Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Indies techno-pop singer marino's first mini-album "lollipop" (2006) is being re-issued because it sold out and has gone rare since. The new release includes all 5 original songs produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule) and Hayashibe Tomonori (Plus-Tech Squeeze Box), plus new recordings produced by Imai Kentarō (Aprils) and Okuda Hidetaka (Sucrette). This includes a cover of the Aprils' "Pan·da" in a more upbeat version that matches the other tracks.

All has been remastered, tracks order changed, jacket redesigned all over, in order to offer this new package that should please both new fans and those who already own the original.

marino "lollipop+"

1. clear beats
2. Flavor (produced by Nakata Yasutaka)
3. tic tac (produced by Hayashibe Tomonori)
4. strawberry (produced by Hayashibe Tomonori)
5. rarariru (produced by Nakata Yasutaka)
6. lollipop (produced by Hayashibe Tomonori)
7. Pot marjoram
8. Pan·da (produced by Imai Kentarō)
9. tento mushi to Tulip

Flavor FLVR-3
Out 4/22, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV,

Trivia!
This was actually planned for release a year ago, however there were some problems and the release was postponed. Below are the details of the release originally planned for April 2008.

Softly! SFTL-1028
Out 2008/4/23 canceled!

After several years of fantastic live performances, the groovy and sexy The Lady Spade (in Japanese "sono na wa Spade") finally have an album coming out! The Lady Spade bring the 60's back on stage in fashion and sound.

Hear samples at MySpace, and watch the YouTube clips below!

The Lady Spade "Dial 'S' for The Lady Spade!"
その名はスペィド 「ダイヤル"Ｓ"をまわせ！ 」
(Japanese: sono na wa Spade "Dial 'S' o mawase!")

Amazon, HMV

metro trip (MySpace), a band that classifies as neo-Shibuya-kei, brings back its long sold out first album for its 10th anniversary. Added are 5 bonus tracks including a remix by YMCK!

metro trip "tsuki to Drive +5 ~metro trip 10th anniversary~"
metro trip 「月とドライブ +5 ~metro trip 10th anniversary~」

1. BABYBABY
2. Summer Days
3. tsuki to Drive
4. bokura no machinami
5. koi o suru nara
6. ana
7. sayonara no bonbon
8. demo, nakenai.
9. sayonara no bonbon (inst.)
10. 100%
11. Part Time Christmas! feat. Hasegawa Miyako (Bonus track)
12. CANDY LOVE (New Song) (Bonus track)
13. ongaku feat. Sakurai Tetsutarō (Cosa Nostra) (Bonus track)
14. bokura no machinami -8bit version- (remixed by YMCK) (Bonus track)
15. BABY BABY -2009 DJ remix- (Bonus track)

something / anything? records XNDM-10004
Out 2/25, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

We'll have seen it all once YMCK remixes Hamasaki Ayumi... oh wait!

Hamasaki Ayumi "Rule / Sparkle (Jacket B)"
浜崎あゆみ 「Rule / Sparkle （ジャケットB）」

1. Rule (Original mix)
2. Sparkle (Original mix)
3. Days (8-bits of tears YMCK remix)
4. Days (Acoustic Orchestra version)
5. Rule (80kidz's "No More Rule" mix)
6. Rule (Remo-con "tech dance" remix)
7. Rule (Original mix -Instrumental-)
8. Sparkle (Original mix -Instrumental-)

avex trax AVCD-31606
Out 2/25, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

This compilation has for theme "covers of songs with fruits in their title". Tracks are produced by young units Cherryboy Function, Harley & Quin, Beat Panama, etc., and featured vocalists include Yuppa of Hazel Nuts Chocolate (with a Halcali cover!), Lemon (is it this Lemon who recently appeared on a columbia*readymade compilation?), Be The Voice's Wada Junko and more.

Various Artists "Juicy Fruits"

1. Cherry (Spitz) / Wada Junko (Be The Voice)
2. Raspberry Dream (Rebecca) / Sawa
3. Strawberry Chips (Halcali) / Yuppa (Hazel Nuts Chocolate)
4. ringo no uta (Sheena Ringo) / Lemon
5. Strawberry Sex (Hirai Ken) / Wada Junko (Be The Voice)
6. Raspberry Pie (Nakanomori Band) / cinnabom
7. Banana no namida (ushiroyubi sasaregumi) / Yuppa (Hazel Nuts Chocolate)
8. ichigobatake de tsukamaete (Matsuda Seiko) / Lemon
9. Lemon Candy (Chara) / Wada Junko (Be The Voice)
10. fushigi na Peach Pie (Takeuchi Maria) / cinnabom
11. manatsu no kajitsu (Southern All Stars) / Luvraw & BTB (PPP)

Slowhand Relation LWCD-10
Out 2/18, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Handsomeboy Technique, whose 2nd album "Terrestrial Tone Cluster" is just out, brings us this 7" of the first cut (see YouTube below) with a remix by The Bridal Shop (Sweden).

Handsomeboy Technique "Beside The Fountain" (12")

A. Beside The Fountain
B. Beside The Fountain (Being The Tears Remix by The Bridal Shop)

Second Royal EMF-029
Out 2/18, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

A 12" EP containing extended versions of 6 tracks from Nakatsuka Takeshi's latest album "Kiss & Ride" has been released. This of course includes the great "Beautiful" song featuring Nomiya Maki!

Audio samples at Jet Set

Nakatsuka Takeshi "Kiss & Ride Extended" (12")
中塚武 「Kiss & Ride Extended」

A1. Beautiful (With Nomiya Maki)
A2. Love For Two
A3. Shinin' Beauty
B1. Kiss & Ride
B2. Hati Hati Ya! (With Eli)
B3. The Sweetest Time

Face the Music FMR-114
Out now (2/14), ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

ravex, the all-star producer unit of Fantastic Plastic Machine, Ōsawa Shinichi and Taku Takahashi (m-flo), brings us a 2nd single, this time with tracks featuring BoA and Gotō Maki. A curious "MEGA ravex" track also holds a long list of Japan's superstars.

A limited edition contains a DVD of the video clip for the title track (see YouTube below). Artwork is done by Tezuka Productions (of Astro Boy fame).
(Sorry for the mistaken information earlier, it was referring on the previous release.)

An album is coming up in March!

ravex "Believe in LOVE feat.BoA"

1. Believe in LOVE feat. BoA
2. Golden LUV feat. Gotō Maki
3. MEGA ravex feat. Tsuchiya Anna, BoA, DJ Ozma, Lisa, Gotō Maki, Monkey Majik, Tohoshinki, TRF & Andō Yūko

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
avex trax AVCD-31594
Out 2/18, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (15% off *), HMV (10% off *), YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
avex trax AVCD-31594
Out 2/18, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

After a bunch of releases produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), Meg (MySpace) brings some change with a new single produced by UK new rave band Hadouken!

Check out the must-see video clip on YouTube below, also included on DVD in the limited edition.

Meg "Freak"

1. Freak
2. Toxic
3. Toxic (Remix)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal UPCH-9462
Out 2/11, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (15% off *), HMV (10% off *), YesAsia,
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal UPCH-5572
Out 2/11, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

The wait was long! Handsomeboy Technique is back with a 2nd full-length album, successor to the acclaimed "Adleie Land" that took the world by surprise almost 4 years ago!

A few of the new tracks have been heard before on Second Royal's "vol.3" and "vol.4", and on HBT's "Magnificient Mass E.P." 12".

Hear audio samples at Jet Set, which offers a bonus interview CD-R plus a 40-minute DVD while supplies last. Tower also gives away a promo DVD.

Handsomeboy Technique "Terrestrial Tone Cluster"

1. New Spell And Dust
2. In The Mouth Of A Desert
3. Beside The Fountain
4. Magnificent Mass
5. Twilight Blue
6. Say It Loud
7. A Flick Of A Trick
8. When The Sun Shines
9. Limpid Solitude
10. Guiding Lights (Far Calls, Coming, Far)
11. Reach For Tomorrow

Second Royal XQGE-1019
Out 2/11, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Beside The Fountain"

Halcali heavily samples Chara's hit song "yasashii kimochi" in this new single produced by pal@pop aka Takano Kenichi.

HMV offers alternate jackets for Valentine's Day and White Day as a promotion, while supplies last.

Halcali "Re: yasashii kimochi"
ハルカリ 「Re:やさしい気持ち」

1. Re: yasashii kimochi
2. Orange Sunset

Epic/Sony ESCL-3145
Out 2/11, ¥972 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Konishi Yasuharu fans have something fun to look forward to! He produced this soundtrack for Cheburashka (Чебурашка), the cute big-eared Russian character very popular in Japan.

The CD, which contains 6 songs, will also be available in a limited edition that comes with a picture book and two mini-figures.

Release official site

Original Soundtrack "Cheburashka Tokyo no kyūjitsu"
オリジナル・サウンドトラック 「チェブラーシカ 東京の休日」

1. Cheburashka no uta / Larisa Brofman(?)
2. Pioneer no Theme
3. aoi ressha / Vladimir Nakhabtsev
4. Shapoklyak no uta / Noko Inoko
5. tanjōbi no uta / Vladimir Nakhabtsev
6. tomodachi no ie no Theme

Limited edition (CD + book + mini-figures)
Frontier Works CHEB-8001
Out 3/4, ¥3620 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV

Regular edition (CD only)
Frontier Works CHEB-8002
Out 3/4, ¥2096 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV

Here's a vinyl cut of Fujisawa Shiho's "Funky Girl" remixed by herself in a more danceable version with vocoder vocals. This is the track given away on a bonus promo CD at Jet Set when purchasing the album, here presented on one-sider white label limited to 250 copies and exclusive to Jet Set.
45RPM goodness for DJs only!

Audio sample at Jet Set

Fujisawa Shiho "Funky Girl (GoldRush mix)" (12")

A. Funky Girl (GoldRush mix)

Eat Records ER-0021P
Out now (1/30), ¥1296 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set