Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Denki Groove celebrates its 25th anniversary with new mini-album "25"! Check out the new clip below (hopefully... as it seems to be restricted to maybe to Japan only?), or at least audio samples at CDJapan.

This is accompanied by a tour that will stop at Zepp Tokyo on November 7 and 8.

Denki Groove "25"
電気グルーヴ 「25」

1. Baby's on Fire
2. Denki Groove 25 shūnen no uta (ekimae de saki ni mattoru bai) (25 Mix)
3. A.C.I.D.I.S.C.O.
4. Super Star (Re-boot)
5. Pan! Pan! Pan!
6. 25 Raw Beats

Ki/oon KSCL-2503
Out 10/29, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Baby's on Fire"

Here's a new single by Yun*chi, follow-up to mini-album "Starlight*" released earlier this year. This includes tracks produced by Missile Chewbacca ("Fairy*") and London artist bo en ("Dancing*"). The title track is being used as the ending theme of TV anime series "Log Horizon".

Yun*chi "Wonderful Wonder World*"

1. Wonderful Wonder World*
2. Fairy*
3. Dancing*
4. Wonderful Wonder World* (instrumental)
5. Fairy* (instrumental)
6. Dancing* (instrumental)

playlist Zero CRCP-10328
Out 10/22, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"Wonderful Wonder World*"

Sampler clip

jōdan hakushaku (aka Count Joke, at least according to their Facebook and Twitter account names) is the unit of Maezono Naoki (Maezono Naoki Group) and Arai Toshiya (Missing Linc). Together they deliver catchy pop tunes. This 2nd single is available at Jet Set.

Listen to the trailer clip below, and also go hear their previous single in full at SoundCloud.

jōdan hakushaku "nagisa"
冗談伯爵 "渚"

1. nagisa
2. LED
3. nagisa (instrumental)
4. LED (instrumental)

Love Shop Record LSB-1003
Out now (10/15), ¥600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Trailer

Here's a 7" cut of two songs from Especia's excellent album "Gusto", here presented in vinyl-only edits by Schtein & Longer and PellyColo.

Audio samples can be heard at Jet Set.

Especia "Gusto (7" Vinyl Sampler)" (7")

A. No1 Sweeper (nueva cocina) edit by Schtein & Longer
B. kurukana (aero wao edit) edit by PellyColo

Tsubasa / Jet Set JS7S085
Out 10/17, ¥1323 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

"No1 Sweeper"

"kurukana"

Jōsei, pianist of jazz band Soil & "Pimp" Sessions has a 1st solo album out now, on which he plays a Fazioli concert grand piano. Included are covers such as jazz standard "Blue in Green" and Japanese traditional children's song "aka tonbo", and also many of Josei's originals including "One and Alone" (which was the base of Soil's "Hey Tagger, I'm Here feat. Bonnie Pink").

Check out the clips below, and the release's official site where all songs can be sampled.

Josei "I See You While Playing The Piano"
丈青 「I See You While Playing The Piano」

1. Friends are Comin'
2. One and Alone
3. Crazy Race
4. Blue in Green
5. My One and Only Love
6. We'll Be Together Again
7. Body and Soul
8. Miles' Mode
9. Myself
10. When I Was a Boy
11. Akatonbo
12. I See You While Playing The Piano

Spiral Records XQAW-1107
Out 10/8, ¥2871 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Trailer clip

"I See You While Playing The Piano"

Noppal is a female rapper whose 1st mini-album was just released on LUVRAW's label Image Cluv. Producers include Dorian, VIDEOTAPEMUSIC, Mr.Melody (PPP) and more.

Hear more sound samples at Jet Set.

NOPPAL 「SUMMER EP 2015」

1. I Luv MaryJane (Pro. Mr.MELODY)
2. Stay Up (Pro. DORIAN)
3. Summer Night Party (Pro. DORIAN)
4. Lazy SunDay (Pro. VIDEOTAPEMUSIC)
5. nanimo nai hi (Pro. Osamu Ansai)
6. I Luv MaryJane DJ MAYAKU Remix
7. I Luv MaryJane (Inst)
8. Stay Up (Inst)
9. Summer Night Party (Inst)
10. Lazy SunDay (Inst)
11. nanimo nai hi (Inst)
12. I Luv MaryJane DJ MAYAKU Remix (Inst)

Image Cluv LUVB-001
Out 10/8, ¥1389 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"I Luv Mary Jane"

"Summer Night Party" (Preview)

Tabla musician U-zhaan (formerly of Asa-chang & Junray) has a first solo album out now. Featured are guest artists Sakamoto Ryūichi (on a cover of YMO's "Technopolis"), Cornelius, Hanaregumi, De De Mouse, Hifana, Kakato (Tamaki Roy & Chinza Dopeness), Ametsub and agraph.

All songs can be sampled at Amazon or HMV. The album is also available to buy in digital format directly from U-zhaan's site (in WAV and MP3 formats).

U-zhaan "Tabla Rock Mountain"

1. Getting Ready - U-zhaan
2. Chicken Masala Bomb - U-zhaan x HIFANA
3. Tabla'n'Rap - U-zhaan x KAKATO (Tamaki ROY x Chinza DOPENESS)
4. Welcome Rain - U-zhaan x Ametsub
5. ore no shōuchū - U-zhaan x Hanaregumi
6. Flying Nimbus - U-zhaan x DE DE MOUSE
7. Technopolis - U-zhaan x Sakamoto Ryūichi
8. Homesick in Calcutta - U-zhaan x Cornelius
9. Raga Mishra Kafi - U-zhaan x Babui x agraph

Golden Harvest Recordings GDHV-003
Out 10/8, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Homesick in Calcutta Vol.1" (look for the other volumes too!)

"Tabla'n'Rap"

Cherryboy Function has released a 3rd mini-album of his "suggested function" series. It had been almost 4 years since the 2nd one. This new release includes 5 original songs and a remix by Dorian!

Cherryboy Function can be seen live this Friday November 24 at Nakameguro solfa (details), and on Saturday November 25 at Shibuya Koara.

Cherryboy Function "suggested function EP#3"

1. material sweet
2. gauche experience
3. hard rose
4. bold night
5. missing dreams
6. material sweet -Dorian Remix-

ExT Recordings EXT-0020
Out 10/8, ¥1389 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"gauche experience"

"Material Sweet (Dorian Remix)"

tofubeats has a first major album out now. Titled "First Album", it actually follows indies album "Lost Decade" (2013). Included are collaborations with 9 guest artists, including previously released songs with Fujii Takashi ("Disco no kamisama", Moritaka Chisato ("Don't Stop The Music"), lyrical school, as well as new ones with Bonnie Pink, PES (Rip Slyme), L.A. singer LIZ, and more.

Check out the video for "20140803" below, which tofubeats filmed at home by himself, as well as many other clips.

The limited edition comes with a bonus CD of most of the tracks' instrumental versions.

tofubeats "First Album"

1. 20140809 with lyrical school
2. #eyezonu
3. poolside feat.PES (RIP SLYME)
4. Come On Honey! feat. Arai Hitomi (Tokyo Girls' Style) & okadada
5. Disco no kamisama feat. Fujii Takashi
6. oshiete kensaku feat. Noko (Shinsei kamattechan)
7. CAND¥¥¥LAND feat. LIZ
8. asa ga kuru made owaru koto no nai Dance o -Album version-
9. Populuxe
10. zero to eight
11. framed moments
12. content ID
13. Her Favorite feat. okadada
14. Don't Stop The Music feat. Moritaka Chisato -Album Version-
15. way to yamate
16. koromogae feat. BONNIE PINK
17. hitori
18. 20140803

Limited edition (2 CDs)
Warner Music WPCL-11990
Out 10/2, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (1 CD only)
Warner Music WPCL-11992
Out 10/2, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"20140803"

"poolside feat. PES (RIP SLYME)"

"Come On Honey! feat. Arai Hitomi (Tokyo Girls' Style)"

More videos after the jump.

Osaka-based city-pop idol group Especia had a new live DVD out now, of a show held on June 1st, 2014 at Umeda Club Quattro in Osaka. In this show, they were backed by a live band of 8 musicians. The package contains a 40-page photo booklet. Check out the digest clip below.

Another show with a full band will be held at Shibuya O-East on December 14. Tickets are on sale.

Especia "Viva Discoteca Especia 2014" (DVD)

1. AMARGA
2. Night Rider
3. Parlament
4. Orange Fast Lane
5. kirameki Seaside
6. FunkyRock
7. Sensual Game
8. Twilight Palm Beach
9. ame no Parlor
10. Interlude
11. Maserati Nagisa Medley
12. Intro
13. BayBlues
14. BEHIND YOU
15. Abyss
16. FOOLISH
17. No1 Sweeper
18. Theme of BayBridge
19. X-O (ENCORE)
20. YA-ME-TE! (ENCORE)
21. Midnight Confusion! (ENCORE)
22. Twinkle Emotion (DOUBLE ENCORE)
23. Midnight Confusion (Purness Waterman Edit) (DOUBLE ENCORE)

Tsubasa Records TRNW-63
Out now (10/1), ¥2778 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (21% off *), HMV (23% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Digest clip

Food-themed unit DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan have a new 3-song EP out now. The song "kyūri no Kyū-chan" is a collaboration with the cucumber character of the same name, who happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

A special "Kyū-chan" edition at a cheaper price has a different tracklist, with just the Kyū-chan song and a bonus remix.

DJ Misoshiru to MC Gohan "OPQ EP"
DJみそしるとMCごはん 「OPQ EP」

1. omanjū
2. PIZZA
3. kyūri no Kyū-chan

Regular edition
Ki/oon Music KSCL-2481
Out 10/1, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

1. kyūri no Kyū-chan
2. kyūri no Kyū-chan (EATBEAT! remix)

"Kyū-chan edition"
Ki/oon Music KSCL-2482
Out 10/1, ¥917 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"kyūri no Kyū-chan"