Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Announcement! / 告知

I will be DJing at Kōenji café-bar Connection on September 12, in an event focusing on techno-pop of the 80's. I plan to play techno-kayō, vocal pop of the 80's either produced by or reminding of YMO, and also perhaps some of techno-pop/pico-pico of the recent years. Those who like Perfume, capsule, Usagi-chang records should also enjoy it!

The price is only ¥500, and there will even be a live set by polymoog of Elektel that I'm looking forward to!
The event starts at 19:00 and goes on all night. After 1am anyone can bring their own CDs or records and borrow the turntables.

9月12日に、高円寺コネクションでDJします！イベントは80'sのテクノポップを中心に、僕はテクノ歌謡をかける予定です。最近のお気に入りのテクノポップも持っていきます。
YMOももちろん、Perfume・capsule・ウサギチャンレコーズなどが好きな方も楽しめるイベントになる思います！

時間がある方、遊びにきてください！
1時以降は飛び入りOKなので、好きなCDやレコードを持ってきてね。

Tokyo Boys Bravo
東京ボーイズブラボー
Tribute to Techno-pop

on 9/12 (Friday)
at Kōenji Connection (map)

DJs:
momo 8
akashic
donbei
chipple
polymoog (Elektel)

Live: polymoog

Price: ¥500!
Opens at 19:00, all night

I will be playing from 20:40 and 0:20.

Post-Shibuya-kei idol unit Vanilla Beans are back with a new song, this time download-only through iTunes and mobile phone site Recochoku.

A sample be heard at Tokuma Japan (click the "WMP" link).

Vanilla Beans "Afternoon a Go-Go" (Download)

Tokuma TWEB-132
Out now (8/27), ¥200
Buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Out just now is a Japanese 7" pressing of French artist Ricky Amigos' 80's cover of "Tequila", coming with a brand new swinging remix by Boot Beat! The original can also be heard on his latest mix CD "Manifesto 3".

Audio samples at Jet Set

Ricky Amigos "Tequila" (7")

A. Tequila (Boot Beat Bitter Than 151 Mix)
AA. Tequila (Original Version)

Swing'n'Jive 45 SJ-001
Out now (8/24), ¥1280 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Juno

YMCK presents this 2-day event in Shibuya this week. Each day has artists of different styles, Wednesday focusing on Shibuya-kei ties with Kaji Hideki and Watanababy, and Thursday with 8-bit/game units such as Sexy Synthesizer, Hally (Hally from VORC) and Saitone.

The event name and poster are a take on supermarket "thank you sales".

Family kanshasai - YMCK 2 days live
YMCK主催2 days計画 ファミリー感謝祭
at Shibuya Seco Lounge (map)

Wednesday August 27
YMCK
Kaji Hideki
Watanababy

Thursday August 28
YMCK
Sexy Synthesizer
Hally from VORC
Saitone
otona buranko

Opens at 19:00, starts at 20:00
Price: each day adv. ¥2500 (Pia, Lawson, e+), door ¥3000

A first 12" EP of songs from Fujisawa Shiho's excellent "Happy Hour" album is available now! It contains different cuts of two songs from the album, plus brand new remixes by Yoshida Tetsuto (Readymade) and also Iwaya Shigeru of Groovy Sauce fame. A follow-up EP should be expected soon.

Fujisawa Shiho "After Hours E.P.01" (12")
藤澤志保 「After Hours E.P.01」

A1. Happy Hour feat. hiro:n (After Hours Mix)
A2. Happy Hour feat. hiro:n (Back To The 80's Mix) (Remixed by Yoshida Tetsuto)
B1. Sunny Days feat. Okada Kyōko (After Hours Mix)
B2. Sunny Days feat. Okada Kyōko (Shiny Dayz Mix) (Remixed by Shigeru Iwaya)

Eat Records ER-0008
Out now (8/21), ¥1280 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Yann Tomita brings us this set of 2 DVDs mainly consisting of a live show and lecture held on July 9, 2006 at small venue Shibuya Uplink. Featured are Ohno Yumiko (Buffalo Daughter, Doopees), Kahimi Karie, and Takagi Kan. As bonuses are included short movies by Yann, a rare 1987 live performance, and a 2006 steel pan live performance.

A 102-page book and 36x25cm poster are also included.

Yann Tomita "Yann Tomita's 'Summer Workshop'" (2 DVDs+Book)
ヤン富田 "Yann Tomita's 'Summer Workshop'"
(DVDs Region 2 NTSC / Total 146 min.)

CCRE Music CCRM-6019
Order: Amazon (24% off on pre-orders), HMV (21% off on pre-orders), Tower, YesAsia

Anime series "Mach GoGoGo", known to the rest of the world as "Speed Racer", is being paid homage on this tribute album featuring Fantastic Plastic Machine, Halfby, Kaji Hideki, Kiiiiiii+DJ Codomo, Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove, InK), Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, InK), and more. The whole is supervised by Komiyama Yūhi (Hoff Dylan).

A limited edition comes with a bonus DVD of the first "Mach GoGoGo" episode plus one music video.

Mach GoGoGo official site (Japanese)

Various Artists "Speed Racer Japan ~Mach GoGoGo Tribute~"
オムニバス 「Speed Racer Japan ～マッハGoGoGoトリビュート～」

(Title / artist)
1. Go! / Komiyama Yūhi (Hoff Dylan)
2. Speed Racer (Takkyu's Demon On The Wheel) (Remixed by Ishino Takkyū)
3. SPEED RACER (a cappella) / Kuno Shinji
4. Balrimore Go Go Go / Halfby
5. U.T. & Lakin's bogus journey (Kiiiiiii's Excellent Adventure ~Dangerous ve!~Hammock~Great escape~The song of the electric vehicle called Kiiiwiiii bird) / Kiiiiii+DJ Codomo
6. Speed Racer - Back Of Love / Kaji Hideki
7. Speed Racer (FPM 4x4 Ska mix) (Remixed by Fantastic Plastic Machine)
8. Mach GoGoGo Ending Theme (Kawanabe Hiroshi China Town remix) (Remixed by Kawanabe Hiroshi)
9. Mach GoGoGo / otoya-kichiemon'su (Sera Masanori & Nomura Yoshio Plus)
10. Speed Racer (U.S. animation theme song)
11. Mach GoGoGo
12. Mach GoGoGo Ending Theme

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Mach GoGoGo animation 1st episode
2. Go! (Music video)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Dreamusic MUCD-8007
Out 8/27, ¥3334 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (18% off *), HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.
* Discount at time of writing

Reguar edition (CD only)
Dreamusic MUCH-1182
Out 8/27, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

bice continues promotion for her new album "kanaerarenai koi no tame ni", out now on columbia*readymade.

Konishi Yasuharu will appear as a special guest at this mini-live and autograph session at HMV Shibuya.

See bice's information page for the full schedule.

bice release tour 2008 ~kanaerarenai koi no tame ni~
bice mini-live and autograph session
on 9/6 (Saturday)
at HMV Shibuya

Special guest: Konishi Yasuharu

Starts at 20:00
Price: Free!

Those who buy the CD at HMV Shibuya and receive a limited numbered ticket will be able to attend the autograph session that follows the show.

(bice will also perform earlier on the same day at HMV Yokohama from 16:00.)

Good news for all of those who have been going nuts trying to get their hands on the now rare 2nd album "Cute" (2005) by Hazel Nuts Chocolate, it's being released in Korea! Just don't miss it this time around. :)

Hazel Nuts Chocolate "Cute"

1. Hello
2. Love+Piece+Icecream!
3. heya
4. koi wa kyurukyuru
5. Swing Life
6. yasai Soup no uta
7. Future★popp
8. yo-ho-yo-ho-
9. boushi to watashi no shubiduduwa
10. Manicure Group
11. ningyo no Waltz
12. koi ni koi suru otoshigoro

Mnet Media (Korea)
Out 8/14
Order: YesAsia

Pictured is the Japanese edition (2005).

Here comes Avalon's first full-length album, containing remixed tracks from their first 3 EPs ("Tate House 6 Don'ts", "4 Gospels For 2 Testaments" and "Avals Variations") as well as some brand new songs.

Avalon "Labyrinth"

1. Lost In The Forest
2. Evil Loves Devil
3. The Girl in The Laurel
4. Prescription Aria
5. Andromeda Saint Chime
6. Arcadians
7. Avalonian's Shrine
8. The Art of Fugue
9. Geometric Figures Music
10. Exodus Testament
11. Get Out Of The Labyrinth

Escalator CTE-001 / XQAV-1081
Out 8/27, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Yes, a new album from Yukari Fresh! This one is said to be a bit special, as each song was recorded in one shot, unedited. Yukari can be heard playing the drums, singing and whistling throughout. Emori Takeaki (Yoga'n'ants, Tone Twilight, ex-Citrus) joins for a double-drum session on song "For Mary Kathleen (JCD, But We Can)".

Yukari Fresh "Grrrl, Summer Cape Kid, etc."

1. Summer Cape Kid
2. Grrrl (A Factor Of Evolution)
3. Kiss And Ride
4. The World Of Beez
5. For Mary Kathleen (JCD But We Can)
6. Interstellar Kiss And Ride
7. Edwin Blaze
8. 40A Advantage Egalite (Philippe Chatrier Grrrl Reprise)

Escalator ESCD-082 / XQAV-1082
Out 8/27, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia