Tokyo's Coolest Sound

New-comer artist Dorian (aka Mr. Tropical Disco) from the club scene, brings us this first album out now on felicity. The album is mostly instrumental, though it features guest vocals on a few songs by G.Rina, and Tavito Nanao & Yakenohara.

Don't miss the great first video for "Morning Calling" below!

Dorian can be caught live in October at a special free event hosted by Wowow on 12th, and also at Fantastic Explosion's release party on the 22nd (Tokyo Gig Guide). He's also playing many others shows in and out of Tokyo, see his blog.

Dorian "Melodies Memories"
ドリアン 「メロディーズ・メモリーズ」

1. Dorian's Openning Theme
2. Nasty Ice Cream feat. Luvraw & BTB
3. Melodies Memories
4. Flash
5. Natsu No Owari feat. G.Rina
6. Magic Fly Love Affair
7. Free
8. Morning Calling
9. Disco4.5 (ASYK MIX)
10. Shooting Star feat. Tavito Nanao & Yakenohara
11. Crystal Girl

felicity cap-110 / FCT-​1004
Out now (9/15), ¥2100
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower, YesAsia, CDJapan

"Morning Calling"

"Shooting Star feat. Tavito Nanao & Yakenohara"

It sure is missing more than a few bits, but nevertheless here's an interesting Shibuya-kei-themed compilation featuring many artists from the genre. Maybe an occasion to find a few gems we didn't know of?

Many tracks can be sampled on this page.

Various Artists "Shibuya9010"

(Title / Artist)
1. Cherish Our Love / Love Tambourines
2. Family feat. Ellie (Cornelius Remix) / Crue-L Grand Orchestra & Ellie
3. Magic Carpet Ride / Pizzicato Five
4. Lolitapop Dollhouse / Kahimi Karie
5. Son of Bambi / Towa Tei
6. Vibe P.M. (Mastera At Work Mix) / Mondo Grosso
7. Scha Dara Parr no Theme Pt.2 / Scha Dara Parr
8. The Re-Return Of The Original Art Form (Re-produced By Cut Chemist) / Major Force West
9. I Will Call You/The Orchids / The Orchids
10. Touch Me Take Me / Sexy T.K.O
11. tsuyoku hakanai momotachi / Cocco
12. Trouble Woman In Love (Harvey's Full Mix) / Eli+Hiroshi
13. Bohemian / Muro
14. Antonio no uta / UA
15. Unknown Language / Port Of Notes

Lastrum LACD-0185
Out now (9/22), ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Here's a new EP by Jazztronik, featuring singer Yuki (ex-Judy and Mary). Title song is being used in the movie "shikeidai Elevator" (a remake of "Ascenseur pour I'Echafaud" / "Elevator to the Gallows"). Watch video below.

Jazztronik feat. Yuki "Bedtime Story"
Jazztronik feat. YUKI 「ベッドタイムストーリー」

1. Bedtime Story
2. Chase (New Mix)
3. Jiken (New Mix)
4. Main Theme ~The Fugitive Lawyer~ (New Mix)
5. Bedtime Story (Another Story Remix)
6. Bedtime Story (Instrumental)

Pony Canyon PCCA-03268
Out now (9/29), ¥1143 (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.

Crue-L Grand Orchestra (the signature unit of Crue-L Records) has a brand new track out on 12", a cover of the theme song from sci-fi cult film "Barbarella". The 45rpm B-side contains remixes by Eddie C of "Candy Mountain in the Rainy Woods", a track from "Crue-L Grand Orchestra I".

Out at the same time is a CD edition of 10+ minute Theo Parrish remixes of "(You are) More Than Paradise" (a cover of Port of Notes), which were released on vinyl the previous month. Find details of both releases below.

Audio samples of each at Jet Set (follow the links).

Crue-L Grand Orchestra "Barbarella" (12")

A1. Barbarella(Very Vinyl Version)
AA1. Candy Mountain in the Rainy Woods (Eddie C's Remote Log Cabin Version)
AA2. Candy Mountain in the Rainy Woods (Eddie C's Deep Woods Remix)　　

Crue-L KYTHMAK133
Out now (9/29), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Crue-L Grand Orchestra "(You are) More Than Paradise includes Theo Parrish Remix" (CD)

1. (You are) More Than Paradise (Theo Parrish Translation)
2. (You are) More Than Paradise (Original)
3. (You are) More Than Paradise (Theo Parrish Translation "Long Version 1")

Crue-L CLCL1213D
Out now (9/29), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Crue-L Grand Orchestra "(You are) More Than Paradise includes Theo Parrish Remix" (12")

A1. (You are) More Than Paradise (Theo Parrish Translation)
A2. (You are) More Than Paradise (Freaks Switching Channels 12inch Mix)
AA1. (You are) More Than Paradise (Theo Parrish Translation "Long Version 1")

Crue-L CLCL1213
Out now (8/14), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Meg has a first greatest hits album coming at the end of the month! Titled "Best Flight", it contains 17 of her best previously released tracks, most of which are written and produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), but also contributions by Hadouken and Dave Liang. This is the best occasion for those who experienced a late start checking out Meg.

This album comes in 3 different editions. "Terminal A" contains a DVD of 2 videoclips plus a mysterious T-shirt (size is unknown too), while "Terminal B" has a bonus CD with acoustic versions and remixes. Both of these come with photo book, sticker and photo card. A regular edition of just the main CD is also available. Each comes with different artwork.

Meg "Best Flight"

1. Passport
2. Telephone
3. Groovy
4. Kittenish
5. Just like that
6. Freak
7. Precious
8. Love Letter <ajapai Remix>
9. Heart
10. Joker
11. OK
12. Magic
13. Secret Adventure
14. Maverick
15. amai zeitaku
16. Beautiful
17. Miracle

Bonus DVD (Terminal A only)
1. Paris - Music & movie -
2. Secret Adventure - Game Music Video -
3. Celtic Koto - Frapbois 2010-11 A/W Collection Image Movie -

Bonus CD (Terminal B only)
1. In Your Eyes (Plan-B)
2. Love Letter (Plan-B)
3. Natalie (Plan-B)
4. Ikenaikotokai (Plan-B)
5. You (Plan-B)
6. Paris <T12X-MIX>
7. Toxic <The Lowbrows Gimme Five Remix>
8. Freak <Yasutaka Nakata Remix>
9. Girly Step <Clazziquai Project Remix>
10. Magic <Nemesis Mix>
11. Secret Adventure <SL Remix>
12. Precious <End Of Summer Mix>
13. Prism Boy <Extended Mix>

Terminal A (CD+DVD+T-shirt)
Universal UPCH-9599
Out 9/29, ¥5239 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (15% off *), HMV (15% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Terminal B (2CD)
Universal UPCH-9601
Out 9/29, ¥4000 (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 (CD only)
Universal UPCH-9601
Out 9/29, ¥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.

This compilation is themed around "adult love songs to be played in a large city's lounge". Selected by Nakatsuka Takeshi, it contains mainly previously released tracks, mostly by Japanese jazz/lounge/club artists. A previously unreleased long version of Nakatsuka's cover of Flipper's Guitar's "Young, Alive in Love" (used in a commercial for Nissan March) is included.

Various Artists "Love Songs from Marunouchi -The Lounge-"

1. koi to Machinegun (Young, Alive in Love) / Nakatsuka Takeshi
2. Time Is Love feat. Carmen Lundy / quasimode
3. koi no kizashi (full length) / Paris Match
4. River of Love feat. Bembe Segue / Sleep Walker
5. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You / Fried Pride
6. Love Power / Skeewiff
7. Does Anybody Love You? / Todd Rundgen
8. doyōbi no koibito / Toki Asako
9. Free / Coco d'Or
10. Love Is A Bird / Sunaga t Experience
11. Love is on line / Kirinji
12. Love Wing / Nakatsuka Takeshi
13. Puddle Of Love / Tuomo

MS Record MSCB-2039
Out 9/22, ¥1905 (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.

What's hidden behind this strange name? It's the new unit of Plus-tech Squeeze Box' Hayashibe Tomonori, together with Maeda Ryōma. This album is all covers of hard rock songs you've heard before, but redone in electro-dance fashion, all featuring vocals by singer Matsuda Tomomi. This comes on newish label Stubbie Records, previously known as Vroom Sound.

Audio samples on official release page

Tropico Q "Hard Rock PAFE"
トロピコQ 「ハード・ロック・パフェ」

1. Jump (Van Halen)
2. Highway Star (Deep Purple)
3. Walk This Way (Aerosmith)
4. Welcome To The Jungle (Guns N'Roses)
5. We Will Rock You (Queen)
6. Detroit Rock City (KISS)
7. Back in Black (AC/DC)

Stubbie Records XQIV-1003
Out 9/22, ¥1800 (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.

Pianist and singer-songwriter kotringo has a cover album coming this week. Included are her takes on hit songs by Flipper's Guitar, YMO, Yuming, Clammbon, Epo and more.

Audio samples on official site

kotringo "picnic album 1"

1. koi to Machinegun (Young, Alive in Love) (Flipper's Guitar)
2. nagisa (Spitz)
3. Chicago (clammbon)
4. Axia ~kanashii kotori~ (Saito Yuki)
5. kanashikite yarikirenai (The Folk Crusaders)
6. You've Got To Help Yourself (YMO)
7. u-fu-fu-fu (Epo)
8. No Side (Matsutoya Yumi)

commmons RZCM-46608
Out 9/22, ¥1905 (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.

Fantastic Explosion (label ExT Recordings' MySpace) has a new mini-album coming this week! This succeeds the soundtrack for SF hero movie Hyperion released last year, though it's been 6 years since their previous original album "Return of Fantastic Explosion" (1994).

Three new songs can be sampled at MySpace.

Fantastic Explosion "Sounds In Space"

1. Sounds In Space
2. New Steel Mill
3. Blood and Rules
4. Blue Impulse
5. Hope

ExT Recordings
Out 9/22, ¥1500
Order: Tower (Japan only), HMV, Amazon,

Vanilla Beans have a new release that comes as a greatest hits album, although over half of it is actually previously unreleased tracks. Most notably there's a cover of Pizzicato Five's "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" ("the night is still young") that was until now only released as a ringtone. Also there's new song "100mankai no SMK" (translates to "Million weekend kisses") written by Okite Porsche (Roman Porsche), and a new cover of MGMT's "Kids". 2 songs from VB's first single "U ♥ Me" are also included with newly recorded vocals with Lisa who wasn't there at the time.

Vanilla Beans "VaniBest"

1. KIDS
2. 100mankai no SMK
3. D&D
4. Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji
5. LOVE&HATE
6. koi no Theory
7. sakasaka Circus
8. Nicola
9. a little crying (Lena & Lisa Ver.)
10. U ♥ Me (Lena & Lisa Ver.)
11. Gamla stan
12. hyakunin isshu (kimi ga tame ver.) (Bonus track)
13. hyakunin isshu (imakon to ver.) (Bonus track)
14. hyakunin isshu (hisakata no ver.) (Bonus track)
15. hyakunin isshu (Ariake no ver.) (Bonus track)

Tokuma Japan TKCA-73558
Out 9/22, ¥2858 (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.

New song "100mankai no SMK"

"D&D"

Mgmt "Kids" (original, long intro until 1:11)

Kids - Mgmt "Official video" from Bulch on Vimeo.

Sally Soul Stew, the solo unit of Sally Kubota (Les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift), has a new 7" coming this month! The A-side is a cover of Koyama Rumi's "anata ni maketa no" (1970), while the B-side is an original song. These feature Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville) on vocals, and also guitarist Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville) and drummer Shirane Kenichi (Great3). First pressings include a CD-R of the two songs (at least through Jet Set).

Audio samples at Jet Set

Sally Soul Stew "anata ni maketa no" (7")
サリー・ソウル・シチュー 「あなたに負けたの」

A. anata ni maketa no
B. Golden Cup

Clicnk Records CREP-5703
Out 9/20, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Kaji Hideki has a new album coming on November 3rd, with music performed by band Riddim Saunter. Meanwhile here's a 7" with 2 cuts. The B-side is a cover of "Happy Talk" (1982) by U.K.'s Captain Sensible (The Damned).

Audio samples at Jet Set

Kaji Hideki to Riddim Saunter "anettai Girl / Happy Talk" (7")
カジヒテキとリディム・サウンタ－ 「亜熱帯ガール / Happy Talk」

A. anettai Girl
B. Happy Talk

Niw! Records NEP-26
Out now (9/8), ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Captain Sensible "Happy Talk" (original)

Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone) has a new download-only album out now on iTunes! This album is a collaboration with men's fashion brand 5351 POUR LES HOMMES by Abahouse. When buying the full album, a bonus 42-minute non-stop mix is included.

A release party will be held on September 24 on board of Himiko, the spacey boat designed by Matsumoto Leiji. Details can be found on the official site.

Nakatsuka Takeshi "53512010" (Download)
中塚武 「53512010」

1. Sweet Moment
2. sagishi no Blues
3. You are the One
4. Afrocosmos
5. Cosmic Freeway
6. Space Age Hard-Core Music
7. TSUCHI TO SORA
8. A.D.5351
9. 5351 POUR LES HOMMES 2010 summer MIX

Out now (9/8), ¥1600
Sample/buy:

Towa Tei has a new track available now on iTunes! The EP contains 4 versions of the song featuring singer (model?) Yurico on vocals.

The song can also be heard in a TV commercial for Mobage (watch below).

Towa Tei with Yurico "Marvelous" (Download)

1. Marvelous (Radio Mix)
2. Marvelous (Bonus Beat)
3. Marvelous (Fairy)
4. Marvelous (Jungle Play)

Voltage Unlimited Inc.
Out now (9/8), ¥400 (or ¥150 ea.)
Sample/buy:

Last July, Fujimura Tohru and Yasuda Toshiyuki (MySpace) played an improvised live show at Shimokitazawa's Slow Comedy Factory using various electronic instruments, the audience listening to the music via headphones. I had the chance to be there (my report here).

Now it's your turn to be able to listen with your headphones, as the result has been released for download on iTunes! Only ¥600 for over 72-minutes of music (and two shorter edits of the two sets).

Fujimura Tohru & Yasuda Toshiyuki "Silent Disco Live 2010.07" (Download)
フジムラトヲル & 安田寿之 「Silent Disco Live 2010.07」

1. Guanaco vs. Okapi (Non Edit)
2. Guanaco vs. Okapi (Short Edit)
3. Alpaca vs. Gazelle (Non Edit)
4. Alpaca vs. Gazelle (Short Edit)

Megadolly MDD-1005
Out now (9/8), ¥572 (excl. 10% tax)
Sample/buy:

frenesi (MySpace) is back again this year with a new album titled "Märchen" (in Japanese "Meruhen"), follow-up to last year's wonderful "Cupra"! This new album, subtitled "Computer no namida." ("Computer tears"), contains a cover of Cosmic Invention's "Computer obaachan" (1981), a techno-kayō classic originally produced by Sakamoto Ryūichi. Also as a bonus track is a Chinese version of "fukumen chōsain", a song from the previous album.

HMV offers a bonus CD-R containing 2 unreleased live songs (while supplies last).

frenesi "Märchen"
フレネシ 「メルヘン」

1. Inflation II
2. furyō Mannequin
3. Computer obaachan
4. machi
5. shinonome
6. Leucochloridium
7. Märchen
8. fukumen chōsain (Chinese version)

otome ongaku kenkyūsha OTMSH-003
Out 9/15, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"furyō Mannequin" video clip

"Märchen" video clip

"fukumen chosain (Chinese version)" video clip

"Computer obaachan" demo recording

Halcali's next single is a cover of Kome Kome Club's "Roman hikō" (1987), featuring Your Song Is Good. I love Halcali, but where did the rap go this time...?

The song can be heard in a TV commercial for Sony's Cybershot camera DSC-WX5.

Halcali "Roman hikō"

1. Roman hikō
2. Roman hikō (Instrumental)

Epic/Sony ESCL-3549
Out 9/15, ¥778 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Halcali "Roman hikō"

YMCK has renewed it's official web site with a bang, the release of a music app for iPhone and iPod touch that lets you ad-lib in 8-bit fashion while listening to your favorite songs from your iPod's library.

There are two editions, but you'll want to pick the one that comes with a built-in exclusive new YMCK song, titled "Music Flowing"! And no worries, it's available in the iTunes App Store of 90 countries.

"YMCK Player (with song)" (iPhone App)

Out now (9/1), ¥350
Buy: