Tokyo's Coolest Sound

The latest from Halcali is this cover of Scha Dara Parr with Ozawa Kenji's hit song "konya wa Boogie Back", here produced by Tokyo No.1 Soul Set. The song was heard a lot on TV in a commercial for Nissan Cube.

The two B-sides are by Tokyo No.1 Soul Set (without Halcali).

Tokyo No.1 Soul Set + Halcali "konya wa Boogie Back"
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set + Halcali 「今夜はブギー バック」

1. konya wa Boogie Back
2. Rising Sun
3. Innocent Love 2009
4. konya wa Boogie Back (Instrumental)

tearbridge records NFCD-27169
Out now (9/23), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, YesAsia,

Nissan Cube TV commercial directed by Ukawa Naohiro

Tokyo No.1 Soul Set + Halcali performing live on a TV show

Out just now is this first mini-album by DG-10, a three-piece idol unit produced by the maker of Nintendo DS synthesizer Korg DS-10. The singers are Imai Asami, Hasegawa Akiko (from game "The Idolm@ster"), and Matayoshi Ai (Xbox 360 game "Dream Club").

Two songs are arranged by cto branch, a side-unit of Imai Kentarō (The Aprils), polymoog (Elektel) and Okada Tōru (Moonriders), in which they use toy instruments such as the DS-10. Included are original songs and also covers of Matsuda Seiko's "Rock'n Rouge" and Off Course's "I Love You".

Audio samples at Amazon Japan

DG-10 "Love Synthesizer!"

1. Rock'n Rouge
2. Synthesizer ni koi shite
3. I LOVE YOU
4. VCO-VCF-VCA
5. I LOVE YOU (a cappella)
6. Rock'n Rouge (Instrumental)
7. Synthesizer ni koi shite (Instrumental)
8. I LOVE YOU (Instrumental)
9. VCO-VCF-VCA (Instrumental)
10. Rock'n Rouge (VCO Ver.)
11. Rock'n Rouge (VCF Ver.)
12. Rock'n Rouge (VCA Ver.)

5pb. VGCD-0172
Out 9/18, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia,

See also EP DG-10 "DG-10" out at the same time.

Vanilla Beans are back with a new single, following their first full-length self-titled album earlier this year. They continue to appeal to Shibuya-kei fans, with title song "LOVE&HATE" having lyrics by Kaji Hideki. The two B-sides are also great!

This comes in two editions, they're really same except for the themed artwork and a different version of track 4, on one CD it is sung by Rena and the other Lisa.

On other news, Vanilla Beans recently also released three Shibuya-kei covers, of Pizzicato Five, Kaji Hideki and Original Love, but that only for download on mobile phone... I am crossing my fingers for a release of some other form. Stay tuned.

Vanilla Beans "LOVE&HATE"
バニラビーンズ 「LOVE&HATE」

1. LOVE&HATE
2. Gamala Stan
3. koi no Theory
4. Gamala Stan (Rena or Lisa version, depending on edition)
5. LOVE&HATE (Instrumental)
6. Gamala Stan (Instrumental)
7. koi no Theory (Instrumental)

Love version (Rena version)
Tokuma Japan TKCA-73461
Out now (9/9), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV,

Hate version (Lisa version)
Tokuma Japaan TKCA-73462
Out now (9/9), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV,

Club music magazine LOUD brings us this compilation celebrating its 15th anniversary. Subtitled "Electro Express - Japanese Electro The Best", it does as promised and brings us some good recent electro tracks.

Official release page

Various Artists "LOUD -15th Anniversary Compilation-"

1. Meg / Skin
2. capsule / Jumper
3. Nakatsuka Takeshi / Kiss & Ride (LOUDest edition)
4. Teriyaki Boyz® / After 5(A.M.) feat. Mademoiselle Yulia
5. Tigarah / Space Travel
6. Ōsawa Shinichi / Detonator (Herve's Uxb Remix)
7. ajapai / Speeder
8. The Lowbrows / Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag
9. Dexpistols / Midnight Sevenstars (Rap Mix)
10. Damage / Going Out Tonight So Are We
11. The Sonic Reducer / AX
12. The JetzeJohnson / Dancetek (Dex Mix2 Album Version)
13. Doping Panda / crazy one more time
14. Nanba Akihiro / "I ♥ LONDON"

Universal UPCH-1738
Out now (8/26), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

The virtual idol with a software voice, Hatsune Miku sings on these covers of YMO, born from Japan's leading video sharing social network Nico Nico Dōga. The album was mastered by an engineer who worked with YMO and Sketch Show.

The limited edition contains a 36-page booklet.

Release official page with digest audio sample

HMO toka no naka no hito. (PAw Lab.) "Hatsune Miku Orchestra"
HMOとかの中の人。 (PAw Lab.) 「初音ミクオーケストラ」

1. Propaganda
2. Tong Poo
3. You've Got To Help Yourself
4. Behind the Mask
5. La femme chinoise
6. ongaku
7. Expecting Rivers
8. Cue
9. Key
10. kageki na shukujo
11. Lotus Love
12. kimi ni, mune kyun. -uwaki na Vacance-
13. Nice Age
14. Technopolis
15. Rydeen

Joint Records XECJ-1005
Out now (8/26), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

After first being heard as anime series "Arado senki"'s ending theme, and released for download on mobile phone only last May, finally here comes this great YMCK song to a more consumer-friendly form through iTunes Japan! This is the full-length 3:35 song.

See the "TV-sized" (short edit) ending theme below on YouTube, for which YMCK also created the visuals.

YMCK "hateshinai sekai" (Download)
YMCK 「果てしない世界」

Out now, ¥200
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas