Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Soviet Chance is a funky party band led by saxophonist Shūnosuke Ishikawa first founded 20 years ago in his school days. The ten members (former members and then some) still play music together and finally recorded this first mini-album. Included is a cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "If You Want Me To Stay".

This was released on Nakatsuka Takeshi's Delicatessen Recordings label, and it's available on Amazon Japan and iTunes Japan. Samples can be heard on iTunes or Amazon MP3.

A show will be held on January 31 at Motion Blue Yokohama. Details here.

Soviet Chance "Soviet Chance"

1. Oh Silly Things
2. If You Want Me To Stay
3. Walk To Togo
4. NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)
5. yantamagusso-ne - Hakushingkang -
6. torikara - The Fried Chicken - SC version

Delicatessen Recordings DCTR-1601
Out now (1/27), ¥1543 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, (Japan ^‡), Amazon MP3
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

XTAL, aka Crystal (of (((sssurrounddd))), Jintana & Emeralds), has a first solo album coming on Crue-L Records! Expect electronic music that visits genres such as "shoegaze piano house", "slow acid minimal" and "cutup Balearic", we're being told. Included are collaborations with Kenji Takimi, Tomoki Kanda, Crue-L Grand Orchestra, Gonno and S.Koshi. The mastering was done by Tokunō Naoya, who is known for mastering works by Denki Groove, cero, etc.

All tracks can be sampled at Lighthouse Records.

XTAL "Skygazer"

1. Vanish Into Light (Album Version)
2. Heavenly Overtone (Album Version)
3. Mirror Made Of Rain (Album Version)
4. Unfamiliar Memories feat. Tomoki Kanda/S.Koshi
5. Red To Violet (Album Version)
6. Pihy feat. Fran-Key
7. Break The Dawn (Album Version) feat. S.Koshi
8. Steps On The Wind feat. Gonno
9. Skygazer feat. Crue-l Grand Orchestra

Crue-L Records KYTHMAK156DA
Out 2/1, ¥2300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Skygazer feat. Crue-L Grand Orchestra"

Following 4th album "Vanilla Beans IV" (released in February 2015), and triple-A-side major single "onna wa sore o gaman shinai / Beanius / lonesome X", here's a brand new 5th album by idol group Vanilla Beans! It's full of songs, with one featuring Ram Rider, and another ("Night and Fly") written by Hidaka Tōru (The Starbems, ex-Beat Crusaders).

The limited edition comes with a bonus live DVD, while the regular edition has one extra track and also different artwork.

This album is the last sprint to the goal Vanilla Beans set themselves: 15,000 total CDs sold by the end of February (including the previous single). If the goal isn't reached in time they will call it quits... The counter is up at this special page at Avex.

Also check out this recent English interview on MTV81.

Vanilla Beans can be seen live January 23 at Hikarigaoka IMA Hall in an event with also Negicco, LinQ, Chelip and Fanta Rhyme. It starts at 13:00.

Vanilla Beans "Vanilla Beans V"
バニラビーンズ 「バニラビーンズV」

1. Say Goodbye
2. onna wa sore o gaman shinai
3. Night and Fly
4. DARE feat. RAM RIDER
5. Brand New Twilight
6. Lady Survivor
7. BOYZ & GIRLZ
8. jonetsu Violence
9. Beanius
10. Style and Council
11. lonesome X
12. Now & Forever
Regular edition bonus track
13. datte sekai wa kimi ga omou yori motto

DVD (Limited edition only)
Live footage from November 21, 2015 one-man live vol.8 at Shibuya clubasia

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
avex trax AVCD-93324
Out 2/3, ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records ^†, Amazon w/ promo photo
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only, with bonus track)
avex trax AVCD-93325
Out 2/3, ¥3000 (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.

"onna wa sore o gaman shinai" (Short version)

The latest by ryō fukawa (aka Rocketman) is this 2nd single by unit The okawari Sisters that he produces. The idol duo takes distinction in that both of them are "around 40". Their first single "koi wa okawari" was released on CD last October (Amazon) including three self-remixes. New song "kitaikan Zero" is so far only available on iTunes Japan, where it reached #1 on the dance chart.

The okawari Sisters "kitaikan Zero" (Download)
ザ・おかわりシスターズ 「期待感ゼロ」

tenohira Records
Out now (1/20)
Sample/buy:

Sunny Day Service, the Shibuya-kei roots band led by Sokabe Keiichi and that's been around since 1992, has a new 7" just out! This is their first release following album "Sunny" (2014, Amazon). The video clip features Kaede (Negicco), Un Amin and Shimizu Yumi (lyrical school).

The package contains a CD of the same two songs. Both can be sampled at Jet Set.

Sunny Day Service "ichigobatake de tsukamaete" (7"+CD)
サニーデイ・サービス 「苺畑でつかまえて」

A. ichigobatake de tsukamaete
B. Cobalt

Rose Records ROSE-195
Out now (1/15), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

"ichigobatake de tsukamaete"

Here's a new Perfume live Blu-ray/DVD, of a show titled "LIVE 3:5:6:9" part of 10-day event "Perfume Anniversary 10days 2015 PPPPPPPPPP" held to celebrate their 15th anniversary and also 10 years since their major debut.

The limited edition contains a bonus disc of a digest of more from the 10 days, and comes with a deluxe photo booklet.

Perfume "Perfume Anniversary 10days 2015 PPPPPPPPPP 'LIVE 3:5:6:9'"

1. Opening
2. FAKE IT
3. NIGHT FLIGHT
4. Computer City
5. Pick Me Up
6. Laser Beam
7. mirai no Museum
8. Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow
9. 1mm
10. kareshi boshūchū
11. GAME
12. STORY
13. Party Maker
14. Dream Fighter
15. "P.T.A." no Corner
16. One Room Disco
17. Chocolate Disco
18. Puppy love
19. STAR TRAIN [ENCORE]

Disc 2 (Limited edition only)
Anniversary 10days Digest & more

Blu-ray limited edition (All regions) (2 discs)
Universal UPXP-9005
Out now (1/13), ¥7500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (15% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD limited edition (Region 2) (2 discs)
Universal UPBP-9007
Out now (1/13), ¥6500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (22% off *), HMV (15% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Blu-ray regular edition (All regions)
Universal UPXP-1007
Out now (1/13), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (15% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD regular edition (Region 2)
Universal UPBP-1007
Out now (1/13), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (15% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Teaser clip

Out last December is this new EP by pop trio Yogee New Waves. Included is a remix by Dorian.

"Like Sixteen Candles" is now being used as the ending theme of TV show Moyamoya Summers 2 (TV Tokyo every Sunday at 18:30). Check out the video below.

Hear audio samples at HMV.

Yogee New Waves "Sunset Town e.p."

1. Like Sixteen Candles
2. Sunset Town
3. Night is Coming
4. Lemon Tea
5. Sunset Town [Dorian remix]

Roman Label ROMAN-003
Out now (12/2), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Like Sixteen Candles"

Kera (aka Keralino Sandorovich, of No Lie-Sense, Kera & The Synthesizers) has a new solo album coming, his first since 1988 ("genshoku"). This new album is said to be jazz, "fake jazz". Included are covers of jazz standards "Shine (That's Why They Call Me Shine)", "Lover, Come Back to Me" (from musical "The New Moon"), and also a self-cover of "Mississippi" (originally by his band Uchōten) and Guernica's "fukkō no uta" (band of Togawa Jun), and of course original songs too. This comes on Kera's own Nagomu Records label.

Audio samples can be heard at OTOTOY where the album was released in advance in high-quality formats.

A special show will be held at Billboard Live Tokyo on March 13. Tickets go on sale on January 27.

Kera "Brown, White & Black"
ケラ 「Brown, White & Black」

1. Old Boys (SWING)
2. Shine (That's Why They Call Me Shine)
3. han da-su no yume
4. kore de oaiko
5. gakusei jidai
6. Lover, Come Back to Me
7. Mississippi
8. rukeichi
9. gekkō ataisenkin
10. Tokyo no yane no shita
11. fukkō no uta
12. chizu to ryōdo
13. Forest Green (arui wa, ano uta o itsu ka utaeru ka)

Nagomu Records CDSOL-1700
Out 1/20, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Forest Green (arui wa, ano uta o itsu ka utaeru ka)"

"kore de oaiko"

Hoshino Michiru's latest single is a duet with Matsuo Kiyonori, a member of 80's band Cinema. The song "My Tiny World" was also featured on Matsuo's new solo album "This Tiny World" (Amazon). The B-side is a cover of Matsuo's "itoshi no Rosie" (1984). The songs are produced by Hase Hajimu and Satō Seiki in an electro-pop style.

As with her other recent singles, this comes as a CD plus 7" record.

Hear audio samples of both songs at Jet Set.

Hoshino Michiru "My Tiny World <Duet with Matsuo Kiyonori>"
星野みちる 「MY TINY WORLD <DUET WITH 松尾清憲>」

CD
1. My Tiny World <Duet with Matsuo Kiyonori>
2. itoshi no Rosie
3. My Tiny World (inst)
4. itoshi no Rosie (inst)

7"
A. My Tiny World <Duet with Matsuo Kiyonori>
B. itoshi no Rosie

High Contrast HCCD-9566
Out now (2015/11/11), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Here come remixes of tofubeats' latest album "Positive"! Featured remixers include Nakata Yasutaka (CAPSULE), Sunahara Yoshinori, Cherryboy Function, okadada, Komuro Tetsuya, banvox, Pa's Lam System, PARKGOLF, tofubeats himself and more.

tofubeats "POSITIVE Remixes"

CD1
1. POSITIVE feat.Dream Ami -Nakata Yasutaka (CAPSULE) REMIX
2. T.D.M. feat. okadada -okadada enxtended mix
3. Too Many Girls feat. KREVA -ILLICIT TSUBOI REMIX
4. STAKEHOLDER -Komuro Tetsuya REMIX
5. Throw your laptop on the fire feat. Komuro Tetsuya -PART2STYLE SOUND REMIX
6. Without U feat.Skylar Spence -in the blue shirt REMIX
7. suteki na Maison feat. Tamashiro Tina -tofubeats REMIX
8. kurikaeshi no MUSIC feat. Kishida Shigeru (Quruli) -tofubeats REMIX
9. betsu no ningen feat. Nakano Yoshie (EGO-WRAPPIN') -PUNCH & MIGHTY REMIX
10. I Believe In You -cherryboy function REMIX

CD2
1. Don't stop the music feat. Moritaka Chisato -Yoshinori Sunahara Remix
2. populuxe -RAMZA Remix
3. Come On Honey ! feat. Arai Hitomi (Tokyo Girls' Style) -spazzkid Remix
4. asa ga kuru made owaru koto no nai Dance o -banvox Remix
5. CAND￥￥￥LAND feat LIZ -Pa's Lam System Remix
6. oshiete kensaku feat. Noko (shinsei kamattechan) -PARKGOLF Remix
7. koromogae feat. BONNIE PINK -tofubeats Remix
8. koromogae feat. BONNIE PINK -John Gastro&tofubeats 1960s Remix

unBORDE WPCL-12282
Out 1/20, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"suteki na Maison feat. Tamashiro Tina -tofubeats REMIX "

"koromogae feat. BONNIE PINK -tofubeats Remix"

Cherryboy Function has a new album coming this week! This is his 2nd full-length, follow-up to "Something Electronic" (2007) released 8 years ago, though three "suggested function EP"'s were released meanwhile. Included is a remix by De De Mouse.

CHERRYBOY FUNCTION "WORD IN THE PETALS"

1. Frozen Gift
2. Distopia (Inter-Tech)
3. Pulse of Change (Organic Component)
4. Captive of Mists
5. Stripped Servant
6. Missing Dreams (Where is It)
7. Gauche Experience (Album Mix)
8. Red Tales
9. Word in the Petals
10. Another Side (Ceremonial Suite-Refill)
11. Gauche Experience (DE DE MOUSE Remix)

ExT Recordings EXT-0022
Out 1/6, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sister duo Charan-Po-Rantan have a brand new album coming this week! "Taylor ni narenai yo" is an homage song to Taylor Swift, and its video was shot in New York where they went for a show at Japan Society last October. Check it out below.

Two limited editions (DVD and Blu-ray) each contain 5 new video clips, 3 "show movies", and footage from their journey in New York, including the filming of their video, and Philadelphia (where they played a show at FringeArts). The Blu-ray limited edition has yet more videos, as it includes 7 more that were released on DVD-only with previous album "Theatre Theatre".

Charan-Po-Rantan can be seen at free in-store events on January 6 at Tower Records Shinjuku (7F from 20:30) and January 23 at Tower Records Shibuya (1F from 20:00). A Japan tour will be held in February and March, stopping by Tokyo on March 12. All details on their official site.

Charan-Po-Rantan "onna no 46pun"
チャラン・ポ・ランタン 「女の46分」

CD
1. tokei shikake no jinsei
2. Möbius no ikidomari
3. Adam
4. watashi machigatteta
5. otoko no Saga
6. Taylor ni narenai yo
7. kono saki no Scenario wa anata shidai
8. Milk Tea
9. suki dōshi
10. yoku
11. chanto yatteru mo-n
12. kanata no kuni no Merry-go-round
13. Hava Nagila

DVD (DVD limited edition only)
1. kanata no kuni no Merry-go-round (Music Video)
2. Möbius no ikidomari (Music Video)
3. Taylor ni narenai yo (Music Video)
4. ginnan gakudan Quartet (Music Video)
5. Mustafa (Music Video)
6. tatakau onna (Show Movie)
7. sayonara yūenchi (Show Movie)
8. Oppai Boggie (Show Movie)
9. Charan-Po-Rantan New York e yuku (Road Movie)

Blu-ray (Blu-ray limited edition only)
1. kanata no kuni no Merry-go-round (Music Video)
2. Möbius no ikidomari (Music Video)
3. Taylor ni narenai yo (Music Video)
4. ginnan gakudan Quartet (Music Video)
5. Mustafa (Music Video)
6. 71oku Piece no Puzzle Game (Music Video)
7. France kabure (Music Video)
8. utsukushisa to wakasa (Music Video)
9. watashi no uchū (Music Video)
10. Workaholic (Music Video)
11. su-dara fushi (Music Video)
12. wasurekaketeta monogatari (Music Video)
13. tatakau onna (Show Movie)
14. sayonara yūenchi (Show Movie)
15. Oppai Boggie (Show Movie)
16. Charan-Po-Rantan New York e yuku (Road Movie)

DVD limited edition (CD+DVD)
avex trax AVCD-93321
Out 1/6, ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (14% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Blu-ray limited edition (CD+Blu-ray)
avex trax AVCD-93322
Out 1/6, ¥4500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
avex trax AVCD-93323
Out 1/6, ¥2700 (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.

"Taylor ni narenai yo"

"tokei shikake no jinsei"

"kanata no kuni no Merry-go-round" (Slightly short version)

"Möbius no ikidomari"

Following the release of three compilations on label Tokuma Japan last year, all compiled by Konishi Yasuharu, here comes cuts from these on 7". Each 7" contains two songs from each of the compilations, one remix by Konishi plus one other song. The jackets are also the same.

The remixes are respectively of songs by Vanilla Beans ("Nicola"), Yoshi Ikuzō ("ore wa zettai! Presley") and Yamamoto Linda ("Mini Mini Date"), all of which were made especially for those compilations.

Also look for the B-sides: a Japanese lyrics cover of Jane Birkin's "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (song written by Serge Gainsbourg), Konishi's radio unit Girl Girl Girl's "Boy Boy Boy", and Kinoco Hotel's cover of "mayonaka no Angel Baby" (originally sung by Hirayama Miki).

Various Artists "yoru no Minoru Phone Hour" (7")
オムニバス 「夜のミノルフォン・アワー」

A. Vanilla Beans / Nicola (Konishi Yasuharu Remix)
B. Yasuda Narumi / omoide no Rock'n'Roll (Ex Fan Des Sixties)

Jet Set JS7S113
Out 1/8, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Various Artists "Tokuma Dance Party" (7")
オムニバス 「徳間ダンス・パーティー」

A. Yoshi Ikuzō / ore wa zettai! Presley (Konishi Yasuharu Remix)
B. Girl Girl Girl / Boy Boy Boy

Jet Set JS7S114
Out 1/8, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Various Artists "ozashiki Japan" (7")
オムニバス 「お座敷ジャパン」

A. Yamamoto Linda / Mini Mini Date (Konishi Yasuharu Remix)
B. Kinoco Hotel / mayonaka no Angel Baby

Jet Set JS7S115
Out 1/8, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon

Kinoco Hotel "mayonaka no Angel Baby"

Happy New Year 2016!!! Here we go!

Metafive finally have a first original album coming! Metafive is an all-star band featuring Takahashi Yukihiro (YMO), Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius), Towa Tei, Sunahara Yoshinori, Gondō Tomohiko and Leo Imai.

All songs are brand new originals, except for "Radio" which is a cover of Towa Tei (song that originally featured Takahashi Yukihiro on vocals), and "Split Spirit" which was previously released as a digital single but here presented in a new version. Watch the official video and studio live versions below. "Don't Move" is available in advance on iTunes Japan.

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

Metafive can be seen live at Liquidroom on January 14, and then at EX Theater Roppongi on January 21. Tickets are on sale.

METAFIVE "META"

1. Don't Move
2. Luv U Tokio
3. Maisie's Avenue
4. Albore
5. Gravetrippin'
6. Anodyne
7. Disaster Baby
8. Radio (META Version)
9. W.G.S.F.
10. Split Spirit (META Version)
11. Whiteout
12. Threads

Warner WPCL-12294
Out 1/13, ¥2800 (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?

"Luv U Tokio" (Video edit)

"Don't Move" (Studio live version)

"Maisie's Avenue" (Studio live version)