Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience) has a new song available exclusively on iTunes Japan. This is a cover of Japanese 80's dub band Mute Beat's "Kiev no sora" (hear the original), an anti-nuclear song first recorded after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. All proceeds are said to be donated for the recovery from the Fukushima disaster.

This is also a first track under the name OCTET Sunaga t. This song was recorded with band TRI4TH, and The Five Corners Quintet's Jukka Eskola.

OCTET Sunaga t "Kiev no sora feat. Jukka Eskola-TRI4TH" (Download)
OCTET Sunaga t 「キエフの空 feat.Jukka Eskola-TRI4TH」

Flower Records
Out now: ¥150
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Label Flawless World (post-Usagi-chang Records) has a new digital release available now for female vocal unit Pyokn. The 3 main tracks have been selected from previously released on album "Colorful Vibration" (2004, Amazon), and remastered to suit the label's direction. Also included is a remix by st.classics (aka label boss Suzuki Akira).

Pyokn "Be Yourself" (Download)

1. Be Yourself
2. hone no koe
3. maboroshi no kissuisen
4. Be Yourself (st.classics Remix)

Flawless World FWDR-001
Out now (7/27), ¥572 (excl. 10% tax)
Sample/buy: other countries -

Release sampler

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Original Love, the solo unit of Tajima Takao (ex-Pizzicato Five), has a new album coming this week! For this album Tajima says having played all instruments and done everything by himself down to mixing and mastering. It also includes a first collaboration with Scha Dara Parr, all promising a lot of fresh sounds!

At a recent show, fans were asked to record video for new song "Free Ride" and to upload their videos to YouTube! It seems like those fan-submitted videos will end up being used in an official video, but for now the ingredients can all be viewed separately here on YouTube. Below you can watch what was filmed from an official camera, including the fans' reaction to the surprising request.

This album comes in two editions, a special limited edition including a bonus DVD of one live track for the same price (while supplies last).

Original Love "hakunetsu"
オリジナル・ラブ 「白熱」

1. Free Ride
2. Bike
3. Sex to jiyū
4. Coming Soon feat. Scha Dara Parr
5. haru no Love Ballad
6. Hibiscus
7. futari no Guitar
8. umi ga mieru oka
9. atarashii futsū
10. kōun na Tour
11. Free Ride (hitori Soul Show version)
12. nagorigumo

Special limited edition (CD+DVD)
Wonderful World XQKP-91001
Out now (7/27), ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (20% 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)
Wonderful World XQKP-1001
Out now (7/27), ¥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.

"Coming Soon" feat. Scha Dara Parr

"Free Ride" (official camera B)

Hip-hop unit Rhymester has a new mini-album that comes as a collection of summer-themed tracks. Included are collaborations with Crazy Ken Band's guitarist Onose Masao and pianist singer-songwriter Sakai Yū (the latter who appeared on compilation "utau Piano danshi"), and also remixes by m-flo's Taku Takahashi and DJ PMX (MySpace.

Check out the video for mellow title track "Flashback, natsu." below.

Rhymester "Flashback, natsu."
Rhymester 「フラッシュバック、夏。」

1. Flashback, natsu.
2. Summer Anthem feat. Onose Masao (Crazy Ken Band)
3. Magic Hour feat. Sakai Yū
4. into the night
5. The Sauna
6. Flashback, natsu. (☆TAKU TAKAHASHI aka THE SUITBOYS REMIX)
7. Flashback, natsu. (DJ PMX Remix)
8. Flashback, natsu. (Instrumental)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-1803
Out 7/27, ¥2000 (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.

Regular edition (CD only)
Ki/oon KSCL-1805
Out 7/27, ¥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.

"Flashback, natsu."

Rocketman (aka comedian Fukawa Ryō) has a new disco-ish track out digitally, featuring fashion model Treindle Reina (half-Austrian half-Japanese) on vocals.

This is available on iTunes Japan as either just audio or a music video. Watch the preview clip below.

Rocketman feat. Treindle Reina "Love Disco" (Download)
Rocketman feat. トリンドル玲奈 「Love Disco」

Music only
Victor VE2ML-15724
Out now, ¥191 (excl. 10% tax)
Sample/buy:

Music video
Victor
Out now, ¥400
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Brought by Tower Records' new idol label T-Palette and out at the same time as "Vanilla Beans II", is this new mini-album by idol group Negicco. This trio comes from Niigata, and while being serious about their singing and dancing they also take the opportunity to promote their hometown's famous "soft skin welsh onion" (negi).

Sample all tracks using the player on their discography page.

Negicco "Get It On!"

1. GET IT ON!
2. Gatter! Gatter! Gatter!
3. kanzen kōryaku
4. Disco!! The Negicco
5. Falling Stars

T-Palette Records TPRC-003
Out 7/20, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, aka teenage fashion magazine model Kyary, has a first mini-album coming next month and it's produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule)! Of course it's right to expect more of his electro-pop sound. Check out the first video below for catchy song "PONPONPON" which is available in advance on iTunes worldwide, and has even ranked a surprising #1 in Norway and #3 in Belgium!

This is being released as a limited edition with a photo book. Given the popularity of Nakata's works it's best to pre-order.

Buying the release on iTunes (available worldwide) gives you a bonus extended version of "PONPONPON".

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "moshimoshi Harajuku"
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「もしもし原宿」

1. Kyary no March
2. Cherry Bonbon
3. PONPONPON
4. chōdo ii no
5. pinpon ga nannai
6. jelly

Regular edition (CD only)
Warner WPCL-10984
Out 8/17, ¥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.

"PONPONPON"

Jazz band Soil & "Pimp" Sessions has a new single, featuring singer Maia Hirasawa who has recently been heard on Pizzicato One and Jazztronik albums.

This release also comes in a limited edition of 6666 numbered copies including a bonus DVD of almost 2 hours of live footage from a show held last November.

Soil & "Pimp" Sessions "Movin'"

CD
1. Movin' feat. Maia Hirasawa
2. Armageddon
3. Vortex

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Fuller Love
2. Suffocation
3. hirameku ha
4. makuroke
5. mashiroke
6. Go Next!
7. Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag
8. A Wheel Within A Wheel
9. Sahara
10. Fantastic Planet
11. Pop Korn
12. Summer Goddess
13. Satsuriku New Wave

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Victor VIZL-425
Out 7/20, ¥2839 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (11% off *), HMV (10% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD+DVD)
Victor VICL-36657
Out 7/20, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Movin'" (Preview)

Idol duo Vanilla Beans comes back to us on their Nordic winds with a brand new album full of yet unheard tracks! This includes new catchy pop track "älskar dig" (watch a live performance on YouTube) that's an answer song to early hit single "Nicola". Two covers are included, Spitz' "oppai" and an English-sung 8-minute "Stairway To Heaven" (Led Zeppelin). Also be prepared to get sentimental with "oyasumi", music written by late singer-songwriter bice to which Rena and Lisa wrote lyrics themselves.

Also look out for the very not-idol-like jacket which does not even have a photo of the girls but instead a strange illustration. Vanilla Beans just love to surprise!

Watch this clip where the girls talk about the album, with English subtitles too!

Vanilla Beans "Vanilla Beans II"
バニラビーンズ 「バニラビーンズ Ⅱ」

1. Vanilla Beans
2. älskar dig
3. Nakaji Time (Interlude)
4. Doctor, onegai
5. Summer vacation
6. ?
7. Ōsumi Time (Interlude)
8. musunde hiraite
9. C-ba-san no uta
10. oppai
11. Takami Time (Interlude)
12. Sodermalm
13. yume miru shippo
14. oyasumi
15. tengoku e no kaidan (Stairway To Heaven)

T-Palette Records TPRC-002
Out 7/20, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"älskar dig"

Captain Funk aka Tatsuya Ōe has a new digital EP of remixes, including ones of tracks originally released on albums "Sunshine" (2009, Amazon) and "Heavy Mellow" (2007). French artist Bestrack also contributes a remix.

Samples of all 4 tracks can be heard at Captain Funk's official site. This is said to be an international release, so look for it in your country's iTunes store.

Captain Funk "Versions 2011"

(Title / Artist)
1. Piece of You (Bestrack Remix) / Captain Funk featuring Meri Neeser
2. I'll be There (Epic Synth-Rock Mix) / Captain Funk featuring Raj Ramayya
3. Just Wanna Get You Tonight (Summer Mix) / Captain Funk featuring Adnan Kurtov
4. Endless Possibilities (Climatic Mix) / Captain Funk featuring Raj Ramayya

Model Electronic
Out now (7/11), ¥600
Sample/buy:

Bossa nova duo naomi & goro have a new collaboration going with Kikuchi Naruyoshi (saxophone - Spank Happy, DCPRG, etc.). This brings us a new album of mainly covers but also with a new song from each party.

Watch the YouTube clip below of a show held last year to see what to expect.

naomi & goro & Kikuchi Naruyoshi "calendula"
naomi & goro &菊池成好 「calendula」

1. The King of Rock'n Roll (Prefab Sprout / Patrick Joseph McAloon)
2. Cinema (Michael Franks / Antonio Carlos Jobim)
3. Brigitte (Brigitte Fontaine / Olivier Bloch-Laine)
4. Two Kites (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
5. One on One (Hall & Oates / Daryl Hall)
6. The Girl from Ipanema (Norman Gimbel / Vinicius de Moraes / Antonio Carlos Jobim)
7. So Tinha de Ser Com Voce (Aloisio de Oliveira / Antonio Carlos Jobim)
8. A Banda (Chico Buarque)
9. calendula (Goro Ito)
10. Aquarela do Brasil (Ary Barroso)
11. ichiban chiisana sanbika (Naruyoshi Kikuchi)

commmons RZCM-46790
Out 7/13, ¥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.

"The Girl from Ipanema" (liveon Sept. 4, 2010)

miila and the geeks has a new 3-song 7" coming on July 20. This is limited to 100 copies, you know what to do!

An album will follow on August 24, stay tuned for details.

miila and the geeks "3 songs" (7")

A. New Age
AA. Mind Your Own Business
B. Worst Words Wsz80 Remix

Niw! Records NEP-31
Out 7/20, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

"New Age"

Nomiya Maki has a new 2-song single available on HearJapan and iTunes Japan from today! These two songs have been the theme of her on-going "Looker" tour. Maki's site says that Looker is actually the name of her new solo unit. Let's wish for more!

Nomiya Maki "Looker" (Download)
野宮真貴 「Looker」

1. The Looker
2. Looker Glitter

Gemmatika Records
Out now (7/6), ¥400
Sample/buy: , HearJapan

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Crazy Ken Band has a new single out this week. Title song "ippai ippai" talks about everyone having so many things to do everyday, and it's being used in a commercial for Seiyū department stores (owned by Wal-Mart).

The limited edition includes a bonus DVD with the music video.

1. ippai ippai
2. tomodachi wa ii mon da
3. Crazy Ken Band's Information
4. ippai ippai (Karaoke)
5. tomodachi wa ii mon da (Karaoke)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. ippai ippai (Music video)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal UMCK-9439
Out 7/6, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (11% 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.

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal UMCK-5334
Out 7/6, ¥953 (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.

"ippai ippai" (Short ver.)

Seiyu TV commercial

Here's the latest all-genre party mix CD by Boot Beat (MySpace), aka DJ Kamiya Naoaki. No tracklist is to be found, but check out the sampler clip below, and then proceed at Jet Set if you will!

Boot Beat "Hodgepodge"

Beat Records BR-0011
Out now (6/24), ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

See also these other mix CDs:
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 5"
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 4"
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 2"
... and original albums:
Boot Beat "Full Swing"
Boot Beat "Switch"

(Thanks to Andrew for the heads up!)

Twinklestars, 7 young girls idol sub-unit of Sakura Gakuin, has a new single just around the corner. This contains 2 new songs again written and produced by Okii Reiji (ex-Cymbals).

The single comes in 3 different editions, two limited editions with a DVD, the first also comes with an original baton for those who are thinking of joining the band. There's of course also a regular edition of just the CD. All editions include a trading card.

Audio samples at official release page. Also check out the sample video below!

Twinklestars "Please! Please! Please!"
Twinklestars 「プリーズ！プリーズ！プリーズ！」

CD
1. Please! Please! Please!
2. tenshi to akuma
3. Please! Please! Please! (Instrumental)
4. tenshi to akuma (Instrumental)

DVD version A
1. Please! Please! Please! (Music video -Dance ver.-)
2. Twinklestars baton lesson

DVD version B
1. Please! Please! Please! (Music video)
2. "Making of"

Limited edition A (CD+DVD ver. A+Baton+Trading card)
LD&K LDGF-00001
Out 7/6, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (12% off *), HMV (10% off *), YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing

Limited edition B (CD+DVD ver. B+12 page booklet+Trading card)
LD&K LDGF-00002
Out 7/6, ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (12% 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.

Regular edition (CD+Trading card)
LD&K LDGF-00003
Out 7/6, ¥953 (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.

"Please! Please! Please!"

See also:
Sakura gakuin "Sakura gakuin 2010nendo ~message~"