Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Cubismo Grafico Five has a new album coming. Having recently sized down to 4 members, and feeling like a brand new band, they call this a "first album", and it comes with no less than 24 tracks, hence the title "Double Dozen"!

Already available is 7" single "Life Is Like A Season".

Release official page

Cubismo Grafico Five "Double Dozen"

1. New Decade
2. Stick By You
3. Green Monster
4. Aoi Kagi
5. Can's Can Badge
6. Say What
7. Life Is Like A Season
8. Move Your Body
9. Wake Up Shige!
10. Victims Of Coffee Beans
11. Frozen Time
12. Super Duper Cool
13. The Catcher In The Riot
14. May Day (LeMai68)
15. Left Right Up Down
16. Insanit L.Y. (EVONIKE)
17. Personal Computer
18. 1234 Omnichord
19. Couple Of Weeks
20. Woodstock
21. Lip Service
22. Young At Heart
23. Chukit
24. Ticket To Sound

NIW! NIW-55
Out 7/7, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Voice actress Hasegawa Akiko (aka VCF of DG-10, also appearing in IDOLM@STER) has a solo single coming. Notably included is B-side "Stay Tuned!" produced by Elektel.

Hasegawa Akiko "Sunrise!"
長谷川明子 「Sunrise!」

1. Sunrise!
2. 2100 nen no Tokyo Tower
3. Stay Tuned!
4. Sunrise! (Instrumental)
5. 2100 nen no Tokyo Tower (Instrumental)
6. Stay Tuned! (Instrumental)

5pb. VGCD-1048
Out 7/7, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Sunrise!" promotional clip

New-comer unit RUBY, featuring whisper-voiced singer Lily, presents a first mini-album with sounds of dreamy electro-pop with hints of post-rock and shoegazing, some of which remind me of MissWonda. Included is a cover of Kahimi Karie's "Mike Alway's Diary", and collaborations with The Aprils' Imai Kentaro and Mr.COCKROBIN's Matsuo Hirobumi.

Sample all songs at this special feature page at Tower Records

RUBY "RUBY"

1. Door
2. Moon landing
3. Star
4. Mike Alway's Diary (cover)
5. shiroi Shirt
6. Flower basket (feat. Imai Kentarō (The Aprils))
7. suimen ~Minamo~ (feat. Matsuo Hirobumi (Mr. Cockrobin))

TKO new music corporation TKOK-0004
Out now (3/31), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Pour Lui (MySpace) is a recent unit with girl vocals, techno-pop with a rocking sound. Here comes a promising first album. Two songs that previously gained popularity on iTunes are included.

Audio samples at HMV

Pour Lui "minna no Pour Lui"
プー・ルイ 「みんなのプー・ルイ」

1. I'm coming!!
2. You too
3. Story
4. re-zonde-toru
5. Give me pain
6. WHY?
7. kagirareta jikan no naka de☆
8. One day

Tsubasa Records DQC-477
Out 6/23, ¥1715 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"I'm coming!!"

"WHY?"

"kagirareta jikan no naka de☆"

Cubismo Grafico Five (MySpace) have an upcoming album to be released on July 7, titled "Double Dozen", but first comes this 3-song 7" single. The B-side is a non-album remix by US indie band The Signals (MySpace). Jet Set provides a CD-R of the same tracks.

Cubismo Grafico Five "Life Is Like A Season" (7"+CD-R)

A1. Life is Like a Season
A2. Insanit L.Y.
B1. The Catcher in The Riot (Signals Remix!!)

NIW! NEP-24
Out 6/23, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Fujiwara Hiroshi and K.U.D.O. bring this collection of their dub/reggae remixes of Jackson 5 and early Michael Jackson songs.

A limited edition contains a bonus CD with 4 alternate takes. Another is available only when buying the full album on iTunes.

Michael Jackson/The Jackson 5 "Hiroshi Fujiwara & K.U.D.O. Presents Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 Remixes"

1. We've Got a Good Thing Going (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
2. Never Can Say Goodbye (HF & K.U.D.O. Drumless Mix)
3. All I Do Is Think of You (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
4. La la (Means I Love You) [HF & K.U.D.O. Remix]
5. It's Great to Be Here (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
6. Happy (Love Theme from "Lady Sings the Blues") [HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
7. Love Song (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
8. I'll Be There (HF & K.U.D.O.. Remix)
9. I Want You Back (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
10. With a Child's Heart (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)
11. Ben (HF Remix #3)
12. Never Can Say Goodbye (HF & K.U.D.O. Remix)

Limited edition (2 CDs)
Universal UICZ-9036
Out now (6/2), ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (1 CD)
Universal UICZ-3117
Out now (6/2), ¥2096 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

iTunes (12 regular album tracks + 2 alternates (one iTunes only)
Universal
Out now (6/2), ¥1500
Sample/buy:

From the recent "Club Jazz Digs Lupin The Third" cover album produced by Sunaga Tatsuo will be released a selection of 8 songs on two 12"'s. Tracks are grouped by the artists' provenance, European and Japanese.

Various Artists "Club Jazz Digs Lupin The Third - European Edition" (12")

A1. Christian Prommers Drumlesson / Theme From Lupin The Third
A2. Gerardo Frisina / Samba Temperado
B1. Rosalia De Souza / Love Squall -Po Do Amor-
B2. Max Ionata Quartet Feat. Fabrizio Bosso / Toward The Patrol Line

Victor / Jet Set JS12S048
Out 6/18, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Juno

Various Artists "Club Jazz Digs Lupin The Third - Japanese Edition" (12")

A1. Sunaga t Experience / Theme From Lupin The Third
A2. Katteni-Shiyagare / Super Hero
B1. Ego-Wrappin' and The Gossip of Jaxx/ Love Theme
B2. TRI4TH / Fire Treasure

Victor / Jet Set JS12S049
Out 6/18, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Juno

Here continues a series of mix CDs started by Horibe Yūmin (resident DJ of party "Joke"). All titled "First Chic", these are the first mix CDs by DJ Mami and Yū Suzuki (also of "Joke").

DJ Mami is introduced a girl version of Boot Beat. Her set here contains jazzy and 60's tracks inspirational of Shibuya-kei, as well as 3 tracks from vinyl compilation "Joke Collection 02" including maybe a first appearance on CD of that killer mash-up track by The 5243's. Song-by-song notes can be found on Horibe Yūmin's blog.

Yū Suzuki offers a good feeling 1-hour sunny afternoon mix of European jazz.

Find both tracklists below.

The next of the series is already under works, it will feature Yō Fujimoto.

DJ Mami "First Chic"

(Title / Artist)
1. My Darling Nellie Gray / The In Crowd Singers
2. Open House / Brian Fahey
3. The Hearse Chase / David Whitaker
4. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday / Joe Loss
5. The Lucky One / Rico Cavallo
6. Brazil / Ray Conniff
7. One Fine Day / Cliff Richard
8. Be Pop Baby / Sandy Nelson
9. Love For Sale / Barney Kessel
10. I Say A Little Player / Woody Herman
11. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever / Roy Budd
12. Habana Twist / Club Des Belugas
13. Love / Yumin Horibe
14. Never Can Say Goodbye / Kevin Mahogany
15. It Takes A Woman / The Mike Sammes Singers
16. Hey, Looks Me Over / The J's With Jamie
17. More / Freda Payne
18. Hood Arrives In Portugal / David Whitaker
19. One Bad Apple / Osmonds
21. Imprevu / Johnny Keating
22. Chanson De Solange / Michel Legrand
23. Retro-Active / Two Darn Hot
24. Spinning Wheel / Capiozzo & Mecco
25. Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud / Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
26. itsumo Soft Rock no koto bakari kangaeteiru hito no tame ni. / The 5243's
27. Love So Fine / Roger Nichols
28. Try The Real Thing / Edwin Hawkins Singers
29. Up Up And Away / Ray Conniff
30. Moon River / Mancini&Mercer
31. He Loves Me / Ethel Ennis
32. I Must Know / Shirley Bassey
33. When Johnny Comes Marching Home / Dick Hyman
34. Marins, amis, amants ou maris / Michel Legrand
35. Come Back To Me / Herbie Mann & Tamiko Jones
36. Dust / Moonstarr
37. Cesco Anselmo Sestetto / Chiola-Bruni M.A.
38. Valdivia / Horst Jankowski
39. Musical.A / Yo Fujimoto
40. Miss World / Syd Dale
41. More Today Than Yesterday / Boot Beat
42. Getz On Board / Chico And His Orchestra
43. Mariella / Hans Willy Bergen
44. Holiday In The Alps / Dolf Brandmayer
45. Saving All My Love For You / Margareta Johansson
46. Call Me / Leslie Uggams
47. Right Now / Salena Jones　
48. How Long Has The Train Been Gone / Billy Preston

Eat Records ER-0006
Out now (2009/12/16), ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Yū Suzuki "First Chic"

(Artist / Title)
1. Impuls / Eva
2. Karel Boehlee Trio / On a Clear Day
3. Jenny Gordee + The Klaus Flenter Trio / The End of a Love Affair
4. Sonya Hedenbratt / Secret Love
5. David Mitchell-Ignasi Terraza Quartet / Little Niles
6. Stephane Grappelli Quintet / Summertime
7. The Louis Hayes Group / Whats Goin On
8. Diana Beerta / L.O.V.E
9. Lorez Alexandria / Morning
10. Etta Cameron / Bossa Novissima
11. Max Greger Jr / Sister Jane
12. Harold Mabern Trio / Fantasy
13. Harry Verbeke Rob Agerbeek Quartet / No Me Esqueca
14. The Don Scaletta Trio / York's Sauna
15. Savedalen Big Band / before Breakfast
16. The Kenny Clarke Francy Boland Big Band / Movement: Un Graso Areia
17. Dany Revel Trio / Aquarius
18. Stephane Grappelli Quintet / Fly Me to the Moon
19. Vladimir Shafranov Trio / Moon and Sand
20. Tony Scott and the Indonesian All Stars / Ilir Ilir
21. Patty Bravo / Metti Una Sera a Cena
22. Blossom Dearie / Yesterday When I was Young

Eat Records ER-0008
Out now (3/22), ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

See also:
Yumin Horibe "First Chic"
Various Artists "Joke Collection 02"
Boot Beat "Full Swing"

Buffalo Daughter has a new album coming next month! It's been 4 years since "Euphorica". This time they have a theme of physics, and are said to be throwing in some hip-hop touch.!?

This release comes on Blu-spec CD (Wikipedia), which can be played on any CD player.

A radio edit of "A11 A10ne" is available in advance on iTunes Japan.

Buffalo Daughter "The Weapons Of Math Destruction"

1. Gravity
2. All Power To The Imagination
3. Two Two
4. Rock'n'roll Anthem
5. A11 A10ne
6. The Battle Field In My Head
7. Down Beat
8. Five Thousand Years For D.E.A.T.H.
9. Six, Seven, Eight
10. Run
11. Unknown Forces
12. Extra Dimensions
13. New World: It Day

Buffalo Ranch DDCB-12028
Out 7/7, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Buffalo Daughter has a new track available now for download on iTunes Japan! This is a different edit of a song from their new album "The Weapons of Math Destruction" coming July 7.

Buffalo Daughter "A11 A10ne (Radio Edit)" (Download)

Buffalo Ranch
Out now (6/10), ¥150
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Kimura Kaela's new single is for the super cute & catchy song heard in the recent DoCoMo commercials (watch below). As a bonus the CD contains no less than 8 live songs from her show at Budōkan held last March. This is said to be a limited release.

Sample all songs at Amazon or HMV

Kimura Kaela "Ring a Ding Dong"
木村カエラ 「Ring a Ding Dong」

1. Ring a Ding Dong
2. Butterfly (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
3. Circle (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
4. STARs (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
5. 1115 (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
6. BANZAI (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
7. TREE CLIMBERS (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
8. Magic Music (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
9. Level 42 (LIVE TOUR 2010 "5years" @ Nippon Budokan (2010.03.27/28))
10. Ring a Ding Dong (instrumental)

Columbia COCA-16394
Out 6/9, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

1st DoCoMo commercial (teaser)

2nd DoCoMo commercial

Techno-pop idol Meg has a 4th album coming this month, again entirely produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule). Included are two tracks from latest single "Secret Adventure". This comes a year since album "Beautiful".

The limited edition contains a bonus 24-page photo book, the whole in a deluxe box.

Meg "Maverick"

1. N07B
2. Gray
3. Destination
4. hanabi
5. moshimo
6. Groovy
7. You
8. Secret Adventure
9. Our Space
10. Story
11. Maverick

Limited edition (CD + photo book)
Universal UPCH-9573
Out 6/23, ¥3620 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal UPCH-1782
Out 6/23, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Secret Adventure"

Higurashi Aiha (ex-Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her) selects this nice-priced compilation EP of songs from label felicity's catalog. Included are yet unreleased new songs by her unit LOVES. (from upcoming album to be released on July 28), and also ones by The Bite and Signaless. This compilation is exclusive to Tower Records (ships to Japan only).

Various Artists "Kill your T.V. meets felicity EP -curated by Aiha Higurashi-"

1. LOVES. / Call Me
2. Spangle call Lilli line / dreamer （Other Arrange Ver.）
3. PLASTICZOOMS / The Sonnets
4. THE BITE / Goodbye Blues
5. Signaless / LOST
6. Higurashi Aiha / what to say
7. Wildbirds & Peacedrums / My Heart

felicity PECF-1021
Out 6/16, ¥953 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

This classic live mix tape by Sunaga Tatsuo has been remastered to be released for the first time on CD later this month. This will be available at specialized record shops such as Jet Set, DMR and Disk Union. Pre-order while you can!

Various Artists "Organ b. Suite No.4 Gemini IV Space Nova - A Tatsuo Sunaga live mix"

(Artist / Title)
1. Walk In Space / Chant 1
2. Hugh Brodie / Since My Baby
3. People / Everybody People
4. Alex Gopher / You, My Baby
5. Walk In Space / Chant 2
6. Bwrnodt Edgerbladh / The Beatmaker
7. Dimitri From Paris / Sacre Francois?
8. Perry & Kingsley / One Note Samba
9. Phill Moore III / Batucada
10. Vince Andrews / Love Oh Love
11. ECD / Direct Drive
12. Baba Yaga / Charlotte's Web
13. Jazzanova / Charavelle
14. Cherrystones / The Broken Clock
15. Louis Vertigo / Quest La Femme?
16. The Peddlers / My Fanny Varantain
17. Sunaga t Experience / Gemini IV Space Nova! (Edit)
18. Walk In Space / Chant 3 Feat.Asiana
19. Tender Leaf / Contryside Beauty
20. The Mighty Chevells / Tropical With The Moonlight
21. The Kane Brothers / Candy
22. Bob Galbratith / Just be You
23. Kyle / Dream Maker
24. Todd Rundgren / The Waiting Game
25. - / Jdjobi Djoba Chant
26. Michel Fugain / La Fete
27. Johanners Fehring & the Chicks / By Your Side

Out late June, ¥1995
Order: Jet Set

First of a compilation series, "Beautiful Girls Electro" presents Osaka indies electro artists including EeL, Sucrette, Tokyo Pinsalocks and many more. Not to be missed at this low price!

Various Artists "Beautiful Girls Electro"

(Title / Artist)
1. introduction
2. FEEL / QU'ON
3. Bubble Girl 2010 / tokyo pinsalocks
4. fly / fortunica
5. jouny to the west / nuxx
6. harukami / √thumm
7. Wendy / sucrette
8. wonderful day / EeL
9. Gift / spanner
10. 8bit face remix ver / SQUASH
11. 1.2.waltz / THE DIM
12. haru. / Yamaguchi Yōko
13. imagination / chii☆
14. we go round / ☆Milk
15. Flashback / DAMBO

aran record/Zealot ARAN-002
Out now (5/19), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

This 5th of Boot Beat's popular "Manifesto" mix CD series brings us more happy and catchy, fresh-sounding jazzy tunes, both standards and obscure, and sure to make you want to dance. Available now at Jet Set!

Boot Beat "Manifesto 5"

(Title / Artist)
1. Swamp-Fire / Enoch Light
2. Heureusement y'a les copains / Bravo Becaud
3. Mexico Fiesta / Charles Berman
4. Paris Safari / Janko Nilovic
5. Last Night / DJ Uchikawa Makoto Kuriya
6. Havana Ball + He Set Up (acapella) / Danny Evans + Obie Trice
7. Sex Machine / Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers
8. Mustard Greens / June Gardner
9. Tequila / Allen Toussaint
10. La Chanson Des Jumelles / Yuri Buenaventura
11. A New Generation / Oscar Brown Jr. and Jean Pace
12. Drop of a Dime / Beatconductor
13. I Won't Last Day Without You / Vic Franklyn
14. Ambiente Tropical / Palov Mishkin
15. Big Man Hunting / Swing-O
16. They Want Money / Kool Moe Dee
17. Istanbul / They Might be Giants
18. Some Sort of Soul Bomb / Revolucion
19. Love for Sale / Butterfry
20. Zing ! Went the Strings of My Heart / Manny Album
21. Take the "A" Train / Jimmy Takeuchi
22. Autumn Hi / Boot Beat
23. You Are The One For Me / Edmonds Community College
24. You Can Dance / Pinnawela
25. Don't Stop / Patric&Eugene
26. Disco Tropical feat. Edu K / Dutch Rhythm Combo
27. Rampage / Yagrandma
28. Take 5 / Northside
29. 57-G-I-R-L / DJ Skyloop
30. Unknown
31. This Girl Is / Romeos
32. The Song is You / Paul Haig
33. Trick or Treat / Anthony and the Imperials
34. The Way She Speaks / Aspects
35. I Will Wait for You / Trombones Unlimited
36. Hit the Road Jack / Jack Hawking
37. Wake Up, Wake Up / Cliff Richard

Beat Records BR-0009
Out now (3/24), ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

See also these other mix CDs:
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 4"
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 3"
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 2"
Boot Beat "Manifesto!"
... and original albums:
Boot Beat "Full Swing"
Boot Beat "Switch"

KOR=GIRL is a 2-girl unit using KORG Wavedrums, produced by Terukado. This is a first CD single but exclusive to Tower Records (ships within Japan only).

Included is song "KIYOMIZU", heavily sampling Cornelius' "Star Fruits Surf Rider" as previously released on iTunes, and a new song called "NANBA". Both songs can be sampled at MySpace.

KOR=GIRL "Nanba"

1. NANBA
2. KIYOMIZU

D-topia DTJR-10061
Out now (6/2), ¥477 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.