Tokyo's Coolest Sound

A whole 8 years since the amazing album "Lovebeat", Sunahara Yoshinori (ex-Denki Groove) brings us this new original release in the form of his first ever movie soundtrack. The movie is "No Boys, No Cry", a Japan/Korea collaboration directed by Korean Kim Yeon-Nam.

The last track, "Deadly Lovely", is sung by iLL (aka Nakako- ex-Supercar) and also produced by Sunahara.

Short audio sample at Sony (click the small speaker on the left)
Movie official site (more sounds in the trailer on top page)

Sunahara Yoshinori "No Boys, No Cry Original Soundtrack"
砂原良徳 「No Boys, No Cry Original Soundtrack」

1. Sunset Blue (Opening Version)
2. Rain Noise
3. Black Water Surface
4. Transport
5. Tiptoeing
6. Float
7. Green Pattern
8. Arista
9. Piano Room
10. Echo Drums
11. Monologue
12. The Stairs
13. Charge
14. Wave Motion
15. Invisible Silence
16. Underwater Ballet
17. Sunset Blue
18. Deadly Lovely (Movie Version)

Ki/oon Records KSCL-1420
Out 7/29, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Yes it's time for all those Michael Jackson releases... R.I.P.

Here comes a compilation of the best Jackson 5 remixes from the Soul Source series, with Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato Five), Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience), Osawa Shinichi, Fujiwara Hiroshi, Muro and more. This one comes in a mini-LP sleeve.

At the same time is released a compilation of less known Motown-days mellow MJ recordings, see below for details.

The Jackson 5 "Best of the Jackson 5 Remix - compiled by Soul Source Production"

1. Ben (HF Remix #4)
2. Darling Dear (Rejuvenated By Muro Mix)
3. I'll Be There (Scof Remix)
4. ABC (Justa Roots Rock Mix)
5. I Want You Back (Readymade 524 Mix)
6. The Love You Save (Asakusa S. C. '01 Mix)
7. We're Almost There (DJ Spinna Remix)
8. It's Great To Be Here (Kenny Dope Remix)
9. I Want You Back (Kei's Routine Jazz Party Mix)
10. Abc (Love Stream Mix)
11. Get It Together (4 Hero Rimix)
12. Never Can Say Goodbye (Osawa 3000 Remix)
13. Dancing Machine (Topless In Action Remixxx)
14. Ain't No Sunshine (SSY Remix)
15. I Want You Back '86

Universal UICZ-1328
Out 7/29, ¥1886 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.
　
Michael Jackson "Mellow Michael Jackson - compiled by Soul Source Production"

1. I Wanna Be Where You Are
2. Ben
3. I'll Be There (Minus Mix)
4. You've Got A Friend
5. My Girl
6. Rockin' Robin
7. Never Can Say Goodbye
8. We're Almost There
9. Farewell My Summer Love
10. Darling Dear
11. Coming Home
12. Maybe Tomorrow
13. Music and Me
14. Ain't No Sunshine
15. Everyｂody's Somebody's Fool
16. People Make The World Go Round
17. Wings Of My Love
18. Got To Be There
19. Maria (You Were The Only One)
20. One Day In You Life
21. Greatest Show On Earth
22. Morning Glow
23．Happy (Love Theme From "Lady Sings The Blues")

Universal UICZ-1327
Out 7/29, ¥1886 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Crazy Ken Band has moved to major label Universal (they were always indies until now!), and here comes a 1st major single. An album titled "Girls! Girls! Girls!" is on the way on August 12, stay tuned!

This comes in two editions, the limited containing a bonus DVD with the title track's video clip.

Crazy Ken Band "Girl Friend"
クレイジーケンバンド 「ガールフレンド」

1. Girlfriend
2. hirugao
3. eye catch
4. yama no oto
5. CRAZY KEN BAND's Information
6. Girlfriend (Karaoke)
7. hirugao (Karaoke)
8. yama no oto (Karaoke)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
DoubleJoy International UMCK-9288
Out 7/22, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (12% off *), HMV, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
DoubleJoy International UMCK-5246
Out 7/22, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Fantastic Explosion is back after 5 years with this techno soundtrack for hero movie "Hyperion" coming to the big screen all over Japan. The band is now a duo formed of Nagata Kazunao and Yoshida Tetsuto.

Yoshida Tetsuto is very active this year, also preparing his first solo album, of which bits can be heard on MySpace, and with a new unit called Mit Dir together with Iwaya Shigeru.

Fantastic Explosion "Sound Track (from Time Evaluation Tactics Hyperion)"

1. Wecker's Theme
2. Blue Flash
3. Hyper Orion
4. Pendel's Theme
5. Time Evaluation Tactics
6. Ares
7. Strange Appearance
8. Shrike's Army Corps
9. Wecker & Pendel
10. Two Emotion
11. It Crosses Each Other
12. Desire that Springs Up

ExT Recordings EXT-0011
Out 7/22, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

Unicorn, the band of Okuda Tamio that just got back to life this year, has a remix album coming this week, featuring remixes by Konishi Yasuharu, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Tokumaru Shūgo, Takagi Kan, Tahiti 80 and more.

Unicorn "URMX"

1. Hattori (Oddity Remix) (remixed by Oddity)
2. daimeiwaku (Readymade dai mix) (remixed by Konishi Yasuharu)
3. subarashii hibi (Sonny J Toichi Toichi Remix) (remixed by Sonny J)
4. WAO! (Tahiti 80 Remix) (remixed by Tahiti 80)
5. hataraku otoko (FPM Everlust Mix) (remixed by Fantastic Plastic Machine)
6. jitensha dorobō (Shugo Tokumaru Remix) (remixed by Tokumaru Shūgo)
7. Bossa Nova tōsan (applebonker Remix) (remixed by applebonker)
8. Maybe Blue (N2O '94 Hardcore Maybe Blue Remix) (remixed by N8LOC)
9. hige to boin (The SHOES (that Jessie wore on the day of the great banquet) Remix) (remixed by The SHOES)
10. pekepeke (TAKAGIKAN Remix) (remixed by Takagi Kan)
11. kimi to dekaketa (The Remix Ride) (remixed by Malcolm McLaren)
12. PTA ~hikari no Network~ (Tom Tom Club Remix) (remixed by Tom Tom Club)
13. hana kara gyūnyū (N8LOC Hana Kara Tequila Vamos Remix) (remixed by N8LOC)

SME Records SECL-797
Out 7/22, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia, CD Japan

In August will be released a vinyl edition coming as two 12"'s.

Unicorn "URMX" (2 x 12")

SME Records SEJL-22
Out 8/5, ¥3334 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

This week, Aira Mitsuki is back with a 2nd album, not even a year since "Copy". I count 7 tracks taken from the three latest singles: "Robot Honey", "sayonara Technopolis", and "BARBiE BARBiE", leaving us with 7 brand new tracks including the latest video "Plastic Doll" (see below). Featured on the album are a few guests such as Ayuse Kozue and Kuchiroro.

The album comes in 3 different editions, two limited editions come respectively with a DVD of music videos and an 8-track remix CD. Half of the remixes have appeared on previous singles.

Aira Mitsuki "PLASTIC"

1. Robot Honey
2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. Ayuse Kozue)
3. Knee-high Girl
4. BAD trip (feat.Terukado)
5. Change My Will
6. HiGH SD Sneaker
7. distant STARS
8. Plastic Doll
9. Supli
10. natsuame (feat. Kuchiroro)
11. Time is (feat. Shigeo (SBK/TheSAMOS))
12. sayonara TECHNOPOLiS
13. BARBiE BARBiE
14. Re:†

DVD (Limited edition A only)
1. Colorful Tokyo Sounds No.9
2. China Discotica
3. Galaxy Boy
4. Robot Honey
5. sayonara TECHNOPOLiS
6. BARBiE BARBiE
7. Plastic Doll
8. Special Clip

Remix CD (Limited edition B only)
1. BARBiE BARBiE (80kidz rmx)
2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. Ayuse Kozue) (Terukado rmx)
3. HiGH SD Sneaker (Yuki Saito rmx)
4. sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (Traks Boys rmx)
5. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function rmx)
6. China Discotica (Substance rmx)
7. Robot Honey (Sound Around rmx)
8. Happiness land (I Am Robot and Proud rmx)

Limited edition A (CD+DVD)
D-topia Entertainment VUZD-1
Out 7/22, ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (18% off *), YesAsia, CD Japan
* Discount at time of writing

Limited edition B (CD+remix CD)
D-topia Entertainment VUZD-2
Out 7/22
Order: Amazon, YesAsia, CD Japan

Regular (CD only)
D-topia Entertainment VUCD-60005
Out 7/22, ¥2480 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, YesAsia, CD Japan

Here comes a new live mix CD from Japan's club-jazz leading DJ Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience). The theme is "This is how I feel about jazz, #2", but beyond jazz this mix is said to breaks barriers with house and techno.

Various Artists "World Standard.08 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"

(Title / Artist)
1. a love song / Ego-Wrappin'
2. Queen Of Crows (Matthew Herbert's Golden Silence Mix) / Two Banks Of Four
3. Just A Lil' Lovin' (Original) / Irfane feat. Outlines
4. The Governor's Daughter (Danny J Lewis Remix) / Of Norway
5. Fantasy / Harold Mabern Trio
6. Let's Make A Record (Lucas Keizer Remix) / JT Donaldson & Giom
7. M.U.S.I.C (Atjazz Main Mix) / Andre Zimma
8. Bags And Strings / Milt Jackson
9. Barrunto / Damian Schwartz
10. Siento / La Negra
11. Sabkah / Nils Petter Molvaer

Flower Records FLRC-064
Out 8/5, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

"World Standard.07 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"
Wada Akiko "World Standard Wada Akiko -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"
"World Standard.06 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix- Sunaga t̀ Experience works -pièces pour les femmes-"
"World Standard Schema"
"World Standard.05 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"
"World Standard.04 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-" (CCCD)

Bossa nova duo naomi & goro bring us a 2nd cover album, again on Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons. Included are famous songs by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle and Caetano Veloso. Cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, famous for his collaborations with Sakamoto, guests on the album.

naomi & goro "Bossa Nova Songbook 2"

1. Samba Do Aviao
2. Seu Encanto (The Face I Love)
3. Rosinha
4. Coração Vagabundo
5. Super Boots
6. Pica-Pau
7. Dolphin
8. Olha Pro Céu
9. Chovendo Na Roseira
10. Triste
11. Minha Saudade

commmons RZCM-46215
Out 7/8, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Perfume's 3rd album is coming next week, with a strange title that reads "Triangle". Always produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), this follow-up to best-selling "Game" comes with very high expectations! Included are the 3 latest singles "One Room Disco", "love the world" and "Dream Fighter", as well as the recent "Night Flight" that can be heard in a commercial for Pino ice cream.

There was a limited edition with a bonus DVD, but it looks like some online sites have already stopped taking reservations. Hurry while you can!

Perfume "⊿"

1. Take off
2. love the world
3. Dream Fighter
4. edge (⊿-mix)
5. NIGHT FLIGHT
6. Kiss and Music
7. Zero Gravity
8. I still love U
9. The best thing
10. Speed of Sound
11. One Room Disco
12. negai (Album-mix)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. "I still love U" Special Video Clip
2. "NIGHT FLIGHT" Live @ Yoyogi daiichi taiikukan May 10, '09
3. "edge" Live @ Yoyogi daiichi taiikukan May 10, '09 △-version
4. "love the world" TV-SPOT
5. "Dream Fighter" TV-SPOT
6. "One Room Disco" TV-SPOT

Regular edition (CD only)
Tokuma Japan TKCA-73445
Out 7/8, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Tokuma Japan TKCA-73440
Out 7/8, ¥3143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon