Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Escalator Records' sub-label Every Conversation, which aims to release 7"'s of foreign artists that they judge would appeal to the Japan indies scene, is releasing a first CD compilation. The perfect way to catch up with what's been up!

Various Artists "1 ~Every Conversation Records Compilation~"

1. Think About Life "Paul Cries"
2. The Tough Alliance "Silly Crimes"
3. Pacific! "Sunset Blvd (The Touch Remix)"
4. Ex-Otago "Amato The Greengrocer"
5. Dibdim "Sailor"
6. Rocca "Stay Night And Day"
7. Amari "Le Gite Fuori Porta"
8. Tiebreak "Psychotic Reaction"
9. Dandi Wind "Sleeping Beauty"
10. Pacific! "Runway To Elsewhere (Breakbot rmx)"
11. Rocca "Carrie-Anne (remix)"
12. Nicky Van She and Dangerous Dan "Around The World (The Death Set Remix)"
13. Think About Life "Money (GVP remix)"

Escalator ESCD-079 / XQAV-1079
Out 7/30, ¥2500
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

There will be a free afternoon DJ party next weekend in Aoyama, with Iwamura Manabu (Readymade) and Matsumoto Koichi (Le3, ex-Soul Bossa Trio). The venue has a large window and an outdoor space, which should feel very good on a summer Sunday afternoon.

bridge
on 7/6 (Sunday)
at Aoyama oath

DJs
Iwamura Manabu
Yoshi Horino
Matsumoto Koichi
Jun Morita
Kawai Eiichi

Starts at 17:00
Free!

Yunoki Ryūichirō (El-Malo) has a first solo album just out. The song "Summer Phase" features Cornelius, and it can currently be heard on YouTube.

At the same time is released another solo album, by El-Malo band-mate Aida Shigekazu. Find details below.

Yunoki Ryūichirō "Nevaeva"
柚木隆一郎 「Nevaeva」

1. nEVER EVER
2. SCATMAN
3. COOL
4. Leavin' Phase
5. Summer Phase
6. Contortion
7. maria ut valse?
8. Acid Song
9. Shock Shock Treatment
10. Karimba
11. Satellite of mine#2
12. Blengin's Song
13. FOOL Jerk
14. It's Time(ending roll)

Traffic TRCP-33
Out now (6/18), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Aida Shigekazu "So It Goes"
會田茂一 「So It Goes」

1. La valse à mille temps
2. Sun
3. Neuromancer
4. Syd-nee
5. Odysseia
6. Piano
7. So It Goes
8. The Flowers Are Gone
9. Hope
10. Cool Runnings
11. Kind Of Widow (Inst.)
12. No Normal

Traffic TRCP-32
Out now (6/18), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Kyoto club label Second Royal offers a first ever DVD! It contains over 70 minutes of... well, this and that. Some party scenes and some talk, and of course music! They warn not to expect too much, but at that small price and including a bonus CD selected by Halfby and a sticker, there's no reason not to pick this up.

This will be sold initially (perhaps only) at indies record shops in Japan including Jet Set. There's also promise a vol.2, but only if this one sells. So the choice is left to you.

DVD trailer on YouTube (with glimpses of Konishi Yasuharu and FPM)

"Second Royal TV Vol.01 July 2008" (DVD)
(77 min. / NTSC / all regions)

Includes:
- Special CD selected by Halfby
- Original sticker designed by Kajino Shōichi (l'appareil-Photo)

Second Royal SRTV-001
Out 7/7, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out)
Also available at: Apres-Midi Selecao, Arch Records, Art Rock No.1, Cornershop, disques dessinee, Flake Records, Gadget, Gaku Free Style, Human Records, Jym And Records, Ticro Market, Keibunsha (most shops might ship only within Japan)

noelle is a new electro/club-style project aiming to cover popular J-pop love songs. Tracks are produced by various DJs/producers and feature female vocals. This first album features producers Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone), Dr.Usui (Motocompo), Ram Rider and others.

Audio samples at Sony Music Shop

noelle "Love Electro"

1. Radio (Judy and Mary)
2. Spider (Spitz)
3. Roman hikō (Kome Kome Club)
4. yasashii kimochi (Chara)
5. Choo Choo Train (Zoo)
6. Wandervogel (Qururi)
7. Ride On Time (Yamashita Tatsurō)
8. bara no hana (Qururi)
9. Yes-No (Off Course)
10. Classic (Judy and Mary)
11. Summer Nude (Magokoro Bros)
12. Yumegiwa Last Boy (Supercar)

Sony SECL-649
Out 7/9, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Hazel Nuts Chocolate and Motocompo will perform at the 5th edition of the Switched On! new-wave-dance-pop party series.

Switched On! official MySpace

Switched On! #5
on 6/29 (Sun.)
at Kichijōji Bar Drop

Live:
Hazel Nuts Chocolate
Motocompo
V/order

DJs:
Dr.Usui (Motocompo)
Kovacs
Ian Martin (C.A.R.)
higuma (bluebadge label, free design)
Suzuki Katsumi
Lotosicks (Kovacs+Dr.Usui)

Opens at 17:30, ends at 23:00
Price: ¥2000 (incl. 1 drink)

Featured are mostly previously released songs by Nomoto Karia, Qypthone, Nakatsuka Takeshi, Groove Unchant (new track), April Set, Le3, Bond Expo '60 feat. Pecombo, and more.

Various Artists "JANT."

1. Bougain Ville-A / kimi to Drive
2. Bond Expo '60 feat. Pecombo / Casino Royale Theme
3. Qypthone / ai ga hitotsu (One Love)
4. groove unchant feat. Risa / futari no Bossa Nova
5. Dinky-Di / Kai-Ki ~I'll be back to myself~
6. April Set / Bossa Presso episode2 Cecil's Portrait (From Groovysauce) (Remixed by Nakatsuka Takeshi)
7. Melting Soul / Carnival
8. Kent+Tashirou / Stand Up!
9. TUuLi / She See Sea
10. Quicca / sakana
11. Noa Noa / bird
12. Nakatsuka Takeshi / love is...
13. Nomoto Karia / I LOVE YOU
14. Shimazu Tashiro=== / 2008.4.17 20:20 TAKE3
15. Le3 / kawazoi o ikeba

Naoshima Records 0510C0001
Out now (6/21), ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Osaka breakbeats/club-pop unit p&art sasanoooha are back this summer with a new album! It has been 2½ years since "p&art Music".
This one is said to have a theme focused on the Olympics (China = pandas!).

p&art sasanoooha "P&ART WORLD"
パンダとササノハ 「P&ART WORLD 新しいパンダの世界」

1. Meteo
2. 14E (madogawa)
3. utsukushii chikyū
4. 37.9°C
5. Akago (Instrumental)
6. Panda chōchin
7. oshiri furifuri taisō
8. Row&Row
9. Jam Panda
10. P.A.N.D.A.R.T. (Instrumental)
11. Kiwi
12. uwasa no Maggi Minenko
13. Mentarma (Instrumental)
14. Panda shichō
15. fuga fu-ga
16. aoi tori
17. Amagly
18. Le prestidigitateur
19. tenori Panda

Artimage XNAR-10012
Out 7/30, ¥2191 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, , Amazon U.S.

See also:
Various Artists "Upper's Flava ~Remixes Of Watanabe Hit Tune~"
Various Artists "Watanabe Productions setsuritsu 50shūnen Mix CD ~G.S, Comic Song & Idol hen~ mixed by p&art sasanoooha mōshiwake West"
Pizzicato Five "pizzicato five we dig you"
Nomiya Maki "Party People"

Kawashima Circulation Bus Line is the new unit of electronic artist Hosaka Akane (MySpace), whose album "Niko Niko Denki Muzic" is just out, together with DJ Peaky who accompanied her at a recent live performance.

This is KCBL's very first show, to be held at Enban where it belongs. Also playing will be girl unit Aze (live report) and also Enban's master Taguchi Fumihito.

Kawashima Circulation Bus Line live
on 6/28 (Saturday)
at Kōenji Enban

Kawashima Circulation Bus Line (DJ Peaky+Hosaka Akane)
Aze (Toi Yasuyo with Harakawa Nao)
Taguchi Fumihito (Enban, performance with turntables and mirrors)

Starts at 19:00
Price: ¥1000

EeL has a new single out with 3 brand new tracks. Featured producers are Ito Hidenobu, Elegant Ferry and DJ Vivienne Kanye Westwood (drummer of Harajyuku Sisters). Included is an a cappella version of the title track, to be used in a remix contest (instructions in Japanese).

These are currently available by download only, but will also be released as a CD-R with 2 bonus tracks, part of label elegantdisc's "illegal edit" series. The CD-R is only available from June 15 via mail order, perhaps only within Japan.

EeL "keep making fun of me" (Download)

1. keep making fun of me
2. we are the robots
3. hey, brother
4. keep making fun of me (a cappella)

Elegantdisc Digital EDD-005~8
Out now (6/12)
Sample/buy: , KingBeat

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Model/singer/actress Tsuchiya Anna has a new single which includes a FPM remix.

Available are a limited edition with bonus DVD (containing a music video of the original title track), a regular edition (CD only), and also a limited vinyl edition.

Tsuchiya Anna "Crazy World feat. AI"
土屋アンナ 「Crazy World feat. AI」

1. Crazy World
2. What you gonna do?
3. Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society Mix)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Mad Pray CTCR-40277
Out now (6/11), ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (10% off *), HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Mad Pray CTCR-40278
Out now (6/11), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Tsuchiya Anna "Crazy World - Remixed by Fantastic Plastic Machine" (12")
土屋アンナ 「Crazy World - Remixed by Fantastic Plastic Machine」

Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society mix)
Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society mix) (Instrumental)
Crazy World (Original version)

Rhythm Republic RR12-88519
Out now (5/2), ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV

Electronic artist Hosaka Akane's album "Niko Niko Denki Muzic" is just out, and she will be performing at this nice event that will also serve as release party! Also playing will be San Franciso-based Christopher Willits (who has done a collaboration album with Sakamoto Ryuichi last year), and Japanese artists FilFla and Kinoshita Misato.

Akane plays first, so just don't be late!

Event details and reservations at SuperDeluxe

tron
on 6/14 (Saturday)
at Roppongi SuperDeluxe

Live:
Christopher Willits
FilFla
Hosaka Akane
Kinoshita Misato

Opens at 19:00, starts at 19:30
Price: adv. ¥3000 (reserve at SuperDeluxe), door ¥3500 (incl. 1 drink)

For the 4th month in a row, arcorhyme will play an early afternoon show at Après-midi Grand Cru, the pasta and wine restaurant located below Café Après-midi. 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 Kuricorder Quartet's Kawaguchi Yoshiyuki who will play saxophone, harmonica and percussions.

arcorhyme afternoon live at Grand Cru (vol.4)
on 6/15 (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)

This new Cyndi Lauper tribute album will feature tracks by Chara with Hanaregumi, Tommy February6, Puffy and more.

Various Artists "We Love Cyndi -Tribute to Cyndi Lauper-"

1. Chara feat. Hanaregumi / Time After Time
2. Tommy February6 / All Through The Night
3. Puffy / Girls Just Want To Have Fun
4. Sowelu / Time After Time
5. Double / True Colors
6. Bennie.K / Product Of Misery
7. Kitade Nana / She Bop
8. Becca / I Drove All Night
9. Toki Asako / Goonie'R'Good
10. Hajime Chitose / True Colors

MH-GT Music MHCL-1370
Out 7/23, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

pupa is the brand new all-star band of Takahashi Yukihiro (YMO/HASYMO, Sketch Show) together with Harada Tomoyo, Takano Hiroshi (HAAS), Takada Ren, Horie Hirohisa (Neil and Iraiza) and Gondō Tomohiko (anonymass). A first album is coming in July.

The band is playing a first show on June 2 in Tokyo, and can also be caught on stage in August at the World Happiness festival co-curated by Takahashi, who has also designed the band's military-inspired uniforms (the first stage outfits he's done since YMO).

pupa "floating pupa"
ピューパ 「フローティング・ピューパ」

1. Jargon ~ What's pupa
2. At Dawn
3. Creaks
4. Anywhere
5. Tameiki
6. Unfixed Stars
7. Glass
8. How?
9. Laika
10. floating pupa
11. marimo
12. Sunny Day Blue
13. New Order
14. Home of my heart
15. Cicada

EMI TOCT-26573
Out 7/2, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, , Amazon U.S.

Here comes a first new single from Perfume since the release of hit album "Game". This includes 2 brand new songs, of course produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule).

As usual, there will be a limited edition with a bonus DVD. With a recent history of limited editions selling out in just a few days, it's safer to pre-order online.

Perfume "love the world"

1. love the world
2. edge
3. love the world (original instrumental)
4. edge (extended mix)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Tokuma TKCA-73330
Out 7/9, ¥1239 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Regular edition (CD only)
Tokuma TKCA-73335
Out 7/9, ¥953 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia