Tokyo's Coolest Sound

2 years after "Switch", DJ Boot Beat is back with a swingin' and rockin' 2nd full-length album!

First video clip, for song "akai Heel no onna" ("The red-heeled girl"), stars party girl Nomoto Karia in the 2nd half. Watch it below.

Boot Beat "Full Swing"

1. Ceremonial First Pitch
2. akai Heel no onna (feat. The Grasshopper Set)
3. Twister Chicken (feat. Nut1-3)
4. Swing 122
5. koya no 4nin (feat. Shuriken Jet)
6. Percus Rock
7. Loosely
8. More Today Than Yesterday
9. Back To Sixties
10. Middle Reliever
11. Autumn Hi
12. Curtains Fall

Eat Records XQEN-1007
Out 5/20, ¥2300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Here comes a greatest hits collection of Towa Tei selected by editor-in-chief of magazine Barfout!

Towa Tei "middle and mellow of TOWA TEI"

1. Let Me Know (from "Let Me Know" single)
2. Technova-Opaz Flying High Remix Ver.3 (from "Future Listening!" album)
3. BMT (SP-1200 Remix)
4. Butterfly (Cornelius Remix) (from "Lost Control Mix" album)
5. Happy (from "Sound Museum" album)
6. Last Century Modern (SRATM Remix) (from "Lost Control Mix" album)
7. Funkin' For Jamaica ~Fallin' For Rio -maxx (Shinichi Osawa Remix) (from "Lost Control Mix" album)
8. A.O.R (Featuring Lina Ohta) (from "Big Fun" album)
9. Milky Way feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto & Yukalicious (from "Flash" album)
10. Time After Time (from "Sound Museum" album)
11. Luv Connection (from "Future Listening!" album)
12. Taste Of You (feat.Taprikk Sweezee) (from "Big Fun" album)

Warner WPCL-10716
Out 7/22 canceled!, ¥2520
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower, CDJapan, YesAsia

Out a few weeks ago on the LD&K label are these two "non-mix" CDs by DJs Ikeda Masanori (Mansfield) and Inoue Kaoru (Chari Chari, Seeds and Ground). It's club/street culture magazine Massage that brings us these releases, of which the cute cover artwork shows the subtitle "Balearic In The House".

HMV gives away a bonus Inoue Kaoru live mix CD while supplies last.

Various Artists "Massage Nonmix by Masanori Ikeda"

1. Marshall Jefferson Vs Noosa Heads / Mushrooms (Martin Myerer Mix)
2. Paul Brtschitsch / Bellaponica (Orig)
3. Rodamaal / Insomnia Feat Claudia Franco (Kemistry Mix)
4. Solomun vs Ost & Kjex / Federgewicht (Oslo Version)
5. Quince / Omnium
6. Petar Dundov / Waterfall
7. Equinox / Code 718 (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
8. Joris Voorn / The Deep (Jimpster Rimix)
9. Chic Miniature / Escandalo

LD&K LDCD-50057
Out now (4/22), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Various Artists "Massage Nonmix by Kaoru Inoue"

1. The Rice Twins / Goatee
2. Crazy P / Lie Lost (Maurice Fulton Remix)
3. Echoa / Wishing Well
4. Coyote / Grow Your Hair
5. Up, Bustle & Out / The Dance Of Caravan Summer
6. Gabby & Lopez / Friday, On The Roof
7. Don Carlos / Alone (Paradise)
8. Marcel / On The Beach
9. Chari Chari / Black Shrine

LD&K LDCD-50057
Out now (4/22), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Kyoto-based post-Shibuya-kei boy-girl unit Sucrette (MySpace) has a 2nd album coming soon, and it will include remixes by Aprils and Melting Holidays.

The album is available a bit early at iTunes Japan.

Sucrette "Bon Voyage"

1. bon voyage
2. lovely my girl
3. Alice
4. travel star
5. transit
6. clock work music
7. momo
8. countdown love
9. Love Prologue (pico pico meets the stripes mix) (Remixed by Aprils)
10. koi to kuchibue (kira kira meets the dots mix) (Remixed by Melting Holidays)

Flavor Records FLVR-4
Out 5/20, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon,

Video clip for "lovely my girl"

New movie "Baby Baby Baby!" is a spin-off of the popular TV drama series "Nurse no oshigoto", and Kamomiya Ryō (Manna, early Pizzicato Five) has done the soundtrack, as he was responsible for the whole TV series' music.

The comedy film features the same actresses as the TV series, including Mizuki Arisa, and has a theme of maternity. The movie will start on May 23 in theatres all over Japan.

Original Soundtrack "Baby Baby Baby!"

Columbia COCP-35622
Out 5/20, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia

Visit Tokyo Recohan for used "Nurse no oshigoto" soundtracks.

Here's a 2nd installment of the "J-death techno" compilation series "Speedking". This includes the latest by Yoshida Tetsuto, Arai Toshiya, Bubble-B, Cherryboy Function, and more.

This includes a bonus CD with a megamix of tracks from Vol.1, Vol.2 and then some.

Check out the YouTube sampler below.

Various Artists "Speedking Vol.2"

CD 1
1. Leopaldon / Gear of Party
2. Missile Chewbacca / Laid-Back Aliens!! (are U not MEN?)
3. Sampling Masters Mega / Reciprocity of 90's
4. M-Project / Digital Illusion
5. Yoshida Tetsuto / Kontakte
6. Cherryboy Function / Beep Me Up
7. yam / Mahogany Twister
8. DJ IO / Everybody Needs a Rave
9. Dee! / Hold On Me
10. DJ Sharpnel / RAVE20000009
11. BUBBLE-B / Kawasaki Bombastic
12. 232COMIT / Death Shousei
13. m2dy / Kisarazu Calling

CD 2
1. Speedking DJ Megamix (Vol.1 + Vol.2 + α)

Speedking Productions SPK-02
Out 5/27, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Also see:
Various Artists "Speedking Vol.1" (Amazon)

Taken from his upcoming book "Marshall McLuhan kōkoku dairiten. Konishi Yasuharu. Disc Guide 200mai.", Konishi-san brings us two series of rare albums being re-issued on CD.

While in the same direction as the columbia*readymade Japanese jazz-rock reissues from last year, these are all albums by foreign artists (with one exception). Most are available here for the first time on CD in Japan, some of them first time in the world!

Below are 10 releases from the Universal label, covering various genres such as jazz, French, bossa nova and easy listening. See also the RCA selection out at the same time.

Nana Mouskouri "Nana" (1965)

English-sung album by the famous Greek singer, featuring American pianist Bobby Scott.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Fontana UCCU-3102
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Luiz Henrique "Listen to me" (1965)

Brazilian singer-songwriter Luiz Henrique sings in English in this New York recording.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Fontana UCCU-3103
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Claude Nougaro "Petit Taureau" (1967)

Jazzy French chanson singer's 1967 album.
First time on CD in Japan.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Decca UCCU-3104
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Bill Harris "Great Guitar Sounds" (1958)

3rd album by this jazz guitarist, entirely solo containing standards and originals performed on warm sounding nylon-stringed guitar.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Mercury UCCU-3105
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Ahmad Jamal "Jamal at the Penthouse" (1959)

First recording with strings by this pianist loved by Miles Davis.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Argo UCCU-3106
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Ramsey Lewis "The Piano Player" (1969)

Black pianist from the Argo/Cadet label, with bass, drums, strings and brass.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Cadet UCCU-3107
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Lennie Dale "Um Show De Bossa" (1963)

Debut album by American dancer/singer, a recording of a live show in Copacabana, backed by Bossa Tres.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Elenco UCCU-3108
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

The Sandpipers "Spanish Album" (1969)

Famous male chorus group's 1969 album.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

A&M UCCU-3109
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Peter Duchin "Windmills Of Your Mind" (1969)

Easy listening white pianist. Songs linked together with strings.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Decca UCCU-3110
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Anita O'Day "Cool Heat" (1959)

American jazz singer.
Audio samples at Tower Records

Verve UCCU-3111
Out now (4/22), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Amazon U.S.

Taken from his upcoming book "Marshall McLuhan kōkoku dairiten. Konishi Yasuharu. Disc Guide 200mai.", Konishi-san brings us two series of rare albums being re-issued on CD.

While in the same direction as the columbia*readymade Japanese jazz-rock reissues from last year, these are all albums by foreign artists (with one exception). Most are available here for the first time on CD in Japan, some of them first time in the world!

Below are 6 releases from the RCA label. See also the Universal selection for 10 more releases out at the same time.

John Hartford "John Hartford" (1969)

American singer-songwriter, dancing banjo player. Known for writing Glen Campbell's "Gentle On My Mind" and other hits.
First time on CD in Japan.
Audio samples at Tower Records

RCA BVCM-35616
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Jim Weatherly "A Gentler Time" (1973)

American singer-songwriter known for writing Gladys Knight & the Pips' "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)", "Midnight Train to Georgia", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow".
First album.
Audio samples at Tower Records

RCA BVCM-35617
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Hugo Montenegro "Good Vibrations" (1969)

Famous for his soundtrack works, Hugo has also done a lot of instrumental covers.
This album includes covers of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", also "Happy Together", "L'amour est bleu" ("Love Is Blue").
Audio samples at Tower Records

RCA BVCM-35618
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Sawai Tadao / Yamamoto Hōzan "koto Sebastian Bach daizenshū" (1971)
沢井忠夫 / 山本邦山 "琴 セバスチャン バッハ大全集"

The only Japanese artist in this series of reissues, koto player Sawai Tadao here performs Bach pieces together with Yamamoto Hōzan on shakuhachi (Japanese wooden flute), accompanied by jazz guitar, bass and drums. Two albums were released, plus this compilation that combines the best from the two.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

BMG BVCM-35619
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Chet Atkins "Solo Flights" (1968)

Hit-maker American guitarist influential to the country, rock and popular music scenes. This album contains solo covers of pop, jazz and French songs.
First time on CD in the world.
Audio samples at Tower Records

RCA BVCM-35620
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV

Los Indios Tabajaras "Maria Elena" (1963)

Guitar duo of two Brazilian brothers who were popular in the 60's and 70's.
First time on CD in Japan.
Audio samples at Tower Records

RCA BVCM-35621
Out now (4/22), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV