Tokyo's Coolest Sound

The last beats of 2008, here's a first 12" cut of two tracks from indies club trackmaker girl Fujisawa Shiho's very promising forthcoming 2nd album (due for the end of January).

A-side "Funky☆Girl" is a club-pop track with a fat bass line featuring singer asami, while the B-side is a vocoder techno track likely to make you double-check whether you're listening to the latest capsule. The whole is mixed and mastered by Yoshida Tetsuto, and comes in a beautiful folding photo jacket.

Audio samples at Shiho's MySpace

Fujisawa Shiho "Funky Girl" (12")

A1. Funky☆Girl
A2. Funky☆Girl (Inst. Version)
A3. Funky☆Girl (A Cappella Version)
B1. LUV & MSC
B2. LUV & MSC (Inst. Version)
B3. LUV & MSC (A Cappella Version)

Eat Records ER-0014
Out now (12/29), ¥1280 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

DJ Miura Makoto brings us this new mix CD of groovy and jazzy tracks, with French and Brazilian sounds. 27 tracks, 67 minutes!

Out at the same time is a 12" titled "dada e.p. 2" by Monsieur Mieurax (his pseudonym), containing smart swinging breakbeat tracks that remind of the interludes found on his mix CDs. Details follow below!

Audio samples of "dada e.p. 2" at Jet Set

Miura Makoto "dada volume 3"
三浦信 「dada volume 3」

1. overture (rêve)
2. Donald Byrd / Brother Isaac
3. Slide Hampton / Work Song
4. Peter Thomas / Schusse Aus Dem
5. Duke & Teresa / It Don't Mean A Thing
6. 8 1/2 Souvenirs / Happy Feet
7. The Manhattan Transfer / Old Man Mose
8. interlude (monsieur masa)
9. Colette Dereal / Quand je jouais cet air là
10. Michel Legrand / Moi je suis là
11. Rogier van Otterloo / Dark Soul
12. Derek & Ray / Wailing Waltz
13. Bryony James / Summertime
14. Francy Boland / Rosa de Luxe
15. interlude (mission possible)
16. Mike Samme / Knowing When To Leave
17. Percy Faith / Love The One You're WIth
18. Nina & Fredrik / Only When I'm Lonely Am I Free
19. Nino Ferrer / Joseph Joseph
20. The Mexicali Singers / Two Mexican Donkeys
21. Regine / De toutes manières
22. interlude (white liar)
23. Sergio Mendes and Brasil '77 / Love Music
24. Carmen McRae / Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
25. India and Tito Puente / Going Out Of My Head
26. Eli Goulart / Espelho
27. Unknown / Song For The Soul

Comedy Tonight CTMT-006
Out now (12/8), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Monsieur Mieurax "dada e.p. 2" (12")

A1. Cristo Redentor
A2. Blue Fire
B1. Quadrophenia
B2. Cat Walk

Comedy Tonight CTEP-004
Out now (12/8), ¥1280 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

The latest from Fantastic Plastic Machine is this new all-star unit called ravex in which he teams up with Ōsawa Shinichi and Taku Takahashi (m-flo). As the name makes it sound, this is not quite the FPM we've been used to, but it's still a must-check for fans.

This and a few other tracks are already available on iTunes. Another song, "1 More Night feat. Monkey Magik" can also be heard on FPM's "Sound Concierge X Numéro Tokyo" mix CD out last week.

Some of the unit's visuals were created by Matsumoto Leiji and can be seen at the official site.

ravex "I Rave You feat. DJ Ozma"

1. I Rave U feat. DJ Ozma
2. House Nation feat. Lisa
3. I Rave U feat. DJ Ozma (Long version)
4. I Rave U
5. I Rave U feat. DJ Ozma (Karaoke)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
avex trax AVCD-31548
Out 12/17, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Regular edition (CD only)
avex trax AVCD-31549
Out 12/17, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone) has produced this groovy club-pop soundtrack for recent comedy TV drama series "yume o kanaeru zō" ("The elephant that makes dreams come true").

You can get a taste of the music in a trailer at the official site, that's if you can make it through to the link that says "ムービー" in the bottom menu and then click the clip on the left.

Nakatsuka Takeshi "yume o kanaeru zō Original Soundtrack"
中塚武 「『夢をかなえるゾウ』オリジナル サウンドトラック」

1. yume o kanaeru zō
2. Be Thankful
3. Stay Alert
4. Praise Yourself
5. Surpport Others
6. Ganesha
7. Dream
8. Make Her Laugh
9. Say That I'm Lucky
10. Stop!
11. Cherish
12. Surprise
13. Start Now
14. Dress Up
15. Steal people's good points
16. Sweet Dreams
17. TORISETSU
18. Enjoy The World, As You Wish

Universal UPCH-1637
Out 12/17, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Jazz vocalist akiko's Christmas album "a white album", produced Konishi Yasuharu last year, is being reissued on vinyl for DJs and analog jazz lovers.

akiko "a white album" (12")

A1. Auld Lang Syne
A2. Santa ga machi ni yatte kuru (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town)
A3. Jingle Bell Rock
A4. Santa Baby
A5. The First Noel
A6. sorisuberi (Sleigh Ride)
B1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
B2. Winter Wonderland
B3. 12gatsu 25nichi no asa.
B4. The Christmas Song
B5. mama ga Santa ni Kiss o shita (I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
B6. Santa ga machi ni yatte kuru (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town) (Remix)

Verve UCJJ-9003
Out 12/3, ¥3429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set (once out), Amazon, HMV

Organ Bar DJ Sano Atsushi (parties "Blue Cafe" and "Avenue", also of Sherlock Notes) offers us this non-stop mix CD, stock full of rare jazz and bossa, danceable and swinging happy tracks.

Audio samples at Jet Set

Atsushi Sano "Music Menu 004"

1. Opening
2. Pieces Of Eight / Sunshade
3. Annika Bjurling / Vi Behover Jesus
4. Emborg Larsen Quintet / Matters Of The Heart
5. Yuiabe / There She Goes (Music Menu Edit)
6. Artie Shroeck / Under Aged Blues
7. Lena Jansson / Soon
8. DJ Fto / Theme De Crown Cafezinho
9. Barbara Reed / This Was Meant To Be
10. Ingemar Wahlin Big Band / Adieu Tristesse
11. Ingmar Johansson / Eleanor Rigby
12. Laredo / Versos Sencillos
13. B.Caldwell / House Is Rockin
14. A.J.Cavanaugh / Make Me Believe
15. Danny Long / Our Happiness In Love
16. Wings Of Light / Daystar
17. Savedalen Big Band / Before Breakfast
18. Catch Up Ii / Sister Jane. Catch Up Ii / Sister Jane
19. R.Chicorel / I'm Glad It Was You
20. Ending
21. Stelvio Cipriani / Spruzzi D'acqua
22. Eugen Cicero / Melodie In D-Moll

Music Menu MM-004
Out now (11/23), ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Pianist enami Taisuke presents this simple and relaxing album made of island field recordings and his playing.

He can be caught live in Tokyo on December 6 at kissa nico with Asahi Miho, details at Tokyo Gig Guide.

This album contains material from field recordings and natural sounds from Bali, Taketomi island, Enoshima, Ichizima, together with melodica, keyboards and piano. A bright, nonexclusive musical recording.

A simple combination of field recording, melodica and piano, no programming involved, no computer-based music.

Audio samples at MySpace

enami Taisuke "Hill"

1. Saku
2. Shima Zori
3. Terrace
4. Ndn
5. Sonar
6. Hrn
7. Hill
8. Niwa 2
9. Inano

Meister Music MEISTER-011
Out now (12/3), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tokyo Recohan

YMCK will be back as soon as January with a 4th album! This one has a definite cooking theme as the title and tracklist will tell you, promising a lot of fun.

Released at the same time as the CD is a DVD containing a total of 7 music videos spanning their career. It contains 2 songs from each of their indies albums ("Family Music" and "Family Racing"), one from their 3rd album "Family Genesis", one from the recent split album with De De Mouse, plus a brand new song!

And, a limited edition of both the CD and DVD at a discounted price will also be released at only 5000 copies. Of course the hardcore fan will probably need all three to get all the cute artwork.

YMCK "Family Cooking"
YMCK 「ファミリー・クッキング」

1. omocha no guntai no Theme
2. Curry dayo!
3. sarada shabadaba
4. 3tsuboshi Chef no uta
5. Gourmet na aitsu
6. fuwafuwa tamago no omuraisu
7. kaerimichi, bangohan.
8. Won!derful Chocolate
9. banban Cooking

YMCK "Family Theatre" (DVD)
YMCK 「ファミリー・シアター」
(Region 2 NTSC)

1. Magical 8bit tour (from 1st album)
2. Tetrominon (from 1st album)
3. Panic Racer (from 2nd album)
4. Go YMCK Go (from 2nd album)
5. Starlight (from 3rd album)
6. Down Town (from split album)
7. New song (Curry dayo! (?))

Limited edition ("Family Cooking" CD + "Family Theatre" DVD)
avex trax AVCD-23735
Out 1/21, ¥3334 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (18% off *), HMV, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition "Family Cooking" CD
avex trax AVCD-23736
Out 1/21, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Regular edition "Family Theatre" DVD
avex trax AVBD-91577
Out 1/21, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (10% off *), HMV (21% off *), YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

This is the latest of Fantastic Plastic Machine's "Sound Concierge" mix CD series. In terms of FPM works, it includes some recent remixes, a new song, plus also one by his new unit ravex together with Ōsawa Shinichi (Mondo Grosso) and Taku Takahashi (m-flo).

Fantastic Plastic Machine "Sound Concierge X Numero TOKYO - Utopia - Selected by Fantastic Plastic Machine"

(Title / Artist)
1. In Love With You / The Paradise
2. 1 More Night feat. Monkey Majik / ravex
3. Under The Sun (Herve's "Ain't No Sunshine" Mix) / Kidda
4. Baby's On Fire (FPM "The Art Of Voice" Mix) / Benjamin Diamond
5. Innocent Love (FPM 4/4 Dub Mix) / Koizumi Kyōko
6. Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) (A Danny Krivit Re-Edit) / The Chi-Lites
7. Union/Black Eyed Peas feat. Sting
8. Utopia (Alternative Version) / Fantastic Plastic Machine
9. Reality (Original Christopher Just Version) / Louie Austen
10. Love / Misora Hibari
11. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You / The Templeton Twins
12. If My Friends Could See Me Now! / You
13. anata ni aitakute (FPM Mix For Lovers) / Matsuda Seiko
14. Magic Journeys / Doopees Yann Tomita Presents
15. Divine (Dexpistols Remix) / Sebastien Tellier
16. koibitoyo tomodachiyo / Asano Tadanobu

avex trax AVCD-23658
Out now (12/3), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia