Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Independent electronic artist Akane Hosaka from Tokyo's underground Enban scene has a 4th album that was released this month, follow-up to "niko niko denki muzic" (2008 label Sonore).

Recorded, manufactured (CD-R) and distributed by the artist herself, the new 10-song instrumental electro-pop album is now available to the world through Tokyo Recohan. Update (2024/11/4): It's now also avalable digitally on Bandcamp.

Hear "kachikachi Typewriter" and "uchū no korisu-chan" in full at MySpace. Also hear this sampler clip.

Akane Hosaka "pikkonoco"
ホサカアカネ 「pikkonoco」

1. osoba to mugi
2. 60's Dream My Home
3. ame no hi
4. kachikachi Typewriter
5. gaikoku ryokou
6. uchū no korisu-chan
7. kurashi
8. Vous dancez?
9. Mecha Bird "Chika"
10. 1!2!pikotan (1!2!Sports Remix)

Out now (Oct. 2012), ¥700
Order: Bandcamp, Tokyo Recohan

Kushibiki Sayaka Trio features Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) and Furukawa Taichi (aka TA-1, ex-Riddim Saunter), and this 7" is a first release under this name. The single includes covers of Sarah Vaughan's "Lover's Concert" (original on YouTube) and Suzuki Lanlan's "kimi to boku" (original on YouTube).

Audio samples at Jet Set.

An album titled "Day & Midnight" including both songs is coming on December 19. Stay tuned!

Kushibiki Sayaka Trio "Lover's Concert" (7")
櫛引彩香トリオ 「Lover's Concert」

A. Lover's Concert
B. kimi to boku

Niw! NEP34
Out now (10/9), ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Party big band Wack Wack Rhythm Band has a new 7" single out now! The A-side is a new version of their hit song "Wack Wack Rhythm Island" now featuring vocals by their newest member Lemon. The B-side is a cover of Nina Simone's "Ain't Got No, I Got Life".

Both songs will be included on upcoming greatest hits album "XX Classics" to be released November 7.

Wack Wack Rhythm Band can be seen live on November 11 at Aoyama Cay, celebrating their 20th anniversary with guests Rhymester and You The Rock, and DJs including Konishi Yasuharu. Tickets are available through Lawson (L-code 76216) or reservation at Cay.

Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Long Island Margarita / Ain't Got No, I Got Life" (7")

A. Long Island Margarita
B. Ain't Got No, I Got Life

High Contrast HCR-9657
Out 10/24, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Polysics has a new single out now! Title track will be included in a full-length album coming on December 5.

The limited edition contains a DVD (Region 2 NTSC) of a digest of 18 songs from their 15th anniversary show held at Shibuya AX last March 4.

Songs can be sampled at CDJapan and other retailers.

Polysics "Everybody Say No"

1. Everybody Say No
2. Watson 2012
3. KI.KA.I.DA! 2012

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Ki/oon KSCL-2135
Out now (10/24), ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (19% 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-2137
Out now (10/24), ¥1165 (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.

Sakamoto Ryuichi has a new album out now, together with his trio also featuring Jaques Morelenbaum (cello) and Judy Kang (violin). The album was recorded in Portugal following last year's European tour. It's his first album as a trio since "1996".

Audio samples of all tracks can be heard at CDJapan and other retailers.

Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio will tour Japan and Korea (Seoul) in December.

Ryuichi Sakamoto "Three"
坂本龍一 「THREE」

1. Happy End
2. The Last Emperor
3. Bibo No Aozora
4. High Heels
5. Seven Samurai
6. A Flower is not a Flower
7. Still life in A
8. Nostalgia
9. Tango
10. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
11. Ichimei (Harakiri - Death of a Samurai)
12. Tamago 2004
13. Parolibre

commmons RZCM-59189
Out now (10/17), ¥3334 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

This is the debut album by newcomer instrumental electro artist Ryoma Takemasa (Soundcloud) who takes his roots from various dance music scenes, and has been making himself known internationally with tracks played by the likes of Laurent Garnier and James Holden.

More audio samples at MySpace.

Ryoma Takemasa "Catalyst"

1. Mr. And Mrs....
2. Strictly Street (My Home Setagaya)
3. Dual House Groove #5 (Album Edit)
4. Takemacycle Part 3 (Instrumental Dub)
5. Deepn' (The Backwoods Remix)
6. Collage (Scene 2)
7. Jules And Vega Talking About Foot Massage
8. Groove A'
9. Thoul Skitt
10. Untitled 3.4
11. Catalyst (Autumn Evening Mix)
12. Deepn' (Gonno Remix)

UNKNOWN season USCD-1002
Out now (10/17), ¥2000 (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.

"Catalyst (Autumn Evening Mix)"

De De Mouse has a 4th album out now! This album is said to have a conceptual story tone based around the "time" keyword.

HMV offers an extra CD of a non-album track (while supplies last). There's also a bonus track included when buying the full album on iTunes.

De De Mouse can be seen live at Daikanyama Unit on October 27. A one-man release party will also be held at Akasaka Blitz on December 6.

De De Mouse "sky was dark"

1. floats & falls
2. bubble marble girl
3. flicks tonight
4. fading tonight
5. sky as dark
6. sky was dark
7. laugh,sing,clap
8. star appears
9. my alone again
10. dusk of love
11. frosty window

not records NOT-0001
Out now (10/17), ¥2000 (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.

"floats & falls"

mi-gu, the unit of drummer Araki Yuko and Shimizu Hirotaka (both also of part of The Cornelius Group, If By Yes, and Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band), has a 3rd album out now on Chimera Music in the U.S.

The album is available as a limited edition signed CD (only 300 copies), or as a LP that comes with a download code. This is also available digitally directly from the label or on iTunes.

There's a show in Brooklyn today Thursday October 4. Details here.

mi-gu "Choose The Light"

1. Choose The Light
2. Lazy
3. Sakaiminato
4. Pulling From Above
5. Floating
6. Touch Wood
7. Oshiro
8. Spider
9. The Dummer and the Dancer
10. What To Do?
11. From Space

(The LP contains "Give Me Your Hands / From Brain (Bonus track)" instead of "From Space".)

Chimera Music
Out now (10/2)
LP $17: Chimera Music, Amazon U.S., Amazon Japan, HMV Japan
Limited CD $15: Chimera Music
Digital: Chimera Music,

This month from Nakatsuka Takeshi's digital label Delicatessen Lab are two original funky tunes by instrumental brass rock band Yapani!. This single has already made it to #1 on iTunes Japan's jazz chart!

Yapani! can be caught live on October 8 at Shibuya club, in one-man event "Yapanight! vol.3 ~Night Safari~". Ticket reservations can be made on their official site.

Yapani! "Yapani!Lab." (Download)

1. Seven Eyes
2. Dr.Yellow

Delicatessen Lab
Out now (10/3), ¥400
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Jazz quartet quasimode has a 6th original album coming. Featured are guests including Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band) and Toki Asako (ex-Cymbals).

The limited edition comes as a high fidelity HQCD (plays in normal CD players), and a bonus DVD of the "Summer Madness" video clip and other footage.

A tour will be starting at Motion Blue Yokohama on October 4 and 5, and pass by Tokyo at Shibuya Ax on November 23.

quasimode "Soul Cookin'"

1. Opening Time
2. Soul Cookin'
3. Let's Get Down Together
4. Febre Samba
5. Summer Madness feat. Yokoyama Ken (Album Version)
6. Another Sky
7. Leaving Town
8. Slow Motion feat. Toki Asako
9. El Paso Twist
10. King Of Kings
11. Still In The Night
12. Give It Up Turn It Loose feat. Okuyama Minako
13. Keep On Steppin'
14. Closing Time

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
EMI Music TOCT-90041
Out 10/3, ¥3334 (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.

Regular edition (CD only)
EMI Music TOCT-29063
Out 10/3, ¥2667 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"Summer Madness feat. Yokoyama Ken" (Single version)