Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Asa-chang & Junray has a brand new original album coming, their first since "kage no nai hito" (2009) after which new members Goseki Yoshihiro (flute, sax, vocals) and Suhara Anzu (violin, guitar, vocals) joined the group. Featured guest musicians include Cornelius and ANI (Scha Dara Parr), among others.

A one-man live will be held on March 23 at Roppongi Varit. Details can be found here.

Asa-chang & Junray "mahō"
ASA-CHANG&巡礼 「まほう」

1. aoiro sanka
2. mahō
3. binrō to onna no ko
4. kokuhaku -Prelude-
5. kokuhaku
6. 2gatsu (mahō ver.)
7. gyōkan ni hana hitotsu feat. Shiina Mota
8. mokkin no uta -Xylophone-
9. ANI no "Endless Dance" taisō
10. Ending (from movie "Gassoh")
11. kokuhaku (Cornelius ver.)

P-Vine PCD-28029
Out 3/2, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"mahō" (Live performance in 2015)

"kokuhaku" (Live performance in 2015)

Electro rap duo Charisma.com have a new mini-album coming early March! Included are 8 brand new songs. HMV gives away a promo mix CD (while supplies last).

A 7" of two new tracks is also being released at the same time. Find details below. The 7" is available in advance from Feb. 24 at HMV record shop in Shibuya.

An in-store mini-live will be held at Tower Records Shinjuku (7F) on March 5 from 18:00. A tour will also be held in April and May, finishing at Shibuya O-East on May 15.

Charisma.com "aidoro C"
Charisma.com 「愛泥C」

1. Subliminal Diet
2. honenuki ni koi shite
3. koshikake Rap
4. PH4
5. GODcustomer
6. tōshindai Gray
7. Bell sassa
8. jido-ru

Warner WPCL-12323
Out 3/2, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Charisma.com "Subliminal Diet / koshikake Rap" (7")
Charisma.com 「サプリミナル ダイエット / 腰掛けラップ」

A. Subliminal Diet
B. koshikake Rap

HMV record shop HR7S014
Out 3/2, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV

"Subliminal Diet"

Osaka 80's style idol group Especia has a brand new album coming this month! Included are songs written by Fujii Naoyuki (ex-Checkers), Rillsoul, Schtein & Longer, PellyColo, with the rest mainly written by Hi-Fi City.

The album is being released in three different editions. The first limited edition comes with a 90-minute DVD of the show held on May 31, 2015 at Umeda Club Quattro in Osaka. The second comes with a bonus CD of remixes and instrumentals. There's also a regular edition of just the main CD.

This comes with a bit of drama, as three of the current 5 members will quit the group at the end of February, because of a move from Osaka to Tokyo. So this album is the last release to feature the current line-up. The members who will be leaving are Sannomiya Chika, Mise Chihiro and Wakita Monari. Tominaga Haruka and Mori Erika will remain.

Especia "CARTA"

1. Clover
2. Over Time
3. Sunshower
4. Interstellar
5. Saga
6. Saudade
7. Rittenhouse Square
8. Mistake
9. Fader
10. Saturday Night
11. Boogie Aroma (CARTA Ver.)
12. Aviator (CARTA Edit)

DVD ("CD+DVD" limited edition only)
Intro
1. We are Especia ~nakinagara Dancing~
2. West Philly
3. Sweet Tactics
4. Secret Jive
5. sayonara Cruisin'
6. Security Lucy
7. Midnight Confusion
8. Parliament
9. FunkyRock
10. YA-ME-TE!
11. Aventure wa giniro ni (PellyColo remix)
12. No1 Sweeper (nueva cocina)
13. umibe no Satie (va Bien Edit)
14. Boogie Aroma
15. Aviator
16. kirameki Seaside (12" Extended Ver)

Remix & instrumental CD ("Remix & inst" limited edition only)
1. Aviator (HyperJuice Remix)
2. West Philly (Tomggg Remix)
3. Security Lucy (Masayoshi Iimori Remix)
4. We are Especia ~nakinagara Dancing ~ (mel house Remix)
5. We are Especia ~nakinagara Dancing~ (autoclef remix)
6. Clover (Instrumental)
7. Over Time (Instrumental)
8. Sunshower (Instrumental)
9. Interstellar (Instrumental)
10. Saga (Instrumental)
11. Rittenhouse Square (Instrumental)
12. Mistake (Instrumental)
13. Fader (Instrumental)
14. Boogie Aroma (CARTA Ver. Instrumental)
15. Aviator (CARTA Edit Instrumental)

"CD+DVD" limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Victor Entertainment VIZL-923
Out 2/24, ¥4630 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Remix & inst" limited edition (2 CDs)
Victor Entertainment VIZL-924
Out 2/24, ¥3241 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Victor Entertainment VICL-64501
Out 2/24, ¥2315 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Clover" (Short version)

"Rittenhouse Square" (Short version)

For Perfume collectors, vinyl fans and DJs, here comes a set of five LPs! This includes albums "Perfume ~Complete Best~", "GAME", "Triangle", "JPN" and "Perfume Global Compilation 'LOVE THE WORLD'" (a 2-LP set). All are pressed on high quality 180g vinyl, and comes in a special box. Each album jacket has the same artwork as the original limited edition.

Aside from the box, each album is also available individually. All of these are limited to the initial pressing only.

Perfume has just announced the release of new album "Cosmic Explorer" on April 6 (stay tuned for details!), as well as a Japan tour starting in May, and a U.S. tour to come next summer. The latest details can be found on their official site.

Perfume "Perfume Complete 'LP' BOX" (12"x6)

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10066
Out 2/17, ¥18704 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "Perfume ~Complete Best~" (12")

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10061
Out 2/17, ¥3611 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "GAME" (12")

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10062
Out 2/17, ¥3611 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "Triangle" (12")

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10062
Out 2/17, ¥3611 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "JPN" (12")

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10062
Out 2/17, ¥3611 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "Perfume Global Compilation 'LOVE THE WORLD'" (12"x2)

Tokuma Japan TKJA-10062
Out 2/17, ¥4259 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Singer/photographer/model Julie Watai has created a new photo book that features girls and machines in futuristic and extraordinary settings. The book comes in A5 size with 112 pages. This succeeds her 2010 book "Hardware Girls" (Amazon).

A special talk show will be held at HMV & Books Tokyo in Shibuya on March 4 from 19:00.

Julie Watai "Tokyo Future Classic" (Book)
Julie Watai 「トーキョー・フューチャー・クラシック」

DU Books ISBN: 4907583761
Out now (2/6), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Nakatsuka Takeshi has a brand new 7" out now! "Japanese Boy" is a cut from upcoming album "EYE" (to be released on March 16), while the B-side is a non-album track, a cover of Kokusho Sayuri's "Valentine Kiss" (1986). Sayuri was a former member of 80's idol group Onyanko Club. This is out now on Groove Unchant's Unchantable Records.

Both songs can be sampled at Jet Set.

Nakatsuka Takeshi "Japanese Boy / Valentine Kiss" (7")
中塚武 「Japanese Boy / バレンタイン・キッス」

A. Japanese Boy
B. Valentine Kiss

Unchantable Records UCT-020
Out now (2/10), ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Also recognized for his work as the technical engineer for Denki Groove, and part of band LAMA, Ushio Kensuke aka agraph is now back with a 3rd solo album. It had been 5 years since the release of previous album "equal".

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

agraph "the shader"

1. reference frame
2. poly perspective
3. greyscale
4. cos^4
5. toward the pole
6. asymptote
7. radial pattern
8. trace of nothing
9. div
10. inversion/91

Beat Records brc-497
Out 2/3, ¥2400 (excl. tax)
Order: Amazon, Tower, YesAsia, CDJapan, HMV, (Japan)

"greyscale (video edit)"

"reference frame"

Trailer clip