mix-
2. Quiet Wave
3. Set Fire To Me
4. hikari feat. Takeda Kaori (Tica)
5. The Angels Song feat. Josh Milan (Blaze)
6. Out Of The Weak Will Come Strength feat. Ingrid Schroeder
7. Butterfly Life
8. Starlight
9. Shadow
10. Autumn Moon feat. Heather Johnson -Ananda Sunday Sunrise Dub-

Grand Gallery GRGA-0051
Out 5/21, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Creative management agengy KiKi inc., which represents Tanaka Tomoyuki (Fantastic Plastic Machine), is having a first group exhibition of its artists. FPM is said to have contributed works too!

Exhibition official blog

DaiKiKiTen ~KiKi inc. Exhibition 2008~
大喜喜展～KiKi inc.Exhibition2008～

From 4/9 until 4/20
At Zel Cafe/Gallery (5-10-25 Roppongi 1F) (Map)

Opens at 11:00, closes at 22:00

Art director Shindō Mitsuo (CTPP) has designed a T-shirt and ecobag to be sold only at Tower Records online, in a collaboration with Club King (publisher of the popular free magazine Dictionary).

The items promote Earth Day Tokyo 2008 and are made of People Tree fair trade organic cotton ("eco white" color).

Tower × Club King × Contemporary Production T-shirt and ecobag
タワエコ×クラブキング×コンテムポラリー･プロダクション T-shirt、エコバッグ

T-shirt Girls M size (width 47 cm, height 57 cm)
Our 4/19, ¥3500
Buy at Tower

T-shirt M size (width 50 cm, height 68 cm)
Our 4/19, ¥3500
Buy at Tower

T-shirt L size (width 54 cm, height 71 cm)
Our 4/19, ¥3500
Buy at Tower

Ecobag (width 35 cm, height 40 cm, depth 8 cm)
Our 4/19, ¥1500
Buy at Tower

Girl DJ/trackmaker Fujisawa Shiho (MySpace) offers us this release party to celebrate her first album "Happy Hour"!

Featured will be a live show with 5 female vocalists from the album, with support from Yoshida Tetsuto, Iwaya Shigeru (Groovy Sauce), Ishigaki Kentarō (Qypthone), and a crazy line-up of DJs with Shiho herself, Kamiya Naoaki (Boot Beat), the "Joke" crew and more.

Not to be missed!

Fujisawa Shiho "Happy Hour" Release Party
藤澤志保 「Happy Hour」 Release Party
on 5/4 (Sunday — next day is a holiday)
at Shibuya Seco Lounge (map)

DJ
Fujisawa Shiho
Kamiya Naoaki (Boot Beat)
Fujimoto Yō (Joke)
Yone (Joke)
saki (Joke)
ippei (noite..)
NEW163 (209)
Fukuda Yoshinari (cafe croix)
DJ Kyotaro (209)

VJ: Superposition

Sponsor: Chateaudisc Co., Ltd

From 23:00 until 5:00
Price: w/ flyer (print out image above) ¥2000 (w/ 1 drink), reg. ¥2500 (w/ 1 drink)

This month again, arcorhyme will play 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 come early and have a pleasant lunch while enjoying Takanami K-tarō and Nishimura Ikuyo's great music. This time they will be accompanied by a young bassist.

arcorhyme afternoon live at Grand Cru (vol.2)
on 4/20 (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)

Scha Dara Parr has a new single lined up, and it features Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) on keyboards! The song is the ending theme of late night TV drama "shūkan Maki Yōko".

Scha Dara Parr "Lights Camera Action"
スチャダラパー 「ライツカメラアクション」

1. Lights Camera Action
2. Lights Camera Action (K.U.D.O.Remix)
3. Lights Camera Action (Instrumental)

tearbridge NFCD-27094
Out 6/11, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia

Trivia!
This is probably not the same song, but Chabe produced a track of the same name for Halcali last year. Halcali are in good terms with Scha Dara Parr and have collaborated several times.

Towa Tei's protegee Ayuse Kozue has a new single coming, 3rd since her first album "A♥K" released last year. This one is produced by Fumiya (Rip Slyme) and features rap by Wise (Teriyaki Boyz).

Ayuse Kozue "koyoi kimi ni koi o shite"
鮎瀬梢 「こよいキミに恋をして」

1. koyoi kimi ni koi o shite
2. unpretty good
3. Follow Me (Soul Central Remix)
4. koyoi kimi ni koi o shite (Instrumental)

Toy's Factory TFCC-8924
Out 4/23, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV,

Halcali will play a free live show outdoors at Tokyo Midtown, part of a "Midtown Show Case" series. The show is free, so just go!

Midtown Show Case: Halcali free live
on 5/4 (Sunday)
at Tokyo Midtown Plaza (in front of Midtown Vision)

Starts at 14:00
Price: Free!

(If weather is bad, the show might be canceled.)

Released in February, this is a various artists cover album of songs that were featured on NHK's long-running program "minna no uta", performed by many artists. Included is a cover of Pizzicato Five's "Message Song", Ōnuki Taeko's "Metropolitan bijutsukan" ("Metropolitan Museum"), Cosmic Invention's "Computer obaachan", and some children's favorites. Artists include Cubismo Grafico feat. Yuuki, Hicksville, Dōjima Kōhei, Tsuji Ayano, Takano Hiroshi and more.

Released at the same time are an "otona Ver." (adult version) sung by the respective artists, and "kodomo Ver." (kids version) in which children of 2 to 13 years old sing instead.

Release official page at Bad News
Official MySpace with audio samples of both releases

Various Artists "issho ni utaō! NHK minna no uta ~otona Ver.~"
オムニバス 「一緒にうたおう! NHKみんなのうた～大人Ver.～」

1. A-Na / kitte no nai okurimono
2. Toddle / Banana mura ni ame ga furu
3. Hidari / Metropolitan bijutsukan
4. Harco / Yamaguchi-sanchi no Tsutomu-kun
5. Hicksville & Dōjima Kōhei / minami no kuni no hamehameha daiō
6. Thmlues / kumanbachi ga tondekita
7. Ishibashi Eiko / mukashi toire ga kowakatta!
8. Cubismo Grafico feat. Yuuki / Beautiful Name
9. Hickleberry Finn / Computer obaachan
10. Takano Hiroshi / watashi no nyanko
11. Dōjima Kōhei / Message Song
12. Arai Ryōji / aotenjō no Crown
13. Ebitaiga / Clarinet o kowashichatta
14. Tsuji Ayano / hen na ie!
15. Skeletons / oshirikajiri mushi

Bad News BNCL-33
Out now (2/6), ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Various Artists "issho ni utaō! NHK minna no uta ~kodomo Ver.~"
オムニバス 「一緒にうたおう! NHKみんなのうた～こどもVer.～」

Bad News BNCL-34
Out now (2/6), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

I just learned about it, but Lullatone (MySpace) has a new album out just last month, on Australian label Someone Good. Lullatone is the Nagoya-based unit of American Shawn James Seymour and his Japanese wife Yoshimi. They create beautiful pajama pop music with all kinds of toy instruments, sometimes using the bed or bathtub water for beats, and Yoshimi's soft vocals.

Audio samples at MySpace and Last.fm

Lullatone "the bedtime beat"

1. the bathtime beat
2. your snore
3. the bedtime beatbox
4. make believe melody
5. maboroshi ondo
6. marching to sleep
7. tiny cinema
8. goodnight train
9. make believe melody #2
10. oyasumi

Someone Good RMSG-003
Out now (March 2008)
Order (U.S.): Darla, Amazon U.S.
Order (Australia): Someone Good
Order (Japan): HMV, Tower, Amazon

arcorhyme, the unit of Takanami K-taro (ex-Pizzicato Five) and singer Nishimura Ikuyo, brings us one of their biggest events so far. It will be the first time that they perform on stage in Tokyo with their all-star recording members, so this is really as close as it gets to album "amai hibi ~la douce vie~"'s sound!

Featured musicians are Miyata Shigeo (the "5th member" of Pizzicato Five, and later of Original Love) on drums, Nakahara Nobuo (of Portable Rock) on bass, Nakayama Tsutomu (Sony-era P5 support musician, also played in Original Love) on keyboards, and Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville, ex-The Hawaiis) on guitar.

Also playing will be singer-songwriter Dōjima Kōhei, and also Hicksville.

Takanami K-taro presents
"arcorhyme AND THE Soundmatic CIRCLE OF FRIENDS" Vol.2
on 5/24 (Saturday)
at Kichijōji Star Pine's Cafe

Live:
arcorhyme
Dōjima Kōhei
Hicksville

Opens at 18:00, starts at 19:00
Price: adv. ¥4000 (reserve at arcorhyme), door ¥4500

This event of the Shibuya Organic series sounds like a great opportunity to catch vibraphone-led jazz unit the fascinations, and also Round Table's leader, flexlife and one note. All of that for a rather good price!

Event official page

Shiubya Organic vol.6
on 4/13 (Sunday)
at Shibuya Emma Lounge

flexlife
the fascinations
one note
Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table)

Opens at 18:00
Price: discount ¥1500 (w/ 1 drink, needs flyer or reservation), regular ¥2500 (w/ 1 drink)

Neo-Shibuya-kei idol Aira Mitsuki, who supported the Beijing Olympics with her last single "China Discotica", is now attacking full force with a Cornelius cover and a Fantastic Plastic Machine remix!

This cheap-priced Tower Records-only release is limited to 2000. No reason not to pre-order yours now! I'm off to reserve mine.

Update (2008/4/27): The FPM remix bit came from one press release, but it was apparently wrong. Sorry!

Aira Mitsuki "Darling Wondering Staring / Star Fruits Surf Rider"

1. Darling Wondering Staring
2. Star Fruits Surf Rider
3. Darling Wondering Staring (Plastic Fantastic remix)
4. Star Fruits Surf Rider (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
5. Darling Wondering Staring (instrumental)

D-topia DTJR-8021
Out 5/7, ¥500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Fender Rhodes player Ino Hidefumi's next CD release is of his acoustic session unit IDF with Kojima Daisuke (DSK, Port of Notes) and Fujiwara Hiroshi. The songs are covers of 80's hits. The last 2 tracks are studio recordings while the rest were recorded at very limited shows they did at F.I.L. shops.

The limited edition will be a special DVD-size tall case in collaboration with Nakamura Hiroki's fashion brand VISVIM.

IDF "Live @ FIL"

1. My Ever Changing Moods (The Style Council)
2. I Don't Want To Talk About It (Everything But The Girl)
3. La Isla Bonita (Madonna)
4. Waiting In Vain (Bob Marley)
5. Every Breath You Take (The Police)
6. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (Culture Club)
7. Just The Two Of Us (Grover Washington Jr)

Tune Bakery TBT-1
Out 5/2, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon,

One more Wada Akiko release, this one is a collaboration album, with help from the likes of Konishi Yasuharu, Crazy Ken Band and Reggae Disco Rockers. Also included is the song "jōōbachi no Fugue", a song from the movie "3biki no mesubachi" (1970), available for the first time on CD, as well as a remix by Konishi Yasuharu!

Released at the same time as "World Standard Wada Akiko" (non-stop mix by Sunaga Tatsuo).

Wada Akiko "Wada-ya"
和田アキ子 「わだ家」

1. ii ne! Wada-ya! ii ne!
2. jōōbachi no Fugue (readymade Mix 2008)
3. yoake no uta feat. Hitoto Yō
4. kakkoii Boogaloo feat. Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band)
5. toki no namida feat. Reggae Disco Rockers
6. sunao ni naritai feat. Seamo
7. Mother's Kiss feat. Kochi
8. shiawase no chikara
9. tadori tsuitara itsumo ame furi feat. Suzuki Hiromitsu (The Mops)
10. eien ga mieru basho
11. Golden Time
12. Mary Jane feat. Sam Moore
13. ashita yori kinō yori
14. jōōbachi no Fugue

Track 1 by Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band).
Track 2 remixed, tracks 4 and 9 produced by Konishi Yasuharu.
Track 13 produced by Nakamura Hiroshi (i-dep).

Teichiku TECI-4001
Out 4/23, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, Amazon U.S.

Indies punk label Niw! has a compilation coming up celebrating its 5 years. The compilation consists of mostly (all?) new recordings, including ones by Cubismo Grafico Five, Frontier Backyard, Riddim Saunter and more.

Various Artists "Niw! Collection"

1. Niw! Records (sound by Matias Tellez) / Intro
2. Frontier Backyard / cool down clam down
3. Fed Music / Yes.Yes Yes
4. Cubismo Grafico Five / Left-Right-Up-Down
5. E-MoToRooL / Entirely From Mind
6. Riddim Saunter / Ain't A Pose
7. MatERIAL bOYS / Garden
8. AAPS / Xevious
9. Katchin' presents Dogday Afternoon / Good Times Never Seemed So Good
10. Little Masta With Maximum Vibration / Bunben Room
11. our favorite fab / Marchi
12. asphalt frustration / Sunny day

Niw! NIW-030
Out 5/23, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon,

80's band C-C-B, most famous for their hit song "Romantic ga tomaranai" (translates to "'Romantic' doesn't stop") and their falsetto voice drummer, is back this year with a new album! This is their first since 1988. It contains a new recording of the title song, plus covers of 80's foreign hits.

"Romantic ga tomaranai" is a song written by Tsutsumi Kyōhei, and a remix by Konishi Yasuharu can be found on the recent "Kyōhei Disco Night". That remix is said to be included on this release as a bonus track (not confirmed).

The album title, "Romantic wa tomerarenai" stands for "Can't stop 'Romantic'".

C-C-B "Romantic wa tomerarenai"
C-C-B 「Romanticは止められない」

1. Romantic ga tomaranai (New recording)
2. Ave Maria
3. Teeny Weeny String Bikini
4. Hot Stuff
5. Owner Of A Lonely Heart
6. Hero
7. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
8. Venus
9. Happiness
10. Never Ending Story

Bonus track (?)
Romantic ga tomaranai (Konishi Yasuharu remix)

After Time NQCL-1005
Out 4/30, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Entertainment Package Award presents a free exhibition of record jackets, currently touring other cities and stopping by Tokyo from April 9.

Only in Tokyo is also shown a calligraphy exhibition by graphic designer Shindō Mitsuo (C.T.P.P), part of which will even be a talk show with Konishi Yasuharu on the April 12 (Saturday). It may be too late to reserve a seat but with some luck it might be possible to peek.

SHINDŌ Mitsuo "fukuwauchi"

Date: April 9 (Wednesday) to 15 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00 to 20:00 (Saturday until 20:30, last day Tuesday until 18:00)

At Shinjuku Takashimaya
(8F Femme Maison Tokyo in Process / 1F JR entrance)

Price: Free!

Shindō Mitsuo × Konishi Yasuharu talk show "Secrets of music and fashion"
信藤三雄×小西康陽 「音楽とファッションの秘密」
on April 12 (Saturday)
Opens at 16:00, starts at 16:30

The Music Jacket Gallery can also be caught in Nagoya until April 7 (at the International Design Center's Design Gallery), and from June 13 to 16 in Sapporo (at the Sapporo Factory Hall). The Shindō Mitsuo exhibition is only in Tokyo though.

Towa Tei is back at the commands with a new installment of his popular "Motivation" compilation series! This one includes a new track by himself, featuring half-Japanese half-Russian model Lina Ohta, who can be heard singing "Puzzle-Riddle" on the Ex-Machina soundtrack out on commmons (music video at YouTube).

Released at the same time is Hosono Haruomi's "Daisy Holiday" compilation containing another brand new Towa Tei track.

Various Artists "Motivation 7 compiled by DJ Towa Tei"

1. Towa Tei feat. Lina Ohta / A.O.R.
2. Robbie Rivera / I Want Candy - Les Schmitz & Oliver Schmitz Mix
3. Mark Knight feat. Luciana from Portobella / Party Animal - Vandalism Explict Remix
4. Static Revenger feat. Taj Bell / Everything Is Beautiful - Original Club Mix
5. Soul Survivors feat. Angie Brown / Bring It Back - Classic Club
6. Claude Vonstroke / The Whistler - Original
7. Matthew Dear / Dog Days - Original Mix
8. Riot In Belgium / La Musique - Sinden Remix
9. Mastiksoul / Jacobino - Original Mix
10. Cicada / Beautiful - Michael Gray Vocal Mix
11. Francois DuBois / I Try (Part One) - Original Mix

hug Columbia COCP-34837
Out 5/21 6/25 7/9, ¥2520
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, Amazon U.S.

See also:
"Motivation - Songs for Make-up" (#1)
"Motivation - Driving Sweets" (#2)
"Motivation 3 compiled by Towa Tei"
"Motivation 4 Dusty Dance Hall compiled by Towa Tei"
"Motivation Five compiled by Towa Tei"
"Motivation 6 Adult Oriented Click Non-stop Mix by Moodman"

Trivia!
An early partial track list included:
Wahoo / Damn (You're Here) (Club Mix)
Se:Sa feat. Sharon Phillips / Like This Like That
The Shapeshifters / New Day
Ultraphonic / Keep It Right There