Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Do you like Japanese club jazz? Do you know its where it all began? Find out missing pieces on this new compilation, with U.F.O., Jazztronik, Monday Michiru, Mondo Grosso, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Chari Chari, Spiritual Vibes and more.

Various Artists "There Was A Time ~The Beginning of Japanese Club Jazz~"

(Title / Artist)
1. Intro / United Future Organization
2. What Is Jazz? / Monday Michiru
3. Loud Minority / United Future Organization
4. Favourite Final Geisha Show / Chari Chari
5. Essential Dub / Major Force Productions
6. Lethe / DJ Takemura from Spiritual Vibes Presents Kool Jazz Productions
7. Pupa (Nice & Jazzy Mix) / Spiritual Vibes
8. Transparent (The Beyonders Mix) / Reflection
9. The Habit / B-Bandj feat. DJ Krush
10. That's How It Is (Live Version) / Mondo Grosso
11. Maiden Voyage (Extended Mix) / Monday Michiru
12. Nacer Do Sol / Kyoto Jazz Massive
13. From The Picture / Jazztronik
14. Religion / Bayaka feat. Rich Medina & Trap
15. 1969 / Calm

Lastrum LACD-0186
Out now (12/15), ¥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.

United Future Organization "Loud Minority"

Have you missed EeL's early albums? Here's a new release that contains the best tracks from both "Kung-Fu Master" and "people people", now both pretty rare, as well as 2 new tracks and a new arrangement!

A free MP3 if available on EeL's official site until December 22.

A brand new album is expected for January 26, 2011! Stay tuned!

EeL "Kung-Fu People Etcetera"

1. Fille Unique 2001 (from Kung-Fu Master)
2. Kung-Fu Master (from Kung-Fu Master)
3. Sa vous plait? (from Kung-Fu Master)
4. Wonderful Day (New Track)
5. homme sympathic (charmant)! (New Arrange)
6. wannabe (from people people)
7. C'est la vie! (from people people)
8. who can teach me (from Kung-Fu Master)
9. Marché (from people people)
10. people people (from people people)
11. 696969! (from people people)
12. a pimavera (from people people)
13. shiawase na hi (from Kung-Fu Master)
14. Old Memory (New Track)
15. JUMP (from Kung-Fu Master)

Milch Record MILCHREC-001
Out 12/21, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"homme sympathic (charmant)! (New Arrange)"

Following the big hit "Ring a Ding Dong", here comes another new catchy song from Kimura Kaela. Written and produced by the same person as the previous ( Watanabe Shinobu of band Asparagus), this one is a winter track that can already be heard everywhere, including a DoCoMo commercial. Beware the scary title. :)

The B-side "orange" can also be heard in the new Cheburashka movie starting on December 18.

Kimura Kaela "A winter fairy is melting a snowman"
木村カエラ 「A winter fairy is melting a snowman」

1. A winter fairy is melting a snowman
2. orange
3. A winter fairy is melting a snowman (instrumental)
4. orange (instrumental)

Columbia COCA-16435
Out now (12/8), ¥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.

DoCoMo TV commercial

There's a new Cheburashka movie around the corner, starting in theaters here on December 18 (movie official site)! Made mainly by Japanese staff, the movie consists of a remake of "Gena The Crocodile" (original 1969), plus two brand new episodes that translate to "Cheburashka and the circus" and "Shapoklyak's consultation office".

Coming at the same time as the movie is this new soundtrack. It features "Cheburashka no uta" produced by Konishi Yasuharu, a new version of the song heard on "Cheburashka Tokyo no kyujitsu" released last year.

This led me to find out about another compilation out a month before, "boku wa Cheburashka" with a remix by Collette and more, find details below.

Original Soundtrack "Чебурашка и Цирк ~ Circus ga yatte kita ~"
オリジナル・サウンドトラック 「チェブラーシカ イ ツィルク ～サーカスがやってきた～」

1. Cheburashka no uta (new version)
2. tanjōbi no uta
3. aoi ressha
4. dai suki Cheburashka (image song)
5. tomodachi no uta
6. "wani no Gena" no Theme
7. Shapoklyak no uta
8. tomodachi no ie no Theme
9. Cheburashka suki! (image song)
10. Cheburashka no uta
11. tanjōbi no uta (new version)
12. "wani no Gena" no Theme (piano inst.)
13. aoi ressha (Ending theme of international movie "Cheburashka")
14. Cheburashka no uta (Karaoke)
15. dai suki Cheburashka (Karaoke)
16. Cheburashka suki! (Karaoke)

Musica Cheburashka CHEB-3002
Out 12/18, ¥1715 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Original Soundtrack "Ya Cheburashka ~ boku wa Cheburashka ~"
オリジナル・サウンドトラック 「ヤ・チェブラーシカ～僕はチェブラーシカ～」

1. Prologue ~ Cheburashka no uta ~
2. tanjōbi no uta / Vladimir Nakhabtsev
3. "wani no Gena" no Theme
4. Cheburashka no uta / Larisa Brofman(?)
5. aoi ressha / Vladimir Nakhabtsev
6. Cheburashka no uta / Enomoto Kurumi
7. Interlude ~ aoi ressha ~
8. Cheburashka no uta (n.o.s.t.a.l.g.i.c remix (remixed by D.O.K.I)
9. tanjōbi no uta (Collette Remix (remixed by COLLETTE))
10. aoi ressha (Lostface remix (remixed by Lostface))
11. "wani no Gena" no Theme (piano inst.)
12. tanjōbi no uta (Nite Ride Mix (remixed by Yamauchi Takayuki (The Arrows)))
13. Epilogue ~ aoi ressha ~

Frontier Works CHEB-3001
Out now (11/5), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Cheburashka and the Circus" movie trailer

Chabe (aka Cubismo Grafico), has a first release going by his nickname. This is his first solo release since "Nuit" (2007). This is a 10" including 3 brand new songs, and on the B-side 3 cover songs featuring various female vocalists. There's a Brigitte Bardot cover with Love and Hates!

This release is also to celebrate the opening of Chabe's own KIT Gallery, located just below Escalator Records. The first exhibition is of Japanese design unit Jonathan Staedler.

Better hurry because this is a limited edition of 300! Each of the jackets is unique, hand-printed by Chabe himself.

Chabe "6 Songs For Kit Gallery" (10")

A1. Song For Claes
A2. White Cube
A3. KIT (Keep In Touch)
B1. Moi je joue (Brigitte Bardot) feat. Love and Hates
B2. After Hours (Velvet Underground) feat. El Gatito
B3. Here's Where The Story Ends (The Sundays) feat. Sayaka Kushibiki

Niw! Records NLP-013
Out 12/15, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Here's a winter-themed tribute album to 80's super-idol Matsuda Seiko, coordinated by talent and singer Chiaki. Featured are various young artists including Frenesi.

All songs can be sampled over at MySpace. Also watch the trailer clip below.

Various Artists "MemorieS ~Songs for the Season of White~"

1. mafuyu no koibitotachi / Lumiere
2. hitomi wa Diamond / note native X Chiaki
3. Manhattan de Breakfast / DATASPEAKER X yulika
4. Let's Boy Hunt / Naomile
5. ame no Conny Island / Kōji Nakazawa X AZ catalpa (A.S.P / Bowling No.9)
6. daite / Tokyo Counter Point X chi-ka
7. Heart no Earring / Small happiness X Frenesi
8. shiroi koibito / cargo X arlie ray
9. Peal-White Eve / jamoxim X Jōryō Akiko (Sly Tribes)
10. jikan ryokō / YASTO

GT music DQCL-1649
Out 12/15, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Small happiness X Frenesi "Heart no Earring"

Polysics have a new mini-album, celebrating their 10th anniversary since moving to a major label. This is also their first release since having left singer Kayo behind.

There's a limited edition that comes with a DVD containing a documentary about the new Polysics as well as live footage from summer 2010.

Audio samples can be heard at Sony Music's online shop.

Polysics "eee-P!!!"

1. How are you?
2. Mach kanjin
3. Rock Wave Don't Stop
4. Boil
5. odore Heaven

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. konichiwa New POLYSICS!!! <documentary>
2. Heavy POLYSICS-BUGGIE TECHINICA <Live at Rock In Japan Fes.2010>

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-1678
Out now (12/8), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (15% off *), HMV (10% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Reguar edition
Ki/oon KSCL-1680
Out now (12/8), ¥1500 (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.

Here's a first compilation on Delicatessen Recordings, the label of Nakatsuka Takeshi. The title translates to "singing piano guys", and indeed features male singer-songwriters, a few of the songs mainly just piano and vocals while over half is more band- or club-oriented tracks. Included are two brand new songs by Takeshi, and also featured are i-dep, jazz artist Yafune Tetsuro, and more.

Various Artists "utau Piano danshi"
オムニバス 「歌うピアノ男子」

1. Sakai Yū / How Beautiful (with PIANO)
2. watary / a song of true hearts
3. Kawaguchi Daisuke / Memory Lane
4. Nakatsuka Takeshi / kimi no egao
5. Mito Katsuyuki / Komorebi no uta
6. Kose Satoshi / Somebody's Ballad
7. i-dep / Day By Day
8. Nakatsuka Takeshi / namida ni nureta yume no kakera
9. Yafune Tetsurō / Bar ni hitomoru koro
10. Mori Daisuke / Mantenrō

Delicatessen Recordings DQC-611
Out now (12/8), ¥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.

Oh! Mikey is celebrating its 10th anniversary already!? Here comes a DVD of 10 brand new black humor-filled episodes, the first new material in almost 3 years. Mikey fans rejoice!

"Oh! Mikey Romance" (DVD)
(Region 2 NTSC, 4:3, English subtitles)

Episodes list (unofficial approximate translations)
「マイキーの身代金」 (Mikey's ransom money)
「マイキーになったローラ」 (Laura became Mikey)
「ニッポン大好き！ヨチ子」 ("I love Nippon!" Yochiko)
「マイキーの親友」 (Mikey's best friend)
「パパの弟」 (Papa's younger brother)
「エミリーの初恋」 (Emily's first love)
「ローラの婚約者」 (Laura's fiancé)
「パパの浮気相手」 (Papa's lover)
「ニコラ、再び」 (Nicola, again)
「ワカルさん登場」 (Here comes Wakaru-san)

Media Factory FFBV-0020
Out now (12/3), ¥2625
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

See also:
"Oh! Mikey Fever" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey Extra" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey 8th" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey Hardcore" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey 7th" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey 6th" (DVD)
"Oh! Mikey 5th" (DVD)

A Christmas compilation is out just now on label Niw!. This includes both Christmas classics and original songs, featuring Cubismo Grafico Five, miila (whose 7" is out at the same time on the label), Frontier Backyard and other artists from the label and then some. Notably female singer-songwriter Predawn also contributes a cover. On the jacket is Moe aka miila.

A few tracks can be sampled over at Jet Set.

Various Artists "We wish you a happy"

1. Prologue of X'mas
2. Frontier Backyard / Wonderful ChristmasTime (Paul McCartney)
3. The Hurricane / Hyper X'mas
4. Fed Music / koibito ga Santa Claus (Matsutoya Yumi)
5. MatERiAL bOYS / Sleigh Ride
6. the chef cooks me / silent night
7. The Keys / The Land of Celebration
8. Predawn / winter wonderland
9. Cubismo Grafico Five / Ring Ring My Bell
10. miila / Santa Baby
11. Circle Darko A Little Darling
12. softlightes from USA / The Last Christmas On Earth
13. The Dekits / God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
14. Riddim Saunter / Guest of a Christmas
15. Slow Club from UK / christmas TV

Niw! NIW-57
Out now (12/3), ¥2600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Towa Tei and Scha Dara Parr pay tribute to Pac-Man, the famous game now celebrating its 30th anniverary! Two catchy tracks are available from today on iTunes Japan.

Towa Tei "Pac Is Back!"

Out now (12/1), ¥200
Sample/buy:

Scha Dara Parr feat. Robochū & Kaseki Cider "Warp Tunnel"
スチャダラパー feat. ロボ宙 & かせきさいだぁ 「ワープトンネル」

Out now (12/1), ¥200
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas