Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Sally Soul Stew, the band led by Sally Kubota (ex-The Phantom Gift, ex-Les 5-4-3-2-1), has a brand new single out this week! A-side "Joy To The World" is a new song with music written by Takanami K-taro (ex-Pizzicato Five) with lead vocals by Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville), while the B-side is a cover of Pete Mac Jr.'s "Black Coffee" sung by the band's other vocalist Lemon (also in Wack Wack Rhythm Band). The B-side was selected by DJ Fukutake (of the "Yava-kayō" trend). Both tracks are groovy great songs that let us enjoy Sally's signature bass lines.

Actually this single is dedicated to a great Japanese bassist who passed away in April this year, Etō Isao. Sally can be heard playing an "Orenda" bass, Etō's signature model.

The 7" single comes with a CD of the same content, with bonus "mono" mixes of the same two songs.

Sally Soul Stew "Joy To The World / Black Coffee" (7"+CD)
サリーソウルシチュー 「JOY TO THE WORLD～喜びの世界 C/W ブラック・コーヒー」

A. Joy To The World
B. Black Coffee

mawarisō na Records MWRR-9730
Out 7/1, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Following "Ghost In The Shell Arise" (2013), once again Cornelius produced the soundtrack for sequel "Ghost In The Shell Shin Gekijōban" (official site, Wikipedia). A single for songs "anata o tamotsu mono" (opening theme of TV series "Ghost In The Shell Arise Alternative Architecture") and "mada ugoku" (the film's main theme), both sung by voice actress Sakamoto Maaya, was also released at the same time, and includes non-album track "Tokyo samui".

HMV and Tower Records give away a promo sticker (while supplies last).

Cornelius "'Ghost In The Shell Shin Gekijōban' O.S.T."
Cornelius 「攻殻機動隊 新劇場版 O.S.T.」

1. A Floating Ghost
2. anata o tamotsu mono
3. Execution No.9
4. Moments In Love (Piano)
5. Body / Head
6. An Electric Storm
7. Fall All
8. Split Spirit
9. In Search Of Many
10. Scylla
11. Memories Fade
12. Involution No.9
13. Vrinda
14. Heart Grenade
15. Deep Breathing
16. Highway Friendly Type 2
17. Strange Obsession
18. Moments In Love (Harp)
19. mada ugoku
20. All Fall

Flying Dog VTCL-60400
Out now (6/17), ¥2900 (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.

Sakamoto Maaya Cornelius "anata o tamotsu mono / mada ugoku"
坂本真綾 コーネリアス 「あなたを保つもの / まだうごく」

1. anata o tamotsu mono
2. mada ugoku
3. Tokyo samui

Flying Dog VTCL-35211
Out now (6/17), ¥1300 (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.

"'Ghost In The Shell Shin Gekijoban' O.S.T." teaser clip

"anata o tamotsu mono / mada ugoku" teaser clip

YMCK are back this month with a 6th album, and this time the theme is "Family Dancing"! Of course this lets us hope for some of the best 8-bit dance music ever! This comes a year and a half after album "Family Days" (2013), once again on De De Mouse's not records label. The song "Disko Kitsch" is a YMCK remix of Thailand band Cindy Seui, with Midori's vocals.

Amazon gives away an original YMCK promo bookmark (while supplies last). Those in Japan can buy at Village Vanguard to get a promo badge.

Check out the trailer clip below, and the official release page. There are also two special edits that can be heard at WeeklyTreats.net! While at it also check out recent digital single "Tokyo Upside Down" (2014).

A release party will be held at Shibuya WWW on Sunday July 12! Meanwhile YMCK can be seen live on June 20 at Shinjuku Loft.

YMCK "Family Dancing"

1. Los Colores de la Vida
2. Neo Identity
3. Disko Kitsch
4. Time Bomb
5. Perfect Device
6. 52 Futures
7. Unity
8. You Can Be a Star

not records NOT-0009
Out 6/24, ¥1852 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"You Can Be a Star"

"Neo Identity"

Album trailer

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has a new DVD/Blu-ray coming this week. The 2-disc set contains a whole show held in Tokyo from last year's Japan Arena Tour, plus another show from London (part of the "Nanda Collection World Tour 2014") with documentary bits.

Both discs are said to contain special commentary audio featuring Kyary herself.

The first pressing comes in special packaging with a photo booklet. Also HMV and Tower Records give away a set of 3 postcards (while supplies last).

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "KPP 2014 Japan Arena Tour Kyary Pamyu Pamyu no Colorful Panic Toy Box"
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「KPP 2014 JAPAN ARENA TOUR きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅのからふるぱにっくTOY BOX」

Disc 1
"Kyary Pamyu Pamyu no Colorful Panic Toy Box at Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyōgijō Daiichi Taiikukan (2014/11/9)"
1. Mottai-Nightland
2. Kyary ANAN
3. Cherry Bonbon
4. suki sugite kiresō
5. jelly
6. Super Scooter Happy
7. kimi ni 100 Percent
8. PONPONPON
9. Ring a Bell
10. tsukematsukeru
11. oyasumi
12. Serious hitomi
13. Fashion Monster
14. Ninjya Re Bang Bang
15. Invader Invader
16. mi
17. kirakira Killer
18. minna no uta
19. Tokyo Highway
20. Family Party -album mix-
21. Explorer
22. CANDY CANDY
23. chanchanchanchan

Disc 2
"Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Live & Documentary in London"
1. nanda Collection
2. Invader Invader
3. mi
4. Family Party
5. Documentary I - KPP in Paris 2014.04.24
6. Pamyu Pamyu Revolution
7. Mottai-Nightland
8. Super Scooter Happy
9. Yume No Hajima Ring Ring
10. saigo no Ice Cream
11. tsukematsukeru
12. Documentary II - KPP in Cologne 2014.04.26
13. Kyary no March
14. Cherry Bonbon
15. PONPONPON
16. Fashion Monster
17. Documentary III - KPP in London 2014.04.29-30
18. CANDY CANDY
19. chanchanchanchan

DVD edition (Region 2, NTSC)
Warner Music WPBL-90342
Out 6/10, ¥5000 (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.

Blu-ray edition (All regions, NTSC)
Warner Music WPXL-90103
Out 6/10, ¥6000 (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.

Trailer clip

Original Love (aka Tajima Takao) has a brand new album coming this month! Tajima has said that after contributing "Sunshine Nihonkai" to Negicco he's been feeling like making more pop music again, and this can be felt throughout this album. A cover of that song is included, as well as latest single "Lover Man" which he described as his new visit card. Included as a bonus track is a cover of Ishikawa Sayuri's "Whiskey ga, osuki desho", as heard in a commercial for Suntory.

Amazon, HMV and Tower Records give away a promo sticker (while supplies last).

ORIGINAL LOVE "Lover Man"
オリジナル・ラブ 「ラヴァーマン」

1. Lover Man
2. Big Thank You
3. Sunshine Nihonkai
4. konya wa oyasumi
5. Frankenstein
6. Crazy About You
7. kirikiri mai no Jazz
8. shiki to uta
9. 99 tsubu no namida
10. kibō no bane
11. Whiskey ga, osuki desho (Bonus track)

Wonderful World XQKP-1007
Out 6/10, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Lover Man"

Album digest