Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Here's a tribute album to YMO featuring their most famous songs in brand new covers by various electro artists including Riow Arai, Calm, Tobeta Bajune as Macho Robot, etc.

Coming this week on mysterious young label electric sheep. Check out the sampler clip below.

Various Artists "YMO Rewake"

1. Rydeen / Macho Robot (a.k.a. Tobeta Bajune)
2. Behind The Mask / nonSectRadicals
3. Technopolis / Miyosi Fumi
4. Tong Poo / Koyas
5. Absolute Ego Dance / Fugenn & The White Elephants
6. La Femme Chinoise / mergrim
7. Music Plans / Riow Arai feat. Damiana Terry
8. Taiso / Koki Kagawa a.k.a eater feat. Az Catalpa
9. Cue / Shotaro Hirata feat. minikomi
10. Camouflage / Geskia! feat. cokiyu
11. Thousand Knives / Calm
12. Behind The Mask / GM（GRAPHITEC MORPHING）

electric sheep ELSP-0002
Out 9/1, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

Neo-Shibuya-kei unit Panda 1/2 has another fun release out just now, on iTunes only again. There's not only a brand new pop'n'roll summer song, but also a Plus-Tech Squeeze Box remix of "chūkagai ukiuki dori"!

Panda 1/2 "natsu o buttobase ~Wild Summer 2012~" (Download)
PANDA 1/2 「夏をぶっとばせ ~WILD SUMMER 2012~」

1. natsu o buttobase ~Wild Summer 2012~
2. chūkagai ukiuki dōri - remixed by Plus-Tech Squeeze Box -
3. natsu o buttobase ~Wild Summer 2012~ (Backing Track)

P and A Entertainment
Out now (8/24), ¥600 (¥200 ea.)
Sample/buy: , Amazon U.S., Amazon

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

After two limited 7" releases that sold out very quickly, girl-led indie punk unit miila and the geeks finally have a CD album coming this week! This is said to contain 14 songs, despite which it clocks in below 40 minutes.

Check out the recent videos below (and after the jump), for songs which are likely to end up on the album.

miila and the geeks "New Age"

Niw! Records NIW-66
Out 8/24, ¥2286 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Superhero"

Omodaka, solo unit of Terada Sōichi (aka Far East Recording) that mixes chiptune and Japanese traditional singing, has a full-length album out now. This contains remastered versions of all songs from maxi-singles released since 2001, plus 5 brand new songs.

If you're not yet familiar with the artist, check after the jump for a collection of amazing videos for songs included here.

Omodaka "Sanosa"

1. Hietsuki Bushi
2. Sanosa
3. Music Video Orchestra
4. Oshogatsu
5. Brain Storm
6. Cantata No.147
7. Honjou Oiwake
8. Fortunate 1mark
9. Kokiriko Bushi
10. Kyotei Daiski (Favorite Games Remix)
11. Asadoya Yunta
12. Kyoteizinc (Video Mix)
13. Yosawya San
14. Otemoyan
15. Plum Song
16. Monkey Turn
17. Hanagasa Ondo
18. Kyotei Daiski
19. Sohran Bushi
20. Oshogatsu (Sing Your Xmas On)

Far East Recording FER06904
Out now (8/14), ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon,

"Hietsuki Bushi" (2011)

EeL has a new single available right now! "fuwafuwa pink jellyfishes floating in the sky" is a 2-track digital that might give an idea of what might be to expect on EeL's next album.

Also check out this "EeL Mix (2011 special edition)" over at Bandcamp, a 2000 mix that's being given away 3 songs per weeks.

EeL "fuwafuwa pink jellyfishes floating in the sky" (Download)

1. fuwafuwa pink jellyfishes floating in the sky
2. aimaina nazonazona

Milch Record
Out now, ¥300
Sample/buy: HearJapan, Bandcamp,

Digest sampler

The single includes remixes by FPM and Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, InK), and the limited edition comes with the music video below and a short film titled "asa ga konai yoru" ("The night when morning doesn't come").

Jimi Shijimi "Shijimi no onna"
ジミ・シジミ 「シジミの女」

1. Shijimi no onna
2. watashitte nan nan desuka feat. Terajima Susumu
3. Shijimi no onna (FPM Everlust Remix)
4. Shijimi no onna (Kawanabe Hiroshi Hammer Beat Remix)
5. Shijimi no onna (Original Karaoke)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Recordz tomarigi / EMI TOCT-40347
Out now (8/17), ¥1429 (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.

Regular edition (CD only)
Recordz tomarigi / EMI TOCT-40348
Out now (8/17), ¥953 (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.

"Shijimi no onna"

Guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu, now celebrating his 30 years of music, has a greatest hits album coming this week under the form of collaborations featuring various guest artists, hence the title "Super Guest" (vs "Best"). The songs are from his solo career but also his old band BOØWY.

A few collaborations stand out, the most exciting being a Cornelius remix of "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity", that song used in Kill Bill (hear original on YouTube, you've heard it before)! There are also appearances by FPM, Soil & "Pimp" Sessions", Rip Slyme, Imai Miki, and UK new wave band Sigue Sigue Sputnik (covering "C'mon Everybody", already a cover of Eddie Cochran).

All tracks can be sampled on this official release page.

A limited edition contains a bonus DVD with various live tracks from Hotei's whole career.

Hotei with Fellows "All Time Super Guest"

(Track / Artist)
1. Dreamin' / Dragon Ash
2. Diving With My Car / Kishidan
3. C'mon Everybody / Sigue Sigue Sputnik
4. Bambina (Bambino Mix) / Rip Slyme
5. Battle Without Honor Or Humanity (Cornelius Remix) / Hotei Tomoyasu
6. Justy / Sid
7. You / Kobukuro
8. Guitarhythm / Imai Hisashi, Nagai Seiichi, Miyavi with Hotei Tomoyasu
9. Fly Into Your Dream / Imai Miki with Hotei Tomoyasu
10. Last Scene / Ōhashi Trio
11. saraba seishun no hikari / Funky Katō with Hotei Tomoyasu
12. Bad Feeling (FPM Everlust Remix) / Hotei Tomoyasu
13. Battle Without Honor Or Humanity / Soil&"Pimp"Sessions with Hotei Tomoyasu

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
EMI TOCT-27090
Out now (8/17), ¥4572 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
EMI TOCT-27091
Out now (8/17), ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

A new song by salyu x salyu again produced by Cornelius (who produced her recent album salyu x salyu "s(o)un(d)beams") is now available for download on iTunes Japan. The song, of which the title translates to "I want to talk with you", has been heard recently on a TV commercial for AU mobile phone Infobar A01 (watch it below).

salyu x salyu "hanashitai anata to" (Download)
salyu x salyu 「話したいあなたと」

Oorong-sha
Out now (8/10), ¥200
Sample/buy:

Video clip teaser

Infobar A01 mobile phone TV commercial

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

See also:
salyu x salyu "s(o)un(d)beams"

Boy-girl unit Magic Party has a new mini-album with a concept of inviting 5 different artists to produce each track, hence the title that translates to "2 vs 5". Those producers are Konishi Yasuharu, Kaji Hideki, Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico), Aida Shigekazu (El-Malo) and Hidaka Tōru (Beat Crusaders).

Lead track "Blackout" is produced by Konishi Yasuharu and its distinctive sound should make Pizzicato Five fans happy! This one only is available in advance on iTunes Japan, for those who can't wait.

Magic Party "2 tai 5"
Magic Party 「2対5」

1. Blackout
2. Cheek & Wink
3. Dig Me! (Japanese)
4. First Up
5. Lesson5

Pony Canyon PCCA-03463
Out 8/17, ¥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.

"Blackout"

Late 90's mainstream dance unit globe, produced by Komuro Tetsuya, has a remix album coming that attempts to appeal to fans of the current club scene. Remixers include Konishi Yasuharu, FPM, Osawa Shinichi, Shinco (Scha Dara Parr), Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set), Ram Rider, Dexpistols, Q;indivi and more.

Samples of all tracks can be heard at globe's official site. (Click the Windows Media icons if you can.)

globe "house of globe"

1. Feel Like dance (FPM Remix)
2. Joy to the love (Kentaro Takizawa Remix)
3. SWEET PAIN (SWG Remix)
4. DEPARTURES (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
5. FREEDOM (524 mix)
6. Can't Stop Fallin' in Love (Q;indivi Remix)
7. Love again (Ram Rider Remix)
8. wanna Be A Dreammaker (DEXPISTOLS Remix)
9. Perfume of love (Hiroshi Kawanabe Dubmosphere Remix)
10. biting her nails (Black Sebabth moombahton re:work)
11. Many Classic Moments (Tetsuya_Komuro Remix)
12. Mega Mix (moombahton re-edit)

avex globe AVCG-70106
Out 8/10, ¥3000 (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.

Dorian (MySpace), keyboardist and MC-909 master aka Mr. Tropical Disco, has a new album coming to help us survive the rest of this hot summer. The song "summer rich" features singer hitomitoi. The album's title leaves us wondering whether Dorian spent his vacation in the studio or if he's now in vacation from the studio.

Audio samples of all tracks at Amazon.

Dorian "studio vacation"

1. fake vacation
2. shower
3. summer rich feat. hitomitoi
4. sweet technic
5. melty color
6. like a wave
7. secret promise

felicity cap-122
Out 8/10, ¥2000
Order: Amazon, CDJapan, HMV, Tower (Japan only), YesAsia

"summer rich feat. hitomitoi"

See also:
"Melodies Memories"

Konishi Yasuharu's first solo album as Pizzicato One has just been released on vinyl. You'll find all songs from the CD released last May. Be sure to check out the different artwork made especially to be better appreciated in its full 12" splendor.

Pizzicato One "One And Ten Very Sad Songs" (12")
PIZZICATO ONE 「11のとても悲しい歌」

A1. to learn to sleep alone (Konishi Yasuharu)
A2. One (Harry Nilsson) feat. Rosy
A3. Imagine (John Lennon) feat. Marlena Shaw
A4. A little bit of soap (Bart Berns) feat. Nicole Willis
A5. Bang bang (Sonny Bono) feat. Maia Hirasawa
A6. A day in the life of a fool (Luiz Bonfa) feat. Gwyneth Herbert
A7. If you went away (Marcos Valle) feat. Marcos Valle
B1. I wanna be loved by you (Herbert Stothart-Harry Ruby) feat. Wouter Hamel
B2. Maybe tomorrow (Quincy Jones-Marilyn Bergman) feat. Christopher Smith
B3. Suicide is painless (Mike Altman-Johnny Mandel) feat. Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends
B4. If we lived on the top of a mountain (Les Reed-Barry Mason) feat. Eric Matthews
B5. A long hard climb (Ron Davies) feat. Roy Phillips (The Peddlers)

Readymade Entertainment RMELP-009
Out now (8/3), ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

"Imagine" feat. Marlena Shaw

yanokami, the unit of rei harakami and Yano Akiko, has a new song available for download. This is a cover of "Bamboo Music", a song from 1982 by Sakamoto Ryūichi and David Sylvian (hear the original on YouTube).

rei harakami just passed away at the age of 40 last week on July 27, due to a brain hemorrhage, but already his bandmate is moving forward with appearances at various summer festivals that were already planned. Yano Akiko is expected to perform their songs alone on stage at Rock In Japan (August 5), Summer Sonic (August 14) andArabaki Rock Fest (August 27).

yanokami "Bamboo Music" (Download)

Yamaha
Out now (8/3), ¥200
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

After various anime covers, now you can hear Clémentine singing Imokin Trio's "High School Lullaby", Epo's "Downtown", The Drifters, and even "Maru-Maru-Mori-Mori" in her usual bossa nova style. Check out her charming cover of Crazy Cats' "sūdara bushi" (in French too!) in the video below.

Clémentine "Varientine"
クレモンティーヌ 「バラエンティーヌ」

1. The Drifters Medley ~ ii yu dana - tonari gumi
2. Downtown
3. shūchishin
4. Nihon no mikata -Nevada kara kimashita-
5. Maru-Maru-Mori-Mori!
6. High School Lullaby
7. Timing
8. shiroikumo no yō ni
9. Je suis heureuse comme ça (Somebody Stole My Gal)
10. medaka no kyōdai
11. hi wa, mata noboru
12. sūdara bushi

Sony SICP-3219
Out now, ¥2600 (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.

"suudara bushi"

(Thanks to Mexican Flyer for noticing this one!)

LAMA is a new all-star band featuring Nakamura Kōji (iLL, ex-Supercar), Furukawa Miki (ex-Supercar), Ushio Kensuke (agraph) and Tabuchi Hisako (bloodthirsty butchers, ex-Number Girl). This is their first single, a song used as the opening theme of TV anime series "NO.6" that started in July. Included is a remix by "2 ANIMEny DJ's", the DJ unit of agraph and clammbon's Mito.

A limited edition contains a DVD with live performance of the two songs.

1. Spell
2. one day
3. Spell (2 ANIMEny DJ's Remix)

DVD (Limited edition only)
Live at WWW 2011.04.27
1. Spell
2. one day

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-1827
Out now (8/3), ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (20% off *), HMV, 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-1829
Out now (8/3), ¥972 (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.

"Spell"