Tokyo's Coolest Sound

What's new Pizzicato? Well here's an exciting album coming this week! Various groups from Tower Records' idol-only label T-Palette Records cover nothing but Pizzicato Five songs! Featured are Vanilla Beans, Negicco, lyrical school, Idol Renaissance and onelittlekiss.

The whole was supervised by Konishi Yasuharu himself. Tracks were produced mainly by each group's usual crew, though Vanilla Beans have songs arranged by Arai Toshiya (Konishi's current programmer) and Yoshida Tetsuto (ex-Readymade) with Hase Yasuhiro (Yume to Cosme). The whole should be a delightful collection of great classics with a brand new sound.

The jacket was illustrated by Sumire of Twee Grrrls Club.

Various Artists "Idol bakari Pizzicato -Konishi Yasuharu x T-Palette Records-"
「アイドルばかりピチカート -小西康陽×T-Palette Records-」

(Title / Artist)
1. La dépression (fukeiki) / Idol Renaissance
2. Airplane / Idol Renaissance
3. I (watashi no subete) / Vanilla Beans
4. It's a Beautiful Day / Vanilla Beans
5. Jolly Bubbly Lovely / Negicco
6. Hippie Day / lyrical school
7. Moderns (gendaijin) / onelittlekiss
8. Tout va bien (banji kaichō) / onelittlekiss
9. Magic Carpet Ride / Negicco
10. Sweet Soul Revue (Instrumental)
11. Sweet Soul Revue / Vanilla Beans

Tokuma Japan TKCA-74215
Out 4/22, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Teaser digest clip

Here comes Record Store Day 2015, to be held this Saturday April 18! On that day, people go to record shops to buy vinyl records available exclusively in shops on that day. No pre-orders or even online sales, at least not until later. Jet Set will sell online from May 2 only.

So here are a few picks of some great releases coming this weekend. The full list can be seen on the official site, and participating shops are listed here.

Many events are also being held, such as this one at Jet Set Records (Kyoto on Saturday and Tokyo on Sunday), with Konishi Yasuharu, Hoshino Michiru and more!

Kinoco Hotel "Marianne no jubaku" (LP)
キノコホテル 「マリアンヌの呪縛」

Vinyl edition of latest album.

Yamaha Music Communications XWJW-10003
Out 4/18, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kinoco Hotel "Marianne no tsuioku" (12")

Clear red vinyl! Analog edition of 6-song mini-album sold exclusively at shows. 5 songs are new recordings of early songs, and one is a previously unreleased track.

A1. shizuka na mori
A2. moetsukitai no
A3. Neon no namida
A4. makka na Jelly
B1. Kinoco Hotel shōka
B2. Kinoco Hotel Annex

Voltage Records BQGS-32
Out 4/18, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Reina & The Blue Valentines "Romantic konya c/w ai no Lost And Found" (7")
野佐怜奈とブルーヴァレンタインズ 「ロマンティック今夜 c/w あいのロストアンドファウンド」

2 brand new songs! Also check out first album "Lady or Girl?".

A. Romantic konya
B. ai no Lost And Found

Apricot Sounds ACEP2
Out 4/18, ¥1389 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Towa Tei with Sheena Ringo "Apple" (7")
テイ・トウワ ウィズ 椎名林檎 「アップル」

The B-side contains an instrumental version!

A. Apple
B. Apple (Instrumental)

Mach Beat MBEP-1501
Out 4/18, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

tofubeats "lost decade PVC" (7")

2 tracks from album "Lost Decade".

A. SO WHAT!? feat. Kariya Seira
B. No.1 feat. G.RINA

Warner/unBORDE/Jet Set JS7S096
Out 4/18, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Especia "Primavera" (12")

12" EP of exclusive tracks.

A1. Aventure wa giniro ni (PellyColo Remix)
A2. Foolish (12" Extended Ver)
B1. kirameki Seaside (12" Extended Ver)
B2. umibe no Satie (va Bien edit)

Tsubasa/Jet Set JS12S114
Out 4/18, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kaji Hideki & The Suzan "young folks" (7")
カジヒデキとTHE SUZAN 「young folks」

A first ever collaboration between Kaji Hideki and NY-based group The Suzan. The song is a cover of Peter, Bjorn & John.

Niw! Records NEP54
Out 4/18, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

LEARNERS "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" (7")

A first release by the unit of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji and model/singer Sara. Both songs feature Eddi Reader (ex-Fairground Attraction). The songs are covers of Blossom Dearie and The Drifters respectively.

A. Rhode Island Is Famous For You
AA. Fools Fall In Love

Niw! Records NEP58
Out 4/18, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

KONCOS / Special Favorite Music "kitsune no kuni / Summer Serve" (7")
KONCOS / Special Favorite Music 「きつねのくに / Summer Serve」

Split single of two brand new tracks.

A. KONCOS / KITSUNE NO KUNI feat. PANORAMA FAMILY
B. Special Favorite Music / Summer Serve (Endless After School Mix)

Niw! Records NEP51
Out 4/18, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

FRONTIER BACKYARD "Putting on BGMs Dorian Remix / missing piece mabanua Remix" (7")

Single cut from remix album "gladness".

A. Putting on BGMs Dorian Remix
B. missing piece mabanua Remix

Niw! Records NEP50
Out 4/18, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Teen Runnings "NOW" (12")

12" edition of 2014 album.

Sauna Cool SC5
Out 4/18, ¥2778 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Homecomings "Somehow, Somewhere" (LP)

LP edition of first full-length album.

A1. Ghost World
A2. Great Escape
A3. Settle Down
A4. Winter Bargain
A5. Lemon Sounds
B1. Somewhere
B2. Mall
B3. Dancing in the Moonlight
B4. Paper Town
B5. I Want You Back

Second Royal Records/felicity EMF-056/cap-226
Out 4/18, ¥2300 (excl. tax)
Order: Jet Set

Cypress Ueno & Roberto Yoshino "Dream Anthem" (7")
サイプレス上野とロベルト吉野 「ドリームアンセム」

Single cut from new album "Condor", plus instrumental.

A. Dream Anthem
B. Dream Anthem (Inst.)

HMV Record Shop HSC0016
Out 4/18, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

PUNPEE ft. Sugbabe "Last Dance (We are Tanaka.)" (7")

Rare track + brand new remix.

A. Punpee ft. Sugbabe / Last Dance (We are Tanaka.)
B. Punpee feat. carios & DKXO / Last Dance (We are Tanaka.) (Remix)

T.R.E.A.M./Jet Set JS7S099
Out 4/18, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET "MISSION" (LP)

Blue Note cover album by the new project of Okino Shūya (Kyoto Jazz Massive). Includes self-cover of Kyoto Jazz Massive's "Eclipse".

A1. Speak no evil
A2. Jinrikisha
A3. Search for new land
B1. Sccotach
B2. Eclipse
B3. Melting pot
B4. Up a step

HMV Record Shop HRSD0002
Out 4/18, ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Authentic Tokyo Ska" (LP)
東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ 「AUTHENTIC TOKYO SKA」

Vinyl-only greatest hits album.

A1. Walkin'
A2. Call from Rio
A3. World Ska Cruise
A4. All Good Ska is One
A5. Skaholic Generation
A6. Raise It All
B1. Paradise Blue
B2. hayate no Ken
B3. Zero Fighter
B4. Eastern Blues
B5. Sunny Blues

Justa Record/cutting edge/Jet Set JSLP054
Out 4/18, ¥3200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

SHORTSTRAW / SAWAGI "OMG / Fuss Uppers" (7")

Split single.

A. Shortstraw / OMG
B. Sawagi / Fuss Uppers

Flake Records FLAKES-124
Out 4/18, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Sakamoto Ryuichi "The Best of 'Playing The Orchestra 2014'" (3LP)
坂本龍一 「The Best of 'Playing The Orchestra 2014'」

Selection of live recordings from the 2014 Japan tour. Limited edition of 400.

T-ANNEX TANX-20007
Out 4/18, ¥10000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Ryuichi Sakamoto + U-Zhaan "Tibetan Dance/Asience" (7")

Previously unreleased 2014 studio recording.

T-ANNEX TANX-20008
Out 4/18, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kit Cat, the 3-girl (er, cat!) synth-dance-pop unit produced by Dr.Usui (of (M)otocompo), finally had a first song released on iTunes worldwide! This is a cover of classic new wave track "Wordy Rappinghood", originally performed by Tom Tom Club in 1981 and has also been covered by Chicks on Speed and Uffie.

Kit Cat also have two songs available for free download on Dr.Usui's DOCTOC label page. Just fill-in your email address and go. Must check!

An event will be held at Koenji High on May 5 from noon! Details should be announced shortly here or on Twitter.

Kit Cat "Wordy Rappinghood" (Download)
Kit Cat 「おしゃべり魔女」
(Japanese title "oshaberi majo")

POPLOT/Cheering&Co.
Out now (4/8)
Sample/buy:

Instrumental jazz trio fox capture plan has a new mini-album coming this week. A cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight Tonight" is included. The release comes with a bonus 40-minute DVD (Region 2 NTSC) of a show held on October 16, 2014 at Daikanyama Unit.

A tour will be held in May, stopping by Daikanyama Unit (Tokyo) on May 17.

fox capture plan "Underground"

CD
1. beyond the beyond
2. chika no sekai ni nagareru jikan
3. Adam's Apple
4. Time to think
5. Tonight Tonight

DVD
1. into the wall
2. shissō suru senkō
3. Elementary Stream
4. unsolved
5. capture the Initial "F"
6. shōdō no ryūshi
7. white ambience
8. this wall
9. RISING

Playwright PWT-014
Out 4/8, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"beyond the beyond"

"this wall" live at Unit, 2014

Negicco has a new DVD out this week, consisting of a full band-backed one man show held on January 25 at Ebisu Liquidroom in Tokyo. Plus, a documentary of the release event for single "hikari no Spur" is also included.

At the same time is being released a double-12" vinyl edition of album "Rice&Snow", though it's only available at Tower Records (ships to Japan only).

Negicco can be seen live at Akasaka Blitz (Tokyo) on Friday April 10, part of their "Never Give Up Girls!!!" tour. Tickets are on sale.

Negicco "LIVE & LIFE Negicco 2014-15 Winter" (DVD)

Disc 1
1. Triple! WONDERLAND
2. New Torino Loveニュートリノ・ラヴ
3. futari no yūgi
4. Sweet Soul Negii
5. Cream Soda Love
6. atarashii koi no uta
7. My Beautiful Life
8. Life Is Candy Travel
9. koi no EXPRESS TRAIN
10. Route Seven no kioku
11. kimi to iru machi
12. Negative Girls!
13. attōteki na Style
14. Party ni tsuite
15. tokimeki no Headliner
16. koi no Spur
17. sayonara Music

Disc 2
Documentary of Negicco -2014-2015 Winter-

T-Palette Records TPRD-0010
Out 4/7, ¥6000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD trailer clip

Live clip from "Negi Fes 2015 at Liquidroom"

Rapper duo Cypress Ueno & Roberto Yoshino have a new album out now! The album features guests such as Bose (Scha Dara Parr) and Zen-La-Rock among others. Various producers participated, with one track produced by Halfby.

HMV gives away a promo CD (while supplies last).

A release party will be held at Club Lizard Yokohama on Sunday April 26.

Cypress Ueno & Roberto Yoshino "Condor"
サイプレス上野とロベルト吉野 「コンドル」

1. Intro
2. Dream Anthem (Pro. Dream Tractors <Cypress Ueno & BEAT Takeshi>)
3. Be A Man feat. Bose (Pro. BACHLOGIC)
4. ogyaa (Pro. DJ NAOtheLAIZA)
5. LOVE (Pro. DJ MISTA SHAR)
6. yatteyarutte (Pro. Lil'Yukichi)
7. Hoppin! (Pro. LEF!!!CREW!!!)
8. Okinawa (Pro. MR.BEATS a.k.a. DJ CELORY)
9. mazeru na kiken, mazete ikeike feat. Nazo Micchan (Pro. Dream Tractors <Cypress Ueno & BEAT Takeshi>)
10. 2 THE MAX feat. ZEN-LA-ROCK (Pro. HALFBY)
11. RUN AND GUN feat. LEON a.k.a. Shishi, DOLLARBILL (Pro. DJBA)
12. THE LAST

felicity PECF-1120
Out now (4/1), ¥2700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Dream Anthem"

"Hoppin'"

Perfume's next single will be a double A-side. "Relax In The City" is being used in a commercial for Sapporo drink "Green Aroma", while "Pick Me Up" is a tie-up with the world famous Isetan department store located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. A 3rd song is also included.

The "limited edition" comes as a special "Relax Room" package including a 40-page photo booklet. That special cube-shaped box can fit 14 CDs. A "first pressing" edition (with a regular box) has a 16-page photo booklet instead. Note that both editions include a DVD of both video clips.

A special collaboration, where original outfits and accessories can be seen, is being held at Isetan from April 1 to 14. A "Pick Me Up Map" where each member tell about their favorite shops is also being distributed.

Perfume "Relax In The City / Pick Me Up"

CD
1. Relax In The City
2. Pick Me Up
3. tōmei ningen
4. Relax In The City - Original Instrumental -
5. Pick Me Up - Original Instrumental -
6. tōmei ningen - Original Instrumental -

DVD
1. Relax In The City - Video Clip -
2. Relax In The City - Teaser -
3. Pick Me Up - Video Clip -

Limited edition (CD+DVD, with "Relax Room" package)
Universal Music UPCP-9010
Out 4/29, ¥2408 (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.

First pressing edition (CD+DVD, with regular box)
Universal Music UPCP-9011
Out 4/29, ¥1760 (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.

"Pick Me Up"

Limited edition "Relax Room" box showcase clip