Tokyo's Coolest Sound

DJ and producer Groove Unchant has a first full album out just now on Orange Records! Featured are vocalists Nomoto Karia, Hamasaki Yōko (Urbangarde), Pecombo, Suzuki Momoko and more, as well as remixes by Tanaka Tomonao (S-Klapp, Tremorela, One Four One).

HMV and Tower offer a bonus 2-song promo CD-R (while supplies last).

Groove Unchant "Notre Musique"

1. Notre Musique
2. Do It Again feat. Suzuki Momoko
3. Sweet Maple feat. U-Suke Ogura
4. 7 Uomini D'Oro feat. Pecombo (Album Edit)
5. Break The Guinness
6. Runnin' Away feat. Nao (Pluschic like her)
7. I Thought It Was You feat. Yamashita Yōko (Bougain Ville-A)
8. Samba Al Sol
9. Regret feat. Nomoto Karia
10. kagami no naka no 10gatsu feat. Hamasaki Yōko (Urbangarde) (French Version)
11. La Vie
12. 7 Uomini D'Oro feat. Pecombo (Tomonao Tanaka in One Four One Remix)
13. Do It Again (Tremorela Remix)

Orange Records ORGR-36
Out now (12/1), ¥2000 (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.

After several great mix CDs and various tracks here and there, here's a first original album by Miura Makoto (aka Monsieur Mieurax)! Necozawa Emi and others are featured.

Check out the trailer clip below, and then go hear samples of all tracks at the artist's official site.

Makoto Miura "Je suis snob"

1. Je suis snob -ouverture- feat. Necozawa Emi
2. J'irai cracher sur vos tombes feat. Ray Tekuramori
3. L'automne à Pékin
4. Elles se rendent pas compte feat. Emi Necozawa
5. Vercoquin et le plancton feat. Ray Tekuramori
6. L'arrache-coeur
7. Les morts ont tous la meme peau feat. Riki Azuma
8. L'équarrissage pour tous
9. Trouble dans les Andains
10. L'écume des jours feat. Emi Necozawa

Happiness Records HRCD-038
Out now (11/3), ¥2300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

See also:
Miura Makoto "dada volume 3", Monsieur Mieurax "dada e.p. 2"
Miura Makoto "dada volume 1"
Miura Makoto "the permanent bohemians"
Miura Makoto "be bop or do something"

miila and the geeks, the unit of Moe (Love and Hates, Twee Grrrls Club) with her geeky friends on sax and drums, has a first release coming as a 7" (CD-R included). 6 songs no less!

miila and the geeks "6 Songs" (7")

1. WANT
2. cigarette & water
3. SUPER HERO
4. TROUBLE
5. alphabed
6. 31

Niw! Records NEP-27
Out 12/3, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Live clip

Panda 1/2 have a new single available now on iTunes! The title takes from Ozawa Kenji's song "tsukai ukiuki dōri". Watch the teaser clip below in which singer M!nam! eats way too much Chinese food *filmed in just two days?!)!

Panda 1/2 "chūkagai ukiuki dōri" (Download)
Panda 1/2 「中華街ウキウキ通り」

Speedstar VE2ML-15437
Out now (11/24), ¥200
Buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

A few months ago, FPM made a track for Japanese mountain climber Kuriki Nobukazu who went and tried to climb Mount Everest ("from the southeast ridge route without supplimentary oxygen", though he retired at 7750m).

The track can be heard at the official site, along with interview clips about the creation process. It's also available on iTunes Japan since last week.

FPM "Goddess (Track For Kuriki)" (Download)

Avex
Out now (11/17), ¥200
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Another of Sunaga Tatsuo's classic mix tapes is being released for the first time on CD, remastered from the master DAT tape. This mix brings together keywords such as free soul, Brazil, lounge, French and jazz.

This is the 2nd of this CD reissue series, following "No.4 Gemini IV Space Nova!" from last June.

Various Artists "Organ b. Suite No.5 A Winter For New Age - A Tatsuo Sunaga live mix"

Out now (11/19), ¥1995
Order: Jet Set

Takanami Keitarō has a 2nd album supposedly completing the "Ryōma no hanauta" series (the previous was the red album and here's the blue one)! Again he is joined by Nagasaki singer/gekkin player Kotone and friends, but while the red album was more of a world music taste, this one is said to be more pop, with hints of samba, bossa nova, even techno and electro.

Like the previous one this was released a month earlier in Nagasaki, but here it is now for the rest of the world.

Takanami Keitarō to Nangasaki Five "Ryōma no hanauta (aoban)"
高浪慶太郎となんがさき ふぁいぶ 「龍馬のハナ唄（青盤）」

1. akkatobai
2. Me Japanese Boy ~ Mahina Taste
3. kyūrenkan
4. Nagasaki burabura bushi ~ sono 2 (Carnival ga owatte hen)
5. yagurauta (Instrumental)
6. hōkaibushi
7. denderaryū
8. seihichō
9. Nagasaki burabura bushi ~ sono 3 (bessekai hen)
10. ajisai
11. chotto matte kudasai
12. shishi (Instrumental)
13. yosakoi bushi sono 2 (tsumetai mizu hen)
14. Sayonara (The Japanese Farewell Song)
15. soshū yakyoku

Playtime Rock PTR-002
Out now (11/17), ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Here's another Christmas compilation, coming from commmons, made up of all previously unreleased Christmas tracks by a fascinating line-up of artists. Featured are all three of YMO, Minekawa Takako, Tokumaru Shūgo, Harada Tomoyo, kotringo, naomi & goro, Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas) and Arthur Jeffes (Penguin Cafe Orchestra)!

A limited edition comes with a 20-page art book.

Related events:
- Itō Gorō and kotringo free show at Spiral Records on Friday November 26, sets start from 19:00 and 20:30. (Info)
- kotringo free show at Marunouchi Building on Sunday November 28, two 30-minute sets from 16:00 and 18:00. (Info)

Various Artists "Christmas Songs"

1. Harada Tomoyo / Frosty the Snowman
2. Hosono Haruomi / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Takahashi Yukihiro / White Christmas
4. Tokumaru Shūgo / Christmas Eve ~ We Wish You a Merry Christmas
5. Sean O'Hagan (The High Llamas) / Kabon's Christmas
6. kotringo / Sleigh Ride
7. naomi & goro / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. Minekawa Takako / Listen, The Snow Is Falling
9. Itō Gorō / Snow
10. Arthur Jeffes (The Penguin Cafe) / Finland
11. Sakamoto Ryūichi / Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence re-modeled by Gorō Itō

Limited edition (CD+book)
commmons RZCM-46627
Out 11/17, ¥3334 (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)
commmons RZCM-46628
Out 11/17, ¥1905 (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.

Nakatsuka Takeshi has produced this jazzy soundtrack for TV series "hagane no onna", aired earlier this year on TV Asahi. This features members of quasimode and Tropical Jazz Big Band (aka nettai Jazz gakudan).

This has been released earlier on iTunes where all songs can be sampled.

Nakatsuka Takeshi "hagane no onna - She's a steely woman"
中塚武 「ハガネの女-She's a steely woman!-」

1. hagane no onna -She's a steely woman!-
2. HAGANE's Theme
3. Ready for Battle
4. Love's Theme
5. She's Running
6. The Silver Lining
7. Good Morning,Everyone
8. Classroom in the Twilight
9. Caution
10. Triste
11. Stop Making Sense pt.1
12. Mariko
13. Alone Again,Naturally
14. Classmates
15. Stop Making Sense pt.2
16. Honey
17. Unfathomableness
18. Big Problem
19. My Mom

Delicatessen Recordings DQC-582
Out 11/17, ¥2191 (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.

Yakushimaru Etsuko (of Sōtaiseiriron) has a new solo single, of which title song "Cosmos vs Alien" is being used for the opening of anime series "Arakawa Under The Bridge 2". The single comes with 2 more new songs, all written by herself.

HMV and Tower Records both offer a promo glittery sticker (while supplies last).

The release's official mini-site has comments from Sakamoto Ryūichi and Suzuki Keiichi (Moonriders) praising her hyper-fast vocals.

Yakushimaru Etsuko "Cosmos vs Alien"
やくしまるえつこ 「COSMOS vs ALIEN」

1. COSMOS vs ALIEN
2. nanchatte The World
3. Wool wa yukkuri yume o miru ka?

Starchild KICM-1323
Out 11/17, ¥1143 (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.

"Arakawa Under The Bridge 2" opening

A new album by Ōnuki Taeko and Sakamoto Ryūichi, their first collaboration album in 13 years! This features mainly songs by Sakamoto with Ōnuki's vocals, and comes in two editions, one with a bonus instrumental CD.

Official page at commmons

An audio sample can be heard at twaud.io

Ōnuki Taeko & Sakamoto Ryūichi "UTAU"
大貫妙子&坂本龍一 「UTAU」

1. Bibo no Aozora
2. Tango
3. Sambiki no Kuma
4. Aka Tombo
5. Natsuiro no Fuku
6. Antinomy
7. Flower
8. Poppoya
9. a life
10. Shiki
11. Kaze no Michi

2-CD edition (with instrumental CD)
commmons RZCM-46624
Out 11/10, ¥3334 (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 (1 CD only)
commmons RZCM-46626
Out 11/10, ¥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.

Aira Mitsuki's 3rd full-length album is coming this month! Aside from being full of brand new tracks expected to be produced by Terukado, there's said to be a song collaborating with a trio of Korean songwriters of KARA fame (mainstream Korean 5-girl idol group on MTV all day). Also there's a cover of Ozawa Kenji's "aishi aisarete ikirunosa" (1990), a hit Shibuya-kei song.

The album comes in two editions, the limited edition coming with a bonus DVD. Both editions have different artwork, and one different track..!

All tracks can be sampled at on the official release page. Also check out the two preview clips below, two tracks that have already been released on iTunes.

Aira Mitsuki "??? (Three Question)"

1. TRAIN TRAIN (feat. Tamaki ROY)
2. 321
3. aishi aisarete ikirunosa
4. WHY TWO?
5. rainy tone
6. Human Future
7. Rainbow (*** on regular edition replaced with "last love")
8. Parameter
9. ???
10. fly
11. smile
12. LOVE Re:

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. aishi aisarete ikirunosa -MUSIC CLIP
2. aishi aisarete ikirunosa -MUSIC CLIP MAKING
3. WHY TWO? -MUSIC CLIP
4. WHY TWO? -MUSIC CLIP MAKING

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
D-topia POCS-9201
Out 11/17, ¥2839 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (23% 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.

Regular edition (CD only)
D-topia POCS-1201
Out 11/17, ¥2500 (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.

"aishi aisarete ikirunosa"

"WHY TWO?"

Time flies, and here come the Christmas compilations! The first is from label Grand Gallery, featuring new recordings by its artists, in a bossa nova style. Featured are violinist Kinbara Chieko (MySpace), pianist NANASE, guitarist Takenaka Shunji, and vocalists Saiko and Shimazaki Hitomi.

Various Artists "Christmas Time Bossa"

1. Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme) feat. Saiko
2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! feat. Saiko
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer feat. NANASE
4. White Christmas feat. Chieko Kinbara
5. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) feat. Shimazaki Hitomi
6. The Christmas Song feat. Shunji Takenaka
7. Last Christmas feat. NANASE
8. Driving Home for Christmas feat. Shimazaki Hitomi
9. Wonderful Christmastime feat. Shunji Takenaka
10. This Christmas feat. Shunji Takenaka
11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus feat. Saiko
12. Little Saint Nick feat. Shunji Takenaka
13. The First Noel feat. Shunji Takenaka
14. 2000Miles feat. Shimazaki Hitomi
15. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas feat. Chieko Kinbara

Grand Gallery for Living GRGAL-0003
Out now (11/3), ¥1886 (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.

Here's an interesting one, a said "unofficial" remix album of FPM tracks! Included are various previously unreleased remixes and other goodies, mixed and remixed by young DJs but also Kuchiroro, Tahiti 80, Ryohei with Verbal (m-flo)... Including the megamixes this is said to total over 50 songs.!?

Various Artists "FPMBoot"

1. FPM Best Mega Mix mixed by okadada
2. Track for UNIQLOCK (RE:NDZ re-construct)
3. Hey Ladies (tofubeats seitai fumei REMIX feat. Onomatope Daijin)
4. Different Colors (Yoshino's different click edit)
5. Tell Me (Ryohei remix feat. VERBAL)
6. Fanfare (TAHITI 80 remix)
7. FPM Remix Works Best Mega Mix mixed by okadada

avex trax AVCD-38163
Out 11/17, ¥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.

Buffalo Daughter's Ohno Yumiko has a first solo release, in the form of a soundtrack for a dance performance titled "The Rainy Table" by Strange Kinoko Dance Company and plaplax (as the title says!). The play was originally performed on February 28 and March 1, 2009. The package includes a DVD of the performance itself.

Two tracks can be heard at MySpace.

Yumiko Ohno from Buffalo Daughter "Music for Dance Performance The Rainy Table Collaboration work by Strange Kinoko Dance Company x plaplax Soundtrack by Yumiko Ohno"

1. Intro (st-robo mix)
2. March
3. mizu no naka
4. Togire Togire
5. Uma Dance 4/4
6. Animal Room
7. Mirage (La La Version)
8. Uma Kage dance 3/4
9. atama no naka
10. Ending
11. uma shaberi

AWDR / LR2 DDCB-12033
Out now (11/3), ¥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.

"The Rainy Table" commercial