August 2012 Index

30 - Idiot Pop "EXWORLD"
30 - Chocolat & Akito "tobira ep"
29 - Cornelius "CM4"
26 - Nanba Shiho "Choice"
23 - akiko "Dark Eyes"
23 - Gotye "Eyes Wide Open (Remix Bundle)" (Download)
20 - frenesi "gendai"
18 - Perfume "Perfume Global Compilation 'LOVE THE WORLD'"
17 - lyrical school "sorya natsu da! / oide yo"
17 - Being Borings "Esprit"
15 - Recoride "Sasaki/SASAKI EP"
14 - milk "greeting for the sleeping seeds"
14 - Polysics "Lucky Star"
13 - Yakushimaru Etsuko "kirikirimai" (Download)
12 - Various Artists "Who is the Star? WITS Compilation Vol.3 -20th anniversary edition-"
12 - SMAP "GIFT of SMAP"
09 - TRI4TH "TRI4TH AHEAD"
07 - Rocketman "koi Romantic!!"
07 - Okada Tohru "kakū eiga ongakushū II ~Erewhon no roku de~"
05 - Recto Berso "Nice To Love You!"
05 - Chiroline ver.2 "Chit Chat Chiroline"
02 - COMA* "idea" (Download)
02 - Yellow Magic Orchestra "Fire Bird" (Download)
02 - novaFASE "Opportunities" (Download)


Described as "dreamy colorful super pop sound", here's a 2nd full album of Idiot Pop's fun and danceable tracks. Featured are several guest appearances including Frenesi and PandaBoY. Check out the video and sampler clip below!

Idiot Pop "EXWORLD"

1. Internal World
2. Anyway Someway feat. Frenesi
3. Love I want feat. Hugo Manuel (Jonquil)
4. Wander Wonder
5. Can't Stop Music
6. Beautiful Stranger feat. PandaBoY
7. Sleeping Beauty
8. kimisarishinochi feat. KEN Smooth
9. EXWORLD
10. We Belong Together
11. Good Bye Sorrow
12. Why You Are not Here... feat. Shingo Maeda
13. Love I want (summer time goes on selfish control remix)

Idiot Pop IPR-5CD
Out 9/5, ¥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.

"Anyway Someway feat. Frenesi"

Sampler clip

See also:
Various Artists "kirakira Ghibli -Returns-"

Find out more about: Frenesi, Idiot Pop, PandaBoY

Posted on | Released on September 5, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Chocolat & Akito, the unit of Chocolat and husband Katayose Akito (Great3). Aside from new song "tobira" are included remixes by Nagai Seiichi (sōtaiseiriron), Hamano Kenta (Sakerock), John McEntire (Tortoise) and Miyauchi Yuri. This new EP comes on the Rallye label from Kanazawa, and is a limited release of 1000 copies.

Check out the fun video below, a one scene take shot at their home.

Chocolat & Akito "tobira ep"
Chocolat & Akito 「扉 ep」

1. tobira
2. tobira (Nagai Seiichi remix)
3. tobira (Hamano Kenta remix)
4. tobira (John McEntire ver)
5. Giovanni (Miyauchi Yuri remix)

Rallye RYECD-142
Out 9/5, ¥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.

"tobira"

Find out more about: Chocolat & Akito, MIYAUCHI Yuri

Posted on | Released on September 5, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Cornelius has a new collection of his remixes and mixes for other artists over the last few years. Titled "CM4", it contains tracks by Nomiya Maki, sōtaiseiriron, Yoko Ono, If By Yes (band formed of Yuka Honda, Petra Haden, Araki Yuko, Shimizu Hirotaka), Beastie Boys, MGMT and more.

A beautiful special site has been opened, letting you discover the tracks and their originals.

Cornelius "CM4"

(Artist / Title)
1. Hotei Tomoyasu / Battle Without Honor or Humanity
2. Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band / The Sun Is Down!
3. MGMT / Brian Eno
4. sōtaiseiriron / QKMAC - STSR
5. Lali Puna / Hostile to Me
6. Beastie Boys / Make Some
7. Maia Hirasawa / It Doesn't Stop
8. Arto Lindsay / The Rare
9. If By Yes / Still Breathing
10. Nomiya Maki / Magic Carpet Ride
11. Minami Haruo / aka tonbo

Warner WPCL-11113
Out 9/5, ¥2400 (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.

See also these other recent Cornelius works with/for other artists.

Gotye "Eyes Wide Open (Remix Bundle)" (Download)
YMO "YMONHK" (Blu-ray/DVD)
Miyauchi Yuri "Tone After Tone"
salyu x salyu "s(o)un(d)beams"
and, "CM3"

Find out more about: Cornelius, If By Yes, Maia HIRASAWA, NOMIYA Maki, sotaiseiriron, Yoko ONO

Posted on | Released on September 5, 2012 | Comments (2) | Tweet |


Another release from Billboard's "Choice" cover album series. This time it's the turn of singer Nanba Shiho, who changed her looks to short hair for her latest single (YouTube), to select and cover some of her favorite world pop standards. Included are songs by The Cardigans, The Bangles, Vanessa Paradis, Spice Girls and more.

Official release page

Audio samples at iTunes Japan.

Nanba Shiho "Choice"
南波志帆 「Choice」

1. I'm In The Mood For Dancing (The Nolans)
2. Modern Girl (Sheena Easton)
3. Wordy Rappinhood (Tom Tom Club)
4. Wannabe (Spice Girls)
5. Lovefool (The Cardigans)
6. Be My Baby (Vanessa Paradis)
7. We Got The Beat (The Go-Go's)
8. Manic Monday (The Bangles)
9. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons)

Billboard Records HBRJ-1005
Out now (7/25), ¥1886 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , YesAsia, I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING -
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Find out more about: NANBA Shiho

Posted on | Released on July 25, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Jazz singer akiko has a new album being released this month. Recorded in New Orleans like previous mini-album "Swingy, Swingy", this one is produced by Ska Flames' Ōkawa Tsuyoshi, and features Dirty Dozen Brass Band's sousaphonist Kirk Joseph as well as New Orleans local musicians. Chai-Chii Sisters sing backing vocals on 2 songs.

A release tour will be held at Billboard Tokyo and Osaka, on October 25 and 23 respectively.

akiko "Dark Eyes"
akiko 「黒い瞳」

1. Magazine St.
2. Dark Eyes
3. Groovin' High
4. After You'Ve Gone
5. Love Me Or Leave Me
6. It'S Just The Blues
7. Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen
8. Everybody Loves My Baby
9. Cry Me A River
10. Willow Weep For Me
11. What A Difference A Day Made

Universal POCS-1065
Out 8/29, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , YesAsia, Magazine St. - Dark Eyes
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Dark Eyes"

"Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen"

"Everybody Loves My Baby"

Find out more about: akiko

Posted on | Released on August 29, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Cornelius has contributed a track to the remix EP for Belgian-Australian artist Gotye's hit track "Eyes Wide Open" (original on YouTube) from latest album "Making Mirrors". This is available on iTunes worldwide, and also Amazon MP3 U.S. at least.

Gotye "Eyes Wide Open (Remix Bundle)" (Download)

1. Eyes Wide Open (Yeasayer Remix)
2. Eyes Wide Open (Cornelius Remix)
3. Eyes Wide Open (Tanlines Remix)
4. Eyes Wide Open (PVT Remix)
5. Eyes Wide Open (Alien Delon Remix)

Samples 'n' Seconds Records
Out now (8/22)
Sample/buy: Eyes Wide Open (Yeasayer Remix) - Eyes Wide Open (Remix Bundle) - EP (Japan), Eyes Wide Open (Yeasayer Remix) - Eyes Wide Open (Remix Bundle) - EP (World), Amazon MP3 U.S.

Find out more about: Cornelius

Posted on | Released on August 22, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


frenesi has a brand new album coming in September! Titled "gendai" ("modern times"), it contains the song from latest video of the same name, and also a track that appeared in game "taiko no tatsujin" last year, and a cover of frenesi's favorite band Inn Japan's "onigashima" (original on YouTube).

HMV offers a bonus CD-R of 99 phrases whispered by frenesi, while supplies last.

frenesi "gendai"
フレネシ 「ゲンダイ」

1. chikyūkūdōsetsu
2. gendai
3. Pure Shampoo
4. jōbutsu sasete yo
5. Silly Joke
6. Die-in
7. nagisa no Andromeda
8. Bob Imagination
9. tajū jinkaku R
10. onigashima
11. Latency Girl
12. Miracle Love
13. awa no Waltz

otome ongaku kenkyūsha OTMSH-005
Out 9/5, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , ‎フレネシの "ゲンダイ"をApple Musicで, Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Pure Shampoo"

"gendai"

"nagisa no Andromeda" (taiko no tatsujin)

Find out more about: frenesi

Posted on | Released on September 5, 2012 | Comments (1) | Tweet |


Perfume continues to do its best to appeal to a global audience, and here comes a first greatest hits album. No word on an actual overseas CD release, but this will hopefully be available worldwide on iTunes like their recent singles. Included are many of Perfume's best songs, but also a few previously unreleased remixes.

In Japan, it's being released on CD, and a limited edition contains the video for "Fake It" and its making-of, as well as previously unreleased footage of a live performance of "Polyrhythm".

Being released on their previous label, Tokuma Japan, this doesn't include any of the recent singles out on Universal.

Perfume "Perfume Global Compilation 'LOVE THE WORLD'"

1. Polyrhythm
2. edge (⊿-mix)
3. love the world
4. Electro World
5. Chocolate Disco (2012-Mix)
6. SEVENTH HEAVEN
7. GAME
8. Secret Secret
9. NIGHT FLIGHT
10. Baby cruising Love
11. Butterfly
12. FAKE IT
13. Laser Beam
14. GLITTER
15. MY COLOR (LTW-Mix)
16. Dream Fighter

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. FAKE IT - Video Clip
2. FAKE IT - Video Clip Making
3. Polyrhythm - Historical Live Act Version

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Tokuma Japan TKCA-73840
Out 9/12, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (20% off *), HMV (17% off *), Tower Records (20% off *) , YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Tokuma Japan TKCA-73845
Out 9/12, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , YesAsia, Polyrhythm - Perfume Global Compilation
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Fake It"

More videos after the jump.

Continue reading...

Find out more about: Perfume

Posted on | Released on September 12, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


6-girl hip-hop idol unit lyrical school, formerly known as tengal6, has a first single being released under the new name, and that on from Tower Records' T-Palette idol-only label. Both tracks were written and produced by Tofubeats.

lyrical school "sorya natsu da! / oide yo"
lyrical school 「そりゃ夏だ!/おいでよ」

1. sorya natsu da!
2. oide yo
3. sorya natsu da! (inst)
4. oide yo (inst)

T-Palette Records TPRC-0022
Out 8/22, ¥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.

"sorya natsu da!"

"oide yo"

See also: tengal6 "City" album

Find out more about: lyrical school, Tofubeats

Posted on | Released on August 22, 2012 | Comments (2) | Tweet |


Being Borings, the unit of Takimi Kenji and Kanda Tomoki, has a first album coming! Judging from a track included on compilation "Crue-L Café" last March, a "short edit" that clocked near 6 minutes, this album is set to take us for a good ride. The design was done by Kajino Shōichi and comes as a digipak.

Being Borings "Esprit"

1. E-Girls on B-Movie
2. Love House of Love
3. LolloL
4. Some are Here and Some are Missing
5. Skytree
6. Somewhere
7. After Post Modern
8. HF Complex
9. Discocainism Weekender
10. The Cult of Elegance feat. Eddie C

Crue-L KYTHMAK145DA
Out 9/14, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Find out more about: Being Borings, KANDA Tomoki, Label: Crue-L, TAKIMI Kenji

Posted on | Released on September 14, 2012 | Comments (2) | Tweet |


New digital EP from the brilliant synth-punk band Recoride. Both songs are named "Sasaki", perhaps after the band's composer Sasaki Kissa (ex-Gekkan Pro-Bowler). One is spelled out in kanji and the other in rōmaji, and they sound very different too. This is available on iTunes worldwide.

Recoride "Sasaki/SASAKI EP"
レコライド 「佐々木/SASAKI EP」

1. Sasaki (kanji)
2. SASAKI

aorizm records
Out now (8/15), ¥300
Sample/buy: 佐々木 - 佐々木/SASAKI - EP

"Sasaki EP" trailer

See also: "mp3 no danmatsuma"

Find out more about: Recoride

Posted on | Released on August 15, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


This is the first album by milk (official Facebook page), the solo unit of composer/pianist Umebayashi Tarō known for having worked with naomi & goro and Harada Tomoyo. Featured are several guests such as Au Revoir Simone and Sally Seltman (who sings "The recipe song" heard in the video below). This is out on label Rallye from Kanazawa.

More audio samples can be heard on SoundCloud.

milk "greeting for the sleeping seeds"

1. Aperture
2. The recipe song (feat. Sally Seltman)
3. waiting some birds a bus a women
4. Yellow (feat. Alexander von Mehren)
5. Trust (feat. Jesse Kivel / Kisses, Princeton)
6. The grass harp
7. Love's Not Enough (feat. Au Revoir Simone)
8. speaking for sleeping seeds

Rallye RYECD-135
Out 8/15, ¥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.

"The recipe song (feat. Sally Seltman)"

Find out more about: milk

Posted on | Released on August 15, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Polysics has a new single coming soon, and its limited edition comes with a bonus DVD of a digest of 18 songs from their 1000th show held last March 3rd!

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

Polysics "Lucky Star"

1. Lucky Star
2. No Control

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Buggie Technica
2. T・RIANGLE
3. Tei! Tei! Tei!
4. Pretty Good
5. muchi to Hose
6. 1.2.da-!
7. KASUGAI
8. TIME SHOCK!
9. Head O' clock
10. LED
11. Moog is Love
12. How are you?
13. Beat Flash
14. Coelacanth is Android
15. Smile to Me
16. Let's dabadaba
17. Shizuka is a machine doctor
18. Electric Surfin' Go Go

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-2097
Out 8/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (10% off *), Tower Records (15% off *) , 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-2099
Out 8/22, ¥972 (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.

Find out more about: Polysics

Posted on | Released on August 22, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Yakushimaru Etsuko (sōtaiseiriron) has a new single now available for download on iTunes Japan. This is a cover of Yamamoto Linda's french-pop style song "kirikirimai" from 1973. The song was actually recorded in 2010 for a 3-CD compilation paying tribute to lyricist Aku Yū (Amazon Japan).

Yakushimaru Etsuko "kirikirimai" (Download)
やくしまるえつこ 「きりきり舞い」

Mirai Records
Out now (8/1), ¥250
Sample/buy: きりきり舞い - きりきり舞い - Single

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Find out more about: YAKUSHIMARU Etsuko

Posted on | Released on August 1, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


WITS was a Shibuya-kei label that in its early years mainly focused on releases by L⇔R (a band of which Minekawa Takako was a member for some time), Spiral Life, and also Minekawa Takako's early solo career ("Chit Chat", "(A Little Touch of) Baroque in Winter"). The label, which still shows some activity in the last few years under the name "witz", is now celebrating its 20th anniversary with the release of this compilation.

Here the 1st CD contains early previously released works by the artists above, while the 2nd CD is of rare previously unreleased live recordings. The "Vol.3" in the title refers to the previous compilations released on the label in 1994 and 1998.

Various Artists "Who is the Star? WITS Compilation Vol.3 -20th anniversary edition-"

Disc 1
1. L⇔R / Love is real ?
2. L⇔R / Bye Bye Popsicle
3. L⇔R / Laugh So Rough
4. L⇔R / Younger Than Yesterday
5. L⇔R / Raindrop Traces
6. Spiral Life / Another Day, Another Night
7. L⇔R / Telephone Craze
8. L⇔R / Things Change~Equinox
09. Spiral Life / Photograph
10. Spiral Life / Maybe True
11. Spiral Life / Cheeky
12. Spiral Life / Garden
13. Minekawa Takako / kaze no tani no Nausicaä
14. Minekawa Takako / Clover
15. Minekawa Takako / "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
16. Minekawa Takako / Snow Frolic

Disc 2
1. L⇔R / 7 Voices
2. L⇔R / Package...I missed my natural
3. L⇔R / Take It or Leave It
4. L⇔R / Circling Times Square
5. L⇔R / One Is Magic (and the other is logic)
6. L⇔R / Lazy Girl
7. Spiral Life / Further Along
8. Spiral Life / Moonride
9. Spiral Life / Turn!Turn!Turn!
10. Spiral Life / Game Over
11. Spiral Life / My Generation
12. Spiral Life / Jet

P.S.C. UVCA-3012/13
Out now (8/8), ¥3000
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower

Album sampler

Find out more about: L-R, MINEKAWA Takako, Spiral Life

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


SMAP has a new album out now, and as usual they manage to have a bit of good connections and taste in terms of producers. This time again Konishi Yasuharu produces one song, a cover "karajishi botan", the theme from late-60's drama series "Showa zankyōden". Orchestration is by Kubota Haruo. Also included are songs by Shiina Ringo, Maeyamada Kenichi (Hyadain), Kanno Yōko, and Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth).

There are limited editions of which I'll spare you the details (a "special edition" comes with one CD per song, total 19..!).

SMAP "GIFT of SMAP"

SMAP "GIFT of SMAP"Disc 1
1. Theme of gift -prologue-
2. Just Go!
3. sakasama no sora
4. HIKARI
5. ohayō
6. kimi to Boogie Woogie
7. gift
8. manatsu no datsugoku
9. inakute sabishii
10. I Wanna Be Your Man
11. Angel Heart
12. mae ni!
13. Theme of gift -epilogue-

Disc 2
1. nee...
2. La + LOVE & PEACE
3. Special Thanks
4. karajishi botan
5. MONSTERS
6. CRAZY FIVE

Victor VICL-64111
Out now (8/8), ¥3429 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records , YesAsia
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Find out more about: Hyadain, KANNO Yoko, KONISHI Yasuharu, KUBOTA Haruo, SHIINA Ringo, SMAP

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Instrumental jazz band TRI4TH has a 2nd album out now. This time again the producer is Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience) who also did their first album.

TRI4TH "TRI4TH AHEAD"

1. Sunlight Yellow Over Drive
2. TRY AHEAD
3. Night Hawks
4. Himawari
5. Rumble Fish
6. Circle
7. Seven
8. New Life Standard
9. Black Panther
10. Dance 'em All
11. Burn, Jyugoya Burn

Palette Sounds PLSD-014
Out now (8/8), ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , Sunlight Yellow Over Drive - Tri4th Ahead (World), Sunlight Yellow Over Drive - TRI4TH AHEAD (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"TRY AHEAD"

Find out more about: SUNAGA Tatsuo, TRI4TH

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Rocketman (aka Fukawa Ryō) has a new album out this week! This contains a few tracks that were released for download only over the past few years, but also several brand new songs. Featured are Verbal (m-flo) and Hatsune Miku, as well as various female singers.

Rocketman "koi Romantic!!"

1. Forever Debussy (Instrumental)
2. LOVE DISCO feat. Triendl Reina
3. koi Romantic!! feat. VERBAL (m-flo)
4. color of nothing feat. Kaori Sakakibara (Lamp)
5. baby feat. May J.
6. It's time
7. LOVE IS ALL ~summer breeze mix~
8. dancemusic ~niceDJ mix~
9. tonda Hattary Boy
10. HAPPY END OF THE WORLD
11. soredemo bokutachi wa ikiteyuku feat. Kawashima Ai
12. I need just the power of your love
13. Waltz in August (Instrumental)

Victor VICL-63905
Out 8/8, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , YesAsia, Forever Debussy - 恋ロマンティック!!
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"koi Romantic!! feat. VERBAL"

Continue reading...

Find out more about: Rocketman, Verbal

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Moonriders' Okada Tohru, lately active with CTO LAB., has a 4th album out this week. It has been no less than 19 years since his previous solo album! Included are several self-covers of Moonriders favorites, and the album is full of collaborations with many guest artists. The video seen below was directed by the Aprils' Nakama Hirohisa.

As you might have noticed with the Chiroline ver.2 and Recto Berso releases he produced, it's Okada Tohru week! Not only that, but it's also Moonriders week. The Moonriders' final show is being released on DVD (Amazon) and Blu-ray (Amazon), and another member, Takekawa Masahiro, also has a new solo album (Amazon), all out on August 8.

Okada Tohru "kakū eiga ongakushū II ~Erewhon no roku de~"
岡田徹 「架空映画音楽集 II ~エレホンの麓で~」

1. Erewhon no roku de (with Erewhon gakudan)
2. shiawase no basho (with 5MBS + little moa)
3. Knitcap man (with LGO Accordeon tai)
4. ii Papa, ii Mama, warui Papa (with Half LGO)
5. getsumen sanka (with Wounder 3 + tenorierie)
6. ame no hi no Janne (with Nagisa Jūgo)
7. shūmatsu no koibito (with Pinocchio P)
8. Time of EVE
9. Kiss your tears awa (with yotto)
10. PIO no chōritsu (with CTO LAB.)
11. Days of OPUS (with OPUS BOYS [Takekawa Masahiro, Shirai Ryōmei] + Natsuaki Fumihisa)
12. sora no namae (with Yamamoto Seiichi + Unehara Fumiaki)
13. soshite fune wa iku darō (with Agata Morio)

Valb VALB-1001
Out 8/8, ¥2858 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , エレホンの麓で with エレホン楽団 - 架空映画音楽集II - erehwonの麓で
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"shiawase no basho"

Find out more about: CTO LAB., OKADA Tohru

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Recto Berso is a band of two guys who love vintage instruments, especially Beatles-era Gibson guitars. They even go as far as using recording equipment from back in the day to create sounds of the same texture. For that reason it seems that they've been getting an amount of interest from the press and Beatlemania.

They seem to have an album on the way, but first here comes an EP of 4 songs produced by Okada Tohru (CTO LAB., Moonriders) and released on his own label.

Recto Berso "Nice To Love You!"
レクト・ベルソ 「Nice To Love You!」

1. Maria
2. My Bird Has Flown Away
3. Vision
4. For The Day, All Day

Valb VALB-1003
Out 8/8, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"My Bird Has Flown Away"

Find out more about: OKADA Tohru, Recto Berso

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Chiroline (reads -lyn) was a girl techno-pop unit that was produced by Okada Tohru (CTO LAB., ex-Moonriders) in the mid-to-late-80's. This year sees the formation of a group of 4 new girls borrowing the same name, again produced by the same man. Included in this first album are 6 self-covers, plus 5 brand new songs. Contributing to the song-writing and music are members of CTO LAB. and Urbangarde, among others. In a direction similar to CTO LAB., the girls are said to like gadgets and small instruments, as can be seen in the fun video below, directed by The Aprils' Nakama Hirohisa.

HMV online offers a bonus autographed album jacket (while supplies last).

Chiroline ver.2 "Chit Chat Chiroline"
新・チロリン 「おしゃべりチロリン」

Japanese title: shin Chirorine "oshaberi Chiroline"

1. konna ja dame kamisama
2. tochū ni shite ne
3. Chocolate sensō
4. MIRA to osanpo
5. (Chiroline no) hoshi ni negai o
6. B-612 ni koi o shite
7. namida wa shōjo no buki
8. Post! Post! Post!
9. Please
10. uwa no sora mitsuketa
11. hashiru hito

Valb VALB-1002
Out 8/8, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) , ‎Chit Chat Chiroline - Oshaberi Chiroline by Shin・Chiroline on Apple Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"tochu ni shite ne (short edit)"

Find out more about: Chiroline ver.2, CTO LAB., OKADA Tohru, Urbangarde

Posted on | Released on August 8, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


COMA*, described as a genre-less electro band with a danceable sound, is featured this month on Nakatsuka Takeshi's Delicatessen Lab digital label. Lead track "P.O.P" has already managed to get a #1 in iTunes Japan's jazz chart!

COMA* can be seen live on August 8 at Shibuya Plug.

COMA* "idea" (Download)

1. P.O.P
2. Lunar Orbiter

Delicatessen Lab
Out now (8/1), ¥400
Sample/buy: P.O.P - idea - Single (Japan)

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Find out more about: COMA*

Posted on | Released on August 1, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


Yellow Magic Orchestra have a brand new song available for download! First preformed live at World Happiness 2011, annual summer festival always headlined by YMO, "Fire Bird" was inspired by Tezuka Osamu's character "hi no tori" (aka "Phoenix") which was the event's symbol.

Yellow Magic Orchestra can be seen live at World Happiness 2012 on August 12.

Yellow Magic Orchestra "Fire Bird" (Download)

commmons
Out now (8/1), ¥250
Sample/buy: Amazon MP3 (Japan), Fire Bird - Fire Bird - Single (Japan)

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Find out more about: YMO

Posted on | Released on August 1, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


The song "Opportunities" from novaFASE's "Girls Lab Haus" album released from Orange Records has being reworked into a 2012 new mix edition. Also, "Milk Crown Music", used on the same album as a short interlude, is being made available in its full-length version for the first time. A new house remix by st.classics completes this digital EP release from Flawless World's on-going remastered re-issue series.

novaFASE is the club/pop music unit of sound producer Tanaka Tomonao (lately better known as Tremorela) and Groove Unchant.

Also don't miss two bonus Tremorela new remixes (of novaFASE and Misswonda) now available for free download on Soundcloud!

novaFASE "Opportunities" (Download)

1. Opportunities (2012NewMixEDITION)
2. Milk Crown Music (2012ExtendedNewMixEDITION)
3. Opportunities (st.classics REMIX)

Flawless World FWRD-004
Out now (8/1), ¥429 (excl. 10% tax)
Sample/buy: Amazon (Japan), Opportunities (2012 New Mix Edition) - Opportunities - Single (World), Opportunities (2012NewMixEDITION) - Opportunities - Single (Japan), Amazon U.S. (U.S.)

Sampler clip

Find out more about: Groove Unchant, novaFASE, st.classics, TANAKA Tomonao

Posted on | Released on August 1, 2012 | Comments (0) | Tweet |


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