Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Here's a compilation of Japanese jazz, selected under the theme keyword "beautiful" by Soil & "Pimp" Sessions' agitator, Shachō. Featured artists include Ino Hidefumi, Calmera, Jazztronik, quasimode, PE'Z, of course Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, and more.

Various Artists "JPJZ Beautiful - selected by Shachō"

(Title / Artist)
1. Jazzy Joint feat. Jose James / J.A.M
2. Time Is Love feat. Carmen Lundy / quasimode
3. A Night In Tunisia / Calmera
4. Spartacus / Ino hidefumi
5. Beautiful Moment feat. Christa (Love From Nagano Mix) / Hideo Kobayashi
6. Chantin' / Naoito
7. Once Again / Kuniyuki Takahashi feat. Henrik Schwarz & Fumio Itabashi
8. Bus Street / PE'Z
9. Butterfly feat. Monday Michiru / Nation of Multiverse
10. Afloat feat. Yukimi Nagano / Sleep Walker
11. Reminiscing / Jazztronik
12. Awesome Knowledge / Soil & "Pimp" Sessions

BBQ BBQ-40CD
Out now (3/28), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

K-pop 4-girl unit 2NE1 (officially reads "'twenty-one' or 'to anyone'") has a first full-length album being released in Japan, consisting of Japanese versions of their songs. Our main interest here is the cover of Madonna's "Like A Virgin", produced by FPM! The song is being featured in a TV commercial for Kirin's Namacha tea.

This is a 3-edition business (there are also CD+DVD+Book, or CD+DVD editions), but let's focus on the regular CD-only edition.

2NE1 "Collection"

1. Fire
2. Scream
3. Go Away
4. Follow Me
5. I Don't Care
6. I Am The Best
7. It Hurts
8. Clap Your Hands
9. Love Is Ouch
10. Ugly
11. She's So (Outta Control) (BFM Remix) (Bonus Track)
12. Like A Virgin (Bonus Track)

YGEX AVCY-58038
Out 3/28, ¥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.

Kirin Namacha tea commercial

Singer-songwriter Nakamura Kazuyoshi, leader of J-rock band 100s, has a remix mini-album out just now. The originals aren't something I'd recommend, but the impressive list of remixers here is sure to draw attention, with Ishino Takkyu (Denki Groove), FPM, Yakenohara, Nakako (iLL, Lama, ex-Supercar), De De Mouse and Sokabe Keiichi.

Nakamura Kazuyoshi "6 Remix'n Birds"
中村一義 「6 Remix'n Birds」

1．unmei (Takkyu Ishino Remix) Remixed by Takkyu Ishino
2．kibō (Yakenohara Remix) Remixed by Yakenohara
3．Cannonball (Evol Remix) Remixed by Nakako
4．1,2,3 (FPM HyperSociety Mix) Remixed by FPM
5．Jubilee (you & me mix) Remixed by De De Mouse
6．inu to neko (Sokabe Re-edit) Remixed by Sokabe Keiichi

Five D VFCV-00093
Out now (3/28), ¥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.

Here are remixes of tracks from concept collaboration album "Big Collabo" (Amazon) released in August 2011, matching Japanese and foreign artists. Featured are remixes by Dorian, tofubeats and Eccy, along with each original.

This is also available worldwide on iTunes with 2 bonus remixes by TT & Nave.

Various Artists "Big Collabo Remix EP"

1. SLik d x PUNPEE / Motion (tofubeats Remix)
2. Tamaki ROY, Hinouchi Emi x Cook Classics / FLOW (Dorian Remix)
3. Cherry Brown x 6th Sense / Gotta Work Hard (Eccy Remix)
4. SLik d x PUNPEE / Motion (Original)
5. Tamaki ROY, Hinouchi Emi x Cook Classics / FLOW (Original)
6. Cherry Brown x 6th Sense / Gotta Work Hard (Original)

Dunkan Entertainment DNKN-005
Out now (3/23), ¥1200 (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.

SLik d x PUNPEE "Motion (tofubeats Remix)"

Tamaki ROY, Hinouchi Emi x Cook Classics "FLOW" (Dorian Remix)

Cherry Brown x 6th Sense "Gotta Work Hard" (Eccy Remix)

This is a compilation of various covers of 80's hit Japanese pop songs, featuring Sakamoto Ryūichi with Minekawa Takako, Toki Asako, Yakushimaru Etsuko, Hitomitoi with Sokabe Keiichi, clammbon, Sebastian X, and more.

Various Artists "Happy Holidays! ~80's Pops Covers~"

1. Yakushimaru Etsuko / Jenny wa gokigen naname (Original: Juicy Fruits)
2. Sebastian X / harusaki kobeni (Original: Yano Akiko)
3, Toki Asako / aozora no kakera (Original: Saitō Yuki)
4. Andō Yūko / kimi wa 1000% (Original: 1986 Omega Tribe / Carlos Toshiki & Omega Tribe)
5. Ohashi Trio / okuru kotoba (Original: kaientai)
6. Mutō Shōhei (katteni shiyagare) / Wine Red no kokoro (Original: anzen chitai)
7. Sakamoto Ryūichi+Minekawa Takako / kaze no tani no Nausicaa (Original: Yasuda Narumi)
8. Teshima Aoi / genki o dashite (Original: Takeuchi Mariya)
9. Hitomitoi produced by Sokabe Keiichi / kazetachinu (Original: Matsuda Seiko)
10. Little Creatures / High School Lullaby (Original: Imo-kin Trio)
11. Jackson vibe X yoheyOKAMOTO / Miss Brand New Day (Original: Southern All Stars)
12. clammbon / ishin denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself) (Original: YMO)
13. Neat Boy Scout Caravan (ex. Terry&Francisco) / kimi wa tennenshoku (Original: Ōtake Eiichi

avex AQCD-50658
Out now (3/21), ¥1800 (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.

Sampler digest

This is the image DVD of Kobe pro baseball team Orix Buffaloes's official female mascot, Bell. The Aprils and friends have contributed all over this, and claim it can even be enjoyed by non-baseball fans. The Aprils contributed the mascot's theme song "Bell Motion", and the DVD itself is directed by The Aprils' visual director Nakama Norihisa. Also, members of Genius contributed dance choreography, other music and narration. The DVD's title translates to "Together with Bell."

An audio sample of "Bell Motion" can be heard at The Aprils' site, look for the small speaker mark in the post about this DVD. (Or more simply, here's a direct link.)

"Bell to issho." (DVD)
「ベルといっしょ。」
(Region 2 NTSC, 60 min. + bonus 5 min.)

Includes: (unofficial translation)
- Bell's image shot!
- Bell cheers!
- Let's play in the town of Kobe!
- Bell plays baseball by herself
- Bell question corner!
- Bell's exercices "Bell Motion"
- Let's sing and dance to baseball fight song "Sky"
- Bell! Bell! Bell! ~Buffalo Bell's Theme~

Pony Canyon PCBP-12076
Out now (3/21), ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (25% 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.

Lo-Fi-Pnk (read "Lo-Fi Punk") is a unit from Sendai, formed of DJs from regular electro-pop party Poptune. This first release is a single called "Tune Up!" that features vocals by Candles' Pepe. Also included are remixes by The Aprils' Imai Kentarō, Candles and FQTQ. This is available now on iTunes worldwide.

Lo-Fi-Pnk "Tune Up!" (Download)

1. Tune Up feat. Pepe from Candles
2. Tune Up (Candles Remix)
3. Tune Up (FQTQ Remix)
4. Tune Up (Aprils ki-ra-me-ki Remix)

Poptune
Out now (2/29), ¥450
Sample/buy:

From Crue-L Records comes this new compilation titled "Crue-L Café", full of songs that are either brand new, previously unreleased or available for the first time on CD! (All except for Tucker's track which is from his latest album.)

The is compiled by Takimi Kenji, and contains tracks of styles such as house, techno, nu-disco, Balearic and lounge.

Various Artists "Crue-L Café"

(Artist / Title)
1. Tomoki Kanda / Ride a Watersmooth Silver Stallion
2. Being Borings / Love House of Love (Short Edit)
3. Discossession / Manitoba (Original Version)
4. The Beauty / Fifth Regret
5. Crystal / Heavenly Overtone (Extended 12" Version)
6. A.Noisy.Noise vs Tim Deluxe / Felis Aurata
7. House Mannequin / Heavenly Undertone
8. Tucker / Red Bridge
9. Eddie C / I Wanna Chug My Baby At The Disco
10. Fran-Key and Tomoki Kanda / Franfloat
11. Crue-L Grand Orchestra / Barbarella

Crue-L KYTHMAK140DA
Out 3/19, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Beauty "Fifth Regret"

Here's another new single from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, as always produced by Nakata Yasutaka (capsule). Title song "Candy Candy" is a tie-up with Glico's mint candy Breo. Check out the full video below. The TV commercials can be watched here. The CD contains another new song, and an extended mix of "chōdo ii no" (a song from mini-album "moshimoshi Harajuku").

The single has a limited edition again coming packaged as a photo book. To get your hands on this it's recommended to pre-order early! Title track is also already available on iTunes.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Candy Candy"
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「CANDY CANDY」

1. Candy Candy
2. demodemo madamada
3. chōdo ii no (extended mix)

Limited edition (CD+Photo book)
Warner WPCL-11071
Out 4/4, ¥1715 (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)
Warner WPCL-11072
Out 4/4, ¥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.

"Candy Candy"

Some 5 years have past since m-flo's "Loves" series, and since what I believe was their latest original album "Cosmicolor" (not counting the bunch of "best", "tribute", "remix" albums that came since). Now here's a new album being advertised as also featuring many famous vocalists, but none of them are credited (at least not in promotion material).

Check out the sampler clip below and listen for yourself. More tracks can be sampled at the official site.

A limited edition contains a bonus DVD with video clips and live footage. Also, the album "Expo Expo" is being reissued in a limited edition mini-LP paper jacket format, at the small price of ¥1470 (Amazon).

1. □ [sayonara_2012]
2. Perfect Place
3. ALIVE
4. □ [frozen_space_project]
5. Never Needed You
6. Oh Baby
7. □ [square1_scene_1 murder_he_wrote]
8. Don't Stop Me Now
9. All I Want Is You
10. Acid 02
11. Call Me
12. □ [ok_i_called]
13. Sure Shot Ricky
14. RUN
15. □ [square1_scene_2_don't_blink]
16. So Mama I'd Love To Catch Up, OK?
17. She's So (Outta Control)
18. Yesterday
19. □ [to_be_continued...]

DVD
1. She's So (Outta Control)
2. All I Want Is You
3. ALIVE
4. Live at "m-flo presents BŌNENKAI 2011" (TCY Snippet Edit)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-59030
Out now (3/14), ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, 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)
Rhythm Zone RZCD-59031
Out now (3/14), ¥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.

"She's So (Outta Control)"

"All I Want Is You"

Teaser clip

Perfume have a new single titled "Spring of Life" coming next month! Details are still few at this time, but the title song is again a tie-up with Kirin's hyōketsu alcoholic drink, and a little bit can be heard in the TV commercial below, their first overseas shooting, in Hollywood!

It's now the right time for those who want to get the limited edition to place a pre-order! It will include a bonus DVD. HMV, YesAsia, CDJapan and Tower Records seem to be giving away a poster with pre-orders of either edition (while supplies last).

Perfume have moved to label Universal on which this is their first release. They are also doing a move towards better global recognition with a new website aimed at their overseas fans. Album "JPN" has just recently been made available on iTunes worldwide.

Perfume "Spring of Life"

1. Spring of Life
2. Communication
3. Spring of Life (Original Instrumental)
4. Communication (Original Instrumental)

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal UPCP-9001
Out 4/11, ¥1429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, YesAsia

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal UPCP-5001
Out 4/11, ¥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.

"Spring of Life"

TV commercial & making of

It's been 10 years since singer and percussionist Necozawa Emi's previous album ("café tu ronronnes" (2002)). This time she is backed by a jazzy band of 6 musicians making this her first band recording.

Songs include covers of Serge Gainsbourg classics to some self-covers ("C'est vous sur le pont" she sang before for Sunaga t Experience, and April Set's "Le tourbillon"), and also new original song "Syncopation". This is out now on April Set's disques monoprix, a sub-label of Orange Records.

Official site and blog

Emi Necozawa & Sphinx "Pyramidia"
猫沢エミ＆スフィンクス 「ピラミディア」

1. Syncopation
2. Le Tourbillon
3. C'est vous sur le pont
4. Requiem pour un C.
5. Röntgen
6. Colors
7. Couleur café
8. Filiti can-can
9. Zobi la mouche
10. Madrigal
11. Zo-wa-z' oiseaux
12. Bois de TABAC

disques monoprix ORGR-40
Out now (3/7), ¥2400 (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.

"Syncopation"

Sampler of all tracks

5-girl idol unit Tokyo Girls' Style has a 2nd album coming, and one song features their good friends Vanilla Beans.

The album comes in 3 different editions: Type A includes a DVD of 5 live songs, Type B includes a DVD of 4 music videos, and Type C is a CD only but with one bonus remix. Each edition comes with different artwork. Yes, it's pure idol fan hell!

Tokyo Girls' Style "Limited addiction"
東京女子流 「Limited addiction」

1. Intro
2. Sparkle
3. W.M.A.D
4. Regret.
5. boku no tegami
6. Don't Be Curel
7. Liar
8. Rock you!
9. memai feat. Vanilla Beans
10. Limited addiction
11. tsuioku
12. Outro
13. We Will Win -kokoro no Baton de po pon no po-n☆-

Type A limited edition (CD+live DVD)
Avex Trax AVCD-38435
Out 3/14, ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, 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.

Type B (CD+music video DVD)
Avex Trax AVCD-38436
Out 3/14, ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, 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.

Type C (CD only w/ bonus track)
Avex Trax AVCD-38437
Out 3/14, ¥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.

"Rock you!"

"Limited addiction"

Pianist singer-songwriter kotringo has a new mini-album in which she fronts a trio. She is accompanied by Murata Shige (Kuchiroro, Cubismo Grafico Five, Circle Darko) on bass and Kamiya Shunpei (akai kutsu) on drums. A full-length 4th album by kotringo is expected this summer.

All 5 songs can be sampled at commmonsmart.

A show by the trio will be held at Duo Music Exchange in Shibuya on March 17 (Pia 161-104).

kotringo "La mémoire de mon bandwagon"
コトリンゴ 「La mémoire de mon bandwagon」

1. Today is yours
2. mittsu no namida
3. Life
4. Ghost Dance
5. Prologue

commmons RZCM-59012
Out 3/14, ¥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.

Portable Rock, the 80's band fronted by Nomiya Maki, has a new CD coming! This contains 2 songs that had remained unreleased back in the day, one of which surfaced on Maki's 30th anniversary album "30". Both songs have lyrics written by Konishi Yasuharu!

The rest of the CD consists of live recordings from two recent shows. Tracks 3 to 8 recorded at Kyoto Metro on November 6, 2011, and tracks 9 to 12 recorded at Shinjuku Loft on April 15, 2006. I had the chance to be in the audience of the latter (report here) and I'm definitely looking forward to this release!

Portable Rock "Lost & Found"
ポータブル・ロック 「LOST & FOUND」

1. Sweet Renaissance
2. Edie
3. Green Books
4. Dance Volunteer
5. yūutsu no Hold Me
6. Cinemic Love
7. Idol
8. Picnic
9. Idol
10. Golem Polka
11. shinju kaigan
12. Green Books

Bigpink Records BPR-1004
Out 3/14, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.