Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band has a new album coming in September. The all-star band features Sean Lennon, Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius) and Honda Yuka (Cibo Matto)! Guest musicians include Lenny Kravitz, Nels Cline (Wilco), tUnE-yArDs, Andrew Wyatt (Miike Snow) and ?uestlove (The Roots). The whole is produced by Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Honda Yuka, with remixes by King Ad-Rock & Mike D (Beastie Boys) and Cornelius.

The Japanese edition contains bonus track "Story of An Oak Tree", and comes as a high-fidelity Blu-spec CD2 (plays in standard CD players), with a special bonus disc and a sticker.

The U.S. edition is also available for pre-order at Chimera Music and comes with an instant free download of "Moonbeams".

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band "Take Me To The Land Of Hell"

1. Moonbeams
2. Cheshire Cat
3. Tabetai
4. Bad Dancer
5. Little Boy Blue
6. There's No Goodbye
7. 7th Floor
8. New York Noodle Town
9. Land of Hell
10. Watching the Dawn
11. Leaving Tim
12. Shine, Shine
13. Story of An Oak Tree (Japan bonus track)

Chimera Music XQJQ-1010
Out 9/12, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Bad Dancer"

"Moonbeams"

"Tabetai"

DJ Miura Makoto (SoundCloud) has two new mix CDs out now! "song for monsieur" is a swinging mix of bossa nova and easy listening, while "song for mister" is mainly jazz.

Audio samples can be heard at Jet Set (follow the links below).

Makoto Miura "song for monsieur"

Comedy Tonight CTMC-006
Out now (8/18), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Makoto Miura "song for mister"

Comedy Tonight CTMC-007
Out now (8/18), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

20-year-old pianist singer-songwriter Ōta Emiri has a new mini-album coming, and it contains 2 songs produced by Konishi Yasuharu ("fune no hito" and "ude no ke"). In 2007 he was judge at a contest where she won the grand prix.

Featured musicians include members of jōōbachi, akai kōen, Little Creatures, arakajime kimerareta koibitotachi e as well as Asa-chang and more. Ōta Emiri herself plays piano, some drums and percussions.

Ōta Emiri "Renaissance"
おおたえみり 「ルネッサンス」

1. tsuki no reveru
2. bocchi wa High
3. fune no hito
4. odoriko
5. ude no ke
6. Renaissance
7. Curtain

cutting edge CTCR-14748
Out 8/28, ¥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.

"tsuki no reveru"

"Curtain" (may be a different version)

Post-rock band Yucca have a sweet-sounding new single and clip for the summer! The song is available at Bandcamp and iTunes worldwide.

Yucca "summer emotion" (Download)

abcdefg*record
Out now (8/13)
Sample/buy: Bandcamp,

Nakata Yasutaka (capsule) co-produced a song for the movie "Star Trek: Into Darkness", featuring vocals by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The song "Into Darkness" is said to be used in a futuristic club scene, in the Japanese edition of the movie.

The track is currently available on iTunes Japan only, with no word of a CD release. The movie opens in Japan theaters on August 23.

"Star Trek: Into Darkness" Japan official site

J.J. Abrams, Charles Scott, Nakata Yasutaka "Into Darkness (Digital Edit)" (Download)
J.J.エイブラムス、チャールズ・スコット、中田ヤスタカ 「Into Darkness (Digital Edit)」

Warner
Out now (7/10), ¥250
Sample/buy:

How to buy from iTunes Japan from overseas

Music trailer

This is a live recording of Yashiro Aki's first jazz show abroad, following the release of album "Songs Around Midnight" produced by Konishi Yasuharu. The show was held at Birdland in New York on March 27 this year, and featured an appearance by Helen Merrill. The jacket's art direction was done by Konishi Yasuharu.

Yashiro Aki "yume no yoru Live In New York"
八代亜紀 「夢の夜　ライヴ・イン・ニューヨーク」

1. ame no bojō
2. Fly Me To The Moon
3. saikai
4. Johnny Guitar
5. One Rainy Night In Tokyo
6. Autumn Leaves
7. Sway
8. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To with Helen Merrill
9. funauta
10. betsuri

Universal UCCJ-2116
Out 8/21, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Digest clip

"funauta"

"Alternative" idol group BiS unites forces with veteran noise band hijōkaidan (founded in 1979), together forming the first ever noise-idol band: BiS kaidan. This album self-covers several of BiS' songs, and also brings a new cover of Togawa Jun's "suki suki dai suki" (original).

All tracks can be sampled at CDJapan and HMV.

BiS kaidan "BiS kaidan"
BiS階段 「BiS階段」

1. suki suki dai suki
2. PPCC
3. nerve
4. eat it
5. primal.
6. Hide out cut
7. BiS_kaidan

Avex AVCD-38630
Out now (8/7), ¥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.

"suki suki dai suki" (Special Edit)

"eat it" (live)

Techno-pop idol Aira Mitsuki is preparing to go on hiatus, but not before releasing another album. "I'll Be Back" features mostly tracks produced by Terukado as usual, but also ones by Tessy (CANDLES) and Sasaki Kissa (Recoride). All lyrics were written by Aira herself, except for the song Hound Dog that's been heard before on the CD included in her latest live DVD.

Most songs can be sampled here.

Free in-store shows will be held around the release date, including one at Tower Records Shibuya on August 24 from 14:30. More details on her information page.

Also, final shows are to be held on September 15, 28 and 29, all at Shibuya Glad.

Aira Mitsuki "I'll Be Back"

1. Mysteric
2. twinkle twinkle
3. you know
4. Interlude #1
5. Butterfly
6. make new world
7. tell me
8. Interlude #2
9. I still love you
10. Interlude #3
11. I can fly
12. time machine
13. Hound Dog (feat.Terukado)

D-Topia Universe POCS-1208
Out 8/21, ¥2667 (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 comes the annual WIRE compilation, reminding us of the upcoming annual large rave event of the same name organized by Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove). This year WIRE celebrates its 15th anniversary! The 2-CD compilation gives an overview of this year's international line-up, and also brings previously unreleased tracks by Ishino Takkyū, Beroshima, Ken Ishii, Takaaki Itoh, Ryukyudisko, A.Mochi, Tanaka Fumiya, DJ Sodeyama, Mijk van Dijk (feat. Honda Michiyo (ex-Overrocket)).

The event will be held on September 14 at Yokohama Arena. Tickets are now on sale.

Various Artists "WIRE13 Compilation"

Disc 1
(Title / Artist)
1. Serial Puncher / Ken Ishii
2. BTX1 / Len Faki
3. Toronto / 2000 and One
4. Hypnotizing / Bart Skills
5. Last Days Of The District / Philipp Gorbachev
6. Speedo And Boots / Pachanga Boys
7. Chase / Giorgio Moroder
8. Jack Wire / Takkyu Ishino
9. the 15th dimension / Beroshima
10. DISSOLUTION / TAKAAKI ITOH
11. You Need The Drugs / Westbam

Disc 2
1. DJ Hell / Cold Song 2013 Remodeled / Klaus Nomi
2. OMEDETO FIFTEEN / RYUKYUDISKO
3. Komm (Gregor Tresher RMX) / Vath vs. Rother
4. My Wire To You / Mijk van Dijk feat. Michiyo Honda
5. Disabled List / A.MOCHI
6. Dear Inspector / Matias Aguayo
7. FREEDOM / DJ SODEYAMA feat. ReE
8. What can you celebrate? / Fumiya Tanaka
9. Balls (big mix) Radio Edit / Josh Wink
10. Collecting Data (Slam 2013 Remix) / Slam
11. Les Violons Ivres / Agoria

Ki/oon KSCL-2276
Out 8/14, ¥3200 (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.

This new album by performance unit Open Reel Ensemble is a collection of music made for 3 seasons of Issey Miyake's Paris Collection shows.

In addition to a CD of the music, the package contains a DVD of the 2013-14 Autumn/Winter show plus bonus footage of the production process.

An in-store event will be held at Shibuya Tower Records on August 30 from 20:00 (details). It will also be aired on Tower Records' Tower Revolve Project Ustream here.

Open Reel Ensemble "Tape and Cloth" (CD+DVD)

1. 2012 A/W "Mineral Miracle" (scenes 1-3)
2. 2013 S/S "Flapping Colors" (Original version) (scenes 1-6)
3. 2013 A/W "Hop, Step, Check" (scenes 1-6)

Roth project ROTH-111
Out now (7/17), ¥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.

"Tape and Cloth" trailer

ISSEY MIYAKE 2013-14 Autumn / Winter

Portmanteau is a new ambient unit, collaboration of Yasuda Toshiyuki (ex-FPM), Morgan Fisher (ex-Mott the Hoople) and Kimura Tatsuji (dip in the pool). This first album features guest vocalists Koda Miyako (dip in the pool) and Honda Michiyo (ex-Overrocket).

Portmanteau "Portmanteau"

1. By This River
2. Compressed Carbon
3. Cave Hymn
4. The New Man
5. Jenny the Aviarist
6. Heaven's Above
7. Orgel 2913
8. Toast to my Shadows
9. Maria in Musical Box
10. Kodaphone Opera
11. Seashell and Quaoar
12. Orgel 3038
13. Patterning

Bic-River Inc. BIC-0001
Out now (6/26), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

1st live show promo clip, feat. "By This River"

Dots+Borders, the legendary unit of Kaji Hideki and Horie Hirohisa (Neil & Iraiza, The Cornelius Group, pupa), has teamed up with young rock band Sister Jet for a new album full of British-influenced upbeat tracks.

Sister Jet with Dots+Borders "'New Quad' 2x2=4 / very well L.P."

1. Lair's High
2. Manufactured Monkey Dance
3. Have a Cappa Tea
4. Don't Go Surfing
5. S.J.D.B.
6. (Too Rich To Drink) Cheap Wine
7. Alarm, Delay
8. Unsquare Monkey Dance

felicity cap-178 PECF-1076
Out now (8/7), ¥2191 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Have a Cappa Tea"

"Manufactured Monkey Dance"

Perfume have a brand new album to be released this October! "LEVEL3" comes about 2 years after the previous, "JPN", and will include lead tracks from singles "Spring of Life", "Spending all my time", "mirai no Museum" and "Magic of Love", as well as new track "Party Maker" being featured in a recent TV commercial.

The limited edition comes with an extra DVD, with special packaging of 3 different variations (selected randomly for online orders). That's still a little while until the release, but it's the right time to place limited edition orders.

Perfume "LEVEL3"

1. Enter the Sphere
2. Spring of Life (Album-mix)
3. Magic of Love (Album-mix)
4. Clockwork
5. 1mm (World) (Japan)
6. mirai no Museum
7. Party Maker
8. furikaeru to iru yo
9. Point
10. daijobanai
11. Handy Man
12. Sleeping Beauty
13. Spending all my time (Album-mix)
14. Dream Land

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal UPCP-9005
Out 10/2, ¥3900
Order: HMV, Amazon, Tower (Japan only), YesAsia, CDJapan

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal UPCP-1001
Out 10/2, ¥2914 (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.

"1mm (short ver.)"

"1mm" teaser

"Party Maker" from Chocola BB Sparkling TV commercial

"Magic of Love"

"mirai no Museum"

More videos after the jump...

Rapper Kaseki Cider's new album is a collection of anime song covers, arranged in his own style. Guests include Kaji Hideki, Kojima Mayumi, Horigome Takaki (Kirinji), EPO, Yumemi Nemu (Dempa Gumi.inc) and Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville).

HMV gives away a 20-minute DVD-R while supplies last.

Kaseki Cider "Kaseki Cider no Ani-song!! Vacation!"
かせきさいだぁ 「かせきさいだぁのアニソング!! バケイション!」

(Original artist in parentheses)
1. 10% no ame yoho (H2O)
2. koi no B-kyū Action (Itō Sayaka)
3. tenshi no e no gu (Iijima Mari)
4. Rouge no dengon (Arai Yumi)
5. tokimeki Tonight (Kamo Haurmi)
6. Fairy Night (Sonia Rosa)
7. UNLUCKY GIRL!! (Sweety)
8. motto ☆ hade ni ne! (Tomatsu Haruka)
9. koi no jumon wa sukitokimekitokisu (Itō Sayaka)
10. zankoku na tenshi no These (Takahashi Yōko)
11. seikan hikō (Nakajima Megumi)

AWDR/LR2 DDCB-12057
Out 8/7, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Rouge no dengon"

See also:
"Mr. City Pop"
"Sound Burger Planet"

This video is a whole show from Denki Groove's latest tour, "Tour Panda 2013", in support of their "Human Beings and Animals" album released last February. The show was held on March 13, 2013 at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo. Always up with the latest technology, the set featured two large head sculptures on which was projected 3D-mapped video.

This comes in Blu-ray and DVD formats, each available either as a limited edition with a 2-CD set of the same live show, or as just the Blu-ray/DVDs.

HMV offers a free panda sticker (while supplies last).

Denki Groove "'Human Beings and Animals' Tour Panda 2013" (DVD & Blu-ray)
電気グルーヴ 「"人間も動物"ツアーパンダ2013」

1. Opening
2. The Big Shirts
3. Missing Beatz
4. Shame
5. Shameful
6. Zoo Desire
7. Mononoke Dance
8. Slow Motion
9. Arpeggio to Oscillator
10. Disco Union
11. Hi-Score
12. Monkey ni keikoku
13. B.B.E.(Bull Beam Express)
14. P
15. Killer Pomato
16. Prof. Radio
17. Oyster (watashi wa kaki ni naritai)
18. Upside Down
19. The Words
20. FLASHBACK DISCO
21. Shangri-La
22. Shonen Young
23. N.O.
24. Asunaro Sunshine
25. Reaction
26. Denki Biribiri
27. Cafe de oni (kao to kagaku)

Extra: DenG gundan hora fuki Tour dokōki

Blu-ray limited edition (Blu-ray + 2 CDs)
Region A, NTSC
Ki/oon KSXL-40
Out 8/7, ¥7000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (21% off *), HMV (17% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD limited edition (2 DVDs + 2 CDs)
Region 2, NTSC
Ki/oon KSBL-6097
Out 8/7, ¥6000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (23% 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.

Blu-ray regular edition (Blu-ray)
Region A, NTSC
Ki/oon KSXL-43
Out 8/7, ¥6300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (21% off *), HMV (17% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD regular edition (2 DVDs)
Region 2, NTSC
Ki/oon KSBL-6101
Out 8/7, ¥5300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon (26% 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.

"Shame"

kataomoi is an indies band that's been around for about 10 years. While they released some CD-R EPs and participated to some compilations through the years, here comes their first full-length album. It's coming from the Kakubarhythm label.

Release special page

A release party will be held at Tokyo Kinema Club on September 29.

kataomoi "kataomoin Da House"
片想い 「片思インダハウス」

1. kuda ni yosete
2. tristeza de carnaval
3. Smoky omoro
4. Daily Disco
5. odoru riyū
6. subete o
7. hikari no naka kara konnichi wa
8. Universe
9. Recreation Song
10. odore! sentakuki
11. kokkyō

Kakubarhythm DDCK-1032
Out 8/7, ¥2381 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, YesAsia, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Daily Disco"

Album trailer

Here's a 2nd album by hostess and singer Nakano Aya. Like her previous album "zurui hito", this is produced by DJ Hase Hajimu and consists of various covers in jazz and latin styles.

A 7" can also be found at Jet Set and Amazon.

Nakano Aya "heta na uso"
なかの綾 「へたなうそ」

(Original artist in parentheses)
1. Love Is Over (Ouyang Fei Fei)
2. watashi wa Piano (Takada Mizue)
3. tsugunai (Teresa Teng)
4. Hotel (Shimazu Yutaka)
5. suzume no namida (Ke Unsuku)
6. dare yori suki nanoni (Furuuchi Tōko)
7. koi ni ochite -Fall In Love- (Kobayashi Akiko)

Universal UMCK-1454
Out now (7/24), ¥1905 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"Love Is Over"

Buffalo Daughter have been around for 20 years! And of course they still rock! This is a special greatest hits album released for the occasion. Not only some of their best songs are included, but also new remixes (including one by the Beastie Boys' Adrock!), new collaborations (with Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius), Tamaki Roy & Chinza Dopeness, Higurashi (Screaming Seagull Kiss Her Kiss Her), etc.), and rare live versions.

Hear audio samples at CDJapan and other retailers.

Buffalo Daughter are also said to be working on a new album to be completed next year!

Buffalo Daughter "ReDiscoVer. Best, Re-recordings and Remixes of Buffalo Daughter"

1. New Rock (20th) feat. KAKATO (Tamaki Roy x chinza Dopeness)
2. Beautiful You (20th) feat. Higurashi Aiha & Arishima Kuresuke
3. LI303VE
4. Great Five Lakes (20th) feat. Oyamada Keigo
5. Dr. Mooooooooog
6. Discothéque Du Paradis
7. Cold Summer
8. Peace (Remix by Adrock)
9. Socks, Drugs and Rock'n'roll (Live) (Sax, Drugs and Rock'n'roll) feat. Tachibana Hajime
10. Volcanic Girl
11. A11 A10ne
12. Cyclic (Live)
13. Balloon (Remix by Avec Avec)
14. hora ana

U/M/A/A UMA-1022
Out now (7/24), ¥2477 (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.

"New Rock (20th) feat. KAKATO (Tamaki Roy x chinza Dopeness)"

"Peace (Remix by Adrock)"