Tokyo's Coolest Sound

After Nakata Yasutaka has gained lots of fame as a producer for various artists (Perfume, Meg, Suzuki Ami,..), it's now time for a first greatest hits album from capsule! This focuses on releases since "S.F. sound furniture" (2004) and seems to contain a good balance of more and less techno tracks. A limited edition includes a bonus DVD with 7 video clips!

capsule "FLASH BEST"

1. jelly (rmx ver.)
2. JUMPER (Live mix)
3. Glider (rmx ver./Live edit)
4. FLASH BACK (Extended-Live mix)
5. Starry Sky
6. FRUITS CLiPPER
7. Retro Memory
8. more more more
9. dreamin dreamin
10. Eternity
11. I'm Feeling You
12. sora tobu toshi keikaku
13. jinrui no shinpo to chōwa
14. Sugarless GiRL

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. FLASH BACK (Extended-Live mix)
2. JUMPER
3. Sugarless GiRL
4. Glider
5. Portable kūko
6. space station No.9
7. sora tobu toshi keikaku

contemode YCCC-10014B
Out 8/26, ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (currently 23% off), HMV (currently 15% off), YesAsia

contemode YCCC-10015
Out 8/26, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Yellow Magic Orchestra's performance at the London Royal Festival Hall from 2008, part of the Meltdown Festival, is now out on DVD! This was their first show in London in 28 years. The band features of course the three original members, plus Takada Ren, Gondo Tomohiko, and Christian Fennesz (cendre).
2 discs!

Yellow Magic Orchestra "POSTYMO ~ Yellow Magic Orchestra Live in London 2008 + ~" (DVD)

Disc 1
1. I-shin Den-shin
2. Sportsmen
3. Fly Me To The River
4. Mars
5. Flakes
6. Riot In Lagos
7. Ongaku
8. Rescue
9. Turn Turn
10. Tokyo Town Pages
11. The City Of Light
12. Supreme Secret
13. Wonderful To Me
14. Tibetan Dance
15. War And Peace
16. Rydeen 79 / 07
17. Chronograph (Encore 1)
18. Cue (Encore 2)

Disc 2
1. Interview
2. Rescue (Live In Gijon)
3. Supreme Secret (Live In Gijon)
4. Tokyo Town Pages (Live In Gijon)
5. Chronograph (Live In Gijon)
6. Ongaku (Live In Gijon)
7. War And Peace (Live In Gijon)

Commmons RZBM-46311
Out 8/26, ¥4286 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (currently 26% off), HMV (currently 21% off), YesAsia

This new cover and remix album of songs from new Playstation 3 game "Katamari Damacy Tribute" features YMCK (MySpace), Buffalo Daughter (MySpace), Sexy-Synthesizer (MySpace), rei harakami, Matsumae Kimitaka (Expo), Kirinji, Afra, Señor Coconut, atom and more.

Various Artists "Katamari Takeshi: 'Katamari Damacy Tribute' Original Soundtrack"
オムニバス 「かたまりたけし： 『塊魂TRIBUTE』オリジナル・サウンドトラック」

Disc 1
1. Katamari on the Rhodes
2. katamari On The Wings (Vocal: Ōhashi Takuya (from sukima Switch))
3. katamaresort Song (Vocal: Saigenji)
4. tsuyogari damashii (Refreshed by Guiro)
5. katamari On The Rock (5cm Prince Remix) (Remix: Afra)
6. Monochrome
7. Galactic S-O-U-L (Remix: Buffalo Daughter)
8. kōtei Daydreamer
9. shakunetsu no Savanna kōtō gakkō (Performance: Horikoshi kōtō gakkō suisō gakudan)
10. Houston (Re-Arranged by Kirinji)
11. sakurairo no kisetsu (fanfare mix) (Re-Arrangement: Beautiful Hummingbird)
12. Lonely Rolling No More (Vocal: Yūsama & Natsukohan)
13. You are Smart Raaginia Soft Mix) (Remix: Soft)
14. uchū
15. Shadow and Light (Vocal: Matsuzaki Shigeru)
16. Green Village
17. Fuga #9998
18. Fuga #9999

Disc 2
1. Katamari On The Funk (Señor Coconut's "Katamambo!" remix)
2. makka na bara to Gin Tonic (YMCK 8bit Mix)
3. Everlasting Love + You (Vocal: Leah Dizon)
4. The Royal Academy Of Katamari (Kimitaka Matsumae Remix) (Remix: Matsumae Kimitaka)
5. Everlasting Love (atom remix)
6. sayonara Rolling Star (Yuri's Mixx) (Vocal: Micazo)
7. Katamari Spirit
8. Katamari Dancing All Night (Vocal: Ōsama Robo)
9. tsuki to oji (to Leopaldon Mix)
10. Mushroom Parade
11. Do-re-mi katamari do (-rh rehabilitation re-arrange-) (Re-Arrangement: rei harakami)
12. katamari On The Swing (Sexy-Synthesizer All About Namco Mix)
13. Robotic Vision
14. Cosmic Message
15. Be Gorgeous
16. Nana-Nan Damacy (Hardfloor Remix)
17. Nana-Nan Damacy (Hardfloor Alternative-Remix)
18. Last Chaotic Ambience

Columbia COCX-35745
Out 8/19, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Ok this is out of my camp, but this 30-song 2-CD greatest hits album of singer Crystal Kay (Wikipedia) will contain a new song by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule, Perfume), only on a bonus 3rd disc in the limited edition. Other new songs produced by Taku Takahashi (m-flo) and others will be included.

Crystal Kay "Best of Crystal Kay"

CD 3
1. Over and Over (produced by Taku Takahashi)
2. Step by Step (produced by Nakata Yasutaka)
...

EPIC ESCL-3271
Out 9/2, ¥3334 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Tanaka Tomoyuki (Fantastic Plastic Machine) selects his favorite cover songs from the repertory of label Grand Gallery, which celebrates its 4th anniversary.

Various Artists "Love Supreme -Best Cover Songs from Grand Gallery- selected by Tomoyuki Tanaka (Fantastic Plastic Machine)"

(Title / Artist)
1. Femme Fatale / Tica
2. Be Careful / Tonoike Mitsuhiro
3. Sunshower / M'Lonie
4. Pillow Talk / Lovers Rock Nite Crew feat. Takeda Kaori
5. I Believe In Miracles / Pam Hall
6. Touch Me Take Me / Urban Blues Quartet
7. Blade Runner / Dr. Echo-Logic
8. Love Is Stronger Than Pride / Lovers Rock Nite Crew feat. Shimazaki Hitomi
9. Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Danny Krivit Re-Edit) / Struttin Unlimited feat. Terrance Downs & Heather Johnson
10. Libertango / macrophage lab.
11. Spring Rain / Grand Gallery Orchestra
12. Better Together / Na Mele O Keaka
13. Ordinary Pain / DJ Spinna feat. Chris Rob And Heavy
14. Jealous Guy (Album Mix) / Yasushi Ide feat. Tony Joe White
15. How Many Kisses / Sai Shigeaki

Grand Gallery GRGA-0080
Out 9/2, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

"4-MC positive rap group" Asia Engineer's new single is a song for a Fanta TV commercial featuring sex-changed comedian Haruna Ai, and the CD contains a Konishi Yasuharu remix.

A limited edition contains a DVD with the music video plus a bonus clip to learn the dance.

Asia Engineer "MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai"
エイジアエンジニア 「MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. はるな愛」

1. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai
2. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (readymade MOMI MOmix) (Remixed by Konishi Yasuharu)
3. Boom Boon Brain
4. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (Instrumental)
5. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (readymade MOMI MOmix) (Instrumental)
6. Boom Boon Brain (Instrumental)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (Music Video)
2. MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (MOMI MOMI Dance Lecture eizō)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-46309B
Out 8/19, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon (15% off *), YesAsia, CD Japan
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-46310
Out 8/19, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, YesAsia, CD Japan

MOMI MOMI Fantastic feat. Haruna Ai (Music Video)

MOMI MOMI Dance Lecture eizō

Crazy Ken Band is back with a new 11th album! It's their first on a major label.

A limited edition contains a bonus DVD with live performances from the "Zero Tour".

Crazy Ken Band "Girls! Girls! Girls!"
クレイジーケンバンド 「ガール! ガール! ガール!」

1. VIVA josei
2. Girlfriend
3. ukkari 8ji no hantarō
4. hirugao
5. yūgao
6. ohikkoshi
7. neppa
8. eye catch / naiteita onna no ko
9. SOUL tsūshin
10. bokura no mirai wa tōi kako
11. Marine Tower Go Go
12. giragira
13. shō Tokyo
14. DUET
15. eye catch / koen no koneko chan
16.kawaii hōmonsha
17. honmoku uchūjin
18. Gimme a Goldfish
19. yama no oto - sōda, Kyōto ni ikō. (Remix)
20. eye catch / minna akachan datta
21. ore no yume

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. asa / Brand New Honda
2. Towel / ongakuryoku
3. hachi
4. kemuri / tonari no neechan / zakuro
5. kibori no taki

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Double Joy International UMCK-9293
Out now (8/12), ¥3620 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (currently 18% off), YesAsia, CD Japan

Regular edition (CD only)
Double Joy International UMCK-1322
Out now (8/12), ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia, , CD Japan

Crazy Ken Band "VIVA josei"

Crazy Ken Band "Girlfriend" at YouTube

Excellent magazine Marquee, always keeping the post-Shibuya-kei scene happy, brings us a compilation featuring some of the best Japan has to offer recently, and that at a nice price. Included are songs by Urbangarde (MySpace), Dr.USUI (Motocompo), Sweet Vacation (MySpace), Genki Rockets (MySpace), pal@pop (MySpace), and many more.

Release official page at label Tokuma

Various Artists "PANIC Level.01"
オムニバス 「パニックLevel.01」

(Track / artist)
1. 2D boys kill your Space / FLUID
2. Go with the flow (feat.Shigeo) / immi
3. Welcoming Morning / pal@pop
4. Heavenly Star / Genki Rockets
5. Quadra (Replace MIX) / The JETZEJOHNSON
6. ONE STORY / 1000say
7. Flashpoint / Killer Condors
8. Clockworker / 3nd
9. morning spider / perfect piano lesson
10. Glamorous Buddy / Dr.USUI (SoftBank 821N GLA TVCM shiyō rakkyoku)
11. mizutama byō / Urbangarde
12. I Feel So Good ~2nd edition~ / Sweet Vacation
13. Circle / tokyo pinsalocks
14. Tic Tic Tic / Nirgilis

Tokuma TKCA-73451
Out now (8/5), ¥2191 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Urbangarde "mizutama byō"

Genki Rockets "Heavenly Star"

Following a download-only EP, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band now brings us a full-length album!
Featured musicians include Oyamada Keigo, Araki Yūko (mi-gu), Shimizu Hirotaka (all three of The Cornelius Group), Honda Yuka (Cibo Matto), and Sean Lennon. The recording was done at Sear Sound in New York.

A Japan tour will take place in November with all musicians above and more, at Tokyo International Forum on November 18 (Tokyo Gig Guide) and Osaka Geijutsu Hall on November 24.

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band "Between My Head and The Sky"

1. Waiting For The D Train
2. Sun Is Down!
3. The Elephant!
4. Of Footsteps
5. Moving Mountains
6. CALLING
7. Healing
8. Hashire, Hashire
9. BETWEEN MY HEAD AND THE SKY
10. Feel The Sand
11. Watching The Rain
12. To
13. I'm Going Away Smiling
14. Higa Noboru
15. I'm Alive
16. Hanako (Special track for Japan only)

Chimera Music PVCP-8259
Out 9/16, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia, Amazon U.S.

Denki Groove has again a new album on the way, this time celebrating their 20th anniversary, wow! This follows the release of two albums last year, "J-POP" and "Yellow".

This comes in 2 editions, the limited edition containing a bonus karaoke and remix CD and a DVD with brand new video clips. The video for "Tarantula" is directed by Ukawa Naohiro.

Some audio samples at album mini-site

Denki Groove "20"
電気グルーヴ 「20」

CD 1
1. Denki Groove 20 Shuunen No Uta
2. Tarantula
3. Ponkotsu Fantasia
4. Nanmaida?
5. Cat and Israel
6. Exotika
7. Dark Red Sofa
8. Pierre Taki's Taiso 42sai
9. Fox

CD 2 "Karaokes + Remixes and more" (Limited edition only)
1. Denki Groove 20 Shuunen No Uta (Karaoke)
2. Tarantula (Karaoke)
3. Ponkotsu Fantasia (Karaoke)
4. Nanmaida? (Karaoke)
5. Cat and Israel (Karaoke)
6. Exotika (Karaoke)
7. Dark Red Sofa (Karaoke)
8. Fox (Karaoke)
9. Mononoke Dance (Sugiurumn Remix)
10.Wicked Jumper (Kagami's Sakebi Bakuhatsu Remix)
11. Hikenai Guitar Wo Hikundaze (Be Taro Mix)
12. Mononoke Dance (TV size)
13. Sanpunmaru No Uta (TV size)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Tarantula
2. Denki Groove 20 Shuunen No Uta
3. Pierre Taki's Taiso 42sai
4. Minna No Taiso 42sai

Limited edition (2CD+DVD)
Ki/oon Records KSCL-1425
Out 8/19, ¥3809 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (10% off *), YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

Regular edition (CD only)
Ki/oon Records KSCL-1428
Out 8/19, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

The latest by Konishi Yasuharu is this ska-ish track sung by Katori Shingo of superstar boy group SMAP. It's a return of the duo of super-hit "oha Rock" (sung by Shingo Mama), probably one of Konishi's works that sold the most. This single contains the original, words and music by Konishi, as well as a remix.

Attentive listeners will notice that the song borrows lines from Pizzicato Five's "fukeiki" ("la dépression") — "hontō ni chikagoro fukeiki, hontō ni chikagoro tsumannai".

Update (2010/8/16): Just realized that the back band on this single is Cubismo Grafico Five!

Katori Shingo will star in a New York broadway musical this fall, titled "Talk Like Singing", and the music is also by Konishi!

Ryō-san "kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari-kōenmae Hashutsujo"
両さん 「こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所」

1. kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari-kōenmae Hashutsujo
2. kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari-kōenmae Hashutsujo - bessatsu. (remix by Konishi Yasuharu)
3. kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari-kōenmae Hashutsujo (Karaoke)

Victor VICL-37222
Out 8/5, ¥1100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Soccerboy (MySpace), boss of label Tokyo Fun Party and salaryman DJ acclaimed in Tokyo's underground club scene, has a first real mix CD out now, available through HMV Japan only. The CD contains plenty of floor-ready tracks and even a bunch of his original mixes that can't be found elsewhere. The whole is divided into themed segments: "Intro to Rock", "French Touch Strikes Back", "My Definition of New Rave Music", "Massive, Allzumassive", "Japs Can't Dance", and "The Chant".

Article at HMV Japan

Soccerboy "My Dear Horse"

1. Digiki / Pancaked Again (Overcooked by Jean Nipon)
2. Human Resourse / Dominator (Hervé Remix)
3. Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman / I Like To Move It (Erick "More" Club Mix)
4. Peter Gelderblom / Waiting 4 (Original Mix)
5. Wiley / Cash In My Pocket (Chew Fu Big Room Fix)
6. Tiga / Shoes (Mr. Oizo Remix)
7. Digiki / Pancaked Again (Overcooked by Jean Nipon)
8. Math Head / Turn The Music Up (Original Mix)
9. Kan Takahiko / Dolphin (Original Mix)
10. Human Resourse / Dominator (Hervé Remix)
11. Kan Takahiko / Miss Vanessa (Original Mix)
12. The Kills / Cheap And Cheerful (Fake Blood Remix)
13. Major Lazer / Lazer Boom 1 (Album Mix by Diplo)
14. M. G. Knight Riders / Free Generation (SoccerBoy Otagi Remix)
15. Buraka Som Sistema / Wawaba (Radioclit Remix)
16. Diplo & Buraka Som Sistema / Inna De Ghetto (Remix)
17. Radioclit / Secousse All Stars (Original Mix)
18. SoccerBoy / Of Breaks And Men (Club Edit)
19. Kan Takahiko / Galbitch Is Dead (Original Mix)
20. Sinden & Count Of Monte Cristal / Everybody Rocking
21. The Count & Sinden / Hardcore Girls feat. Rye Rye (Original Mix)
22. Kumisolo / Nasty Boy (SoccerBoy Otagiremix)
23. SoccerBoy / Fathersucking Galbitch Is My Motherfucking Wife (Original Mix)
24. Jean Claude Ades & Vincent Thomas / Shingaling (Original Mix)
25. The Chap / Ethnic Instrument (Joakim Mix)
26. Re-united / Sun Is Shining (Funkerman Remix)
27. Richard Grey / One More Time (Richard Grey Subliminal Mix)
28. Linda Lamb / King Meadowlands

A Japanese Thing CCRO-0001
Out now (8/1), ¥2096 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV