Tokyo's Coolest Sound

This is a single produced by Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience), commissioned by Tochigi Doughnuts, an association that promotes restaurants, bars and shops of Utsunomiya city in Tochigi prefecture, and also 7" records.

The song is a kayō-ska hymn to drinking establishments, performed by members of TRI4TH and Jabberloop under the "STE" monicker, and sung by Nakano Aya. The jacket was designed by Sally Kubota.

The 7" comes with a CD, and a gyōza coupon of ¥500 value to be used in selected restaurants of Utsunomiya, a city famous for those delicious dumplings.

Hear audio samples at Jet Set.

STE "koyoi mo, sakaba ni te."
STE 「今宵も、酒場ニテ。」

A. koyoi mo, sakaba ni te.
B. koyoi mo, sakaba ni te. (Karaoke)

Simotuka Records UTM-0001
Out 7/5, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Two songs from voice actress Inoue Honoka's excellent first mini-album "First Flight" are being released on 7"! This was written and produced by Mukaju Dan (ex-blue marble), and comes from the Luxury kayō label. The 7"'s sleeve is reversible.

Inoue Honoka "Sparkling Chinatown" (7")
井上ほの花 「スパークリング・チャイナタウン」

A. Sparkling Chinatown
B. wasuremono

Luxury kayō LUX8002
Out 6/28, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Sparkling Chinatown"

Rapper Tamaki ROY has new album out now! This is the follow-up to "Lucky" (2013). Most songs are collaborations with various producers, including Miura Kōshi (Kuchiroro), Hasunuma Shūta, Ametsub, and many more. Check out the two clips below!

A 7" of "Offer" and "medetai" was also released in advance. It's still available at HMV.

A tour will be held in August, starting in Tokyo at Shibuya WWW on August 4. Tickets are on sale.

Tamaki Roy "nagi"
環ROY 「なぎ」

(Producer in parentheses)
1. arasuji (Tamaki Roy)
2. Offer (K.A.N.T.A)
3. shokupan (Shingo Suzuki)
4. harari (Miura Kōshi)
5. On&On (K.A.N.T.A) (Chorus: Kobayashi Utena)
6. tokai no ichimai no hon (Tamaki Roy) (Drums: Yamamoto Akinori (LITE))
7. koto no shidai (Daisuke Tanabe)
8. exchange//everything (Ametsub)
9. yume no ato (Taquwami) (Guest Vocal: OBKR)
10. furukotobumi (Arμ-2)
11. medetai (Hasunuma Shūta) (Guitar & Bass: Ishizuka Syūta, Steelpan: Kobayashi Utena)

B.J.L. x AWDR/LR2 DDCB-13035
Out now (6/21), ¥2600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, (World), (Japan)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Offer"

"furukotobumi"

"koto no shidai"

"harari"

"On&On"

Hoshino Michiru has a new album out now! "12 signs of the zodiac" contains three new songs from singles "kagami no naka no watashi" and "nagareboshi Rendez-vous" (with also B-side "kyōkaisenjō no futari") released just last month, plus 9 brand new tracks!

Rapper Kaseki Cider appears on one song, while producers and musicians include Hase Hajimu, Satō Seiki (microstar), Okii Reiji (Tweedees, ex-Cymbals), Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), Gary Ashiya (La veuve moustachue), Blue Peppers, and more.

An in-store event with mini-live will be held at Pied Piper House in Tower Records Shibuya (5F) on Saturday June 24 from 19:00 (details). Then the next day, Sunday June 25, there will be a show at Vivid Sound Studio (details).

Hoshino Michiru "12 signs of the zodiac"
星野みちる 「黄道十二宮」
(Japanese title: "kōdō junikyū")

1. Unstable Girl
2. kagami no naka no watashi
3. ONE-TIME LOVE
4. kirai yo
5. kaze o fukasete
6. kyōkaisenjō no futari feat. Kaseki Cider
7. shūichi Romance
8. ki ga tsukeba Looking for your love
9. motto motto motto
10. itsuka Friends Again
11. anettai toshi
12. nagareboshi Rendez-vous

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCCD-9588
Out 6/21, ¥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.

"nagareboshi Rendez-vous"

Wakita Monari (ex-Especia) has a 3rd single being released this week, ahead of a 1st solo album to come later on July 26! The new single's title song is a house tune written and produced by Fukutomi Yukihiro! Mellow jazz track B-side "Est! Est!! Est!!!" was written by Yafune Tetsurō and arranged by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), with chorus by Smooth Ace! Although both songs will be included on the album, the single has an exclusive extended version of "I'm with you".

The release comes as a set of 7" and CD that includes instrumentals.

An in-store event with a mini-live will be held at HMV record shop Shinjuku Alta on June 20 from 19:00. Buying the single and/or pre-ordering the album (w/ advance payment) there can get you an autograph, poster and a photo together. Details here. Other in-store events will be held on June 21 from 19:00 at Tower Records Ikebukuro (details), and on Sunday June 25 from 14:30 at Tower Records Shinjuku (details). Check out Monari's full schedule here.

Wakita Monari "I'm with you" (CD+7")
脇田もなり 「I'm with you」

CD
A. I'm with you -Extended Version-
B. EST! EST!! EST!!!
A. I'm with you -Extended Version- (instrumental)
B. EST! EST!! EST!!! (instrumental)

7"
A. I'm with you -Extended Version-
B. EST! EST!! EST!!!

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCCD-9589
Out 6/21, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"I'm with you"

Tweedees, the unit of Okii Reiji (ex-Cymbals) and singer Kiyoura Natsumi, has a new mini-album out very soon! This is the follow-up to 2nd album "The Second Time Around" (2016). Check out the new clip below.

Tweedees will be at Tower Records Shibuya's Pied Piper House (5F) on release day June 21 from 20:00 for autographs. Also on June 24 they will play a free mini-live at Tower Records Shinjuku 7F from 18:00, followed by an autograph session.

A special show for the release will be held at Shibuya O-west on September 8. There are also tour dates in Nagoya and Osaka on August 10 and 11 respectively. Tickets are on sale.

Tweedees "à la mode"

1. mirai no yukue
2. à la mode
3. Birthday Song
4. warui onota no Waltz
5. kimi wa suteki
6. Pudding sanka ~20th à la mode edition
7. TWDS_STRUT (Bonus track)
8. PHILLIP -TWEEDEES ONLY ver. (Bonus track)
9. Pudding sanka ~20th à la mode edition (TV size) (Bonus track)

Columbia COCP-39984
Out 6/21, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"à la mode"

This is a collaboration mini-album by singer-songwriter Alfred Beach Sandal and trackmaker STUTS. "Horizon" features Yu Arauchi (cero) on Rhodes, and nakayaan (mitsume) on bass, while "Quiet Blue" features Omoide yarō A team (OYAT). Check out the clip below!

A mini-live by STUTS only will be held on July 5 from 21:00 at Tower Records Shibuya 4F. Those who buy the CD there can participate to an autograph session afterwards. Other upcoming shows include one at The Wall Live House/Korner in Taipei (Taiwan) on June 29, and a one-man show at Wall & Wall in Omotesandō (Tokyo) on July 16.

Alfred Beach Sandal + STUTS "ABS+STUTS"

1. The Chase
2. Horizon
3. Daylight Avenue
4. Siesta
5. Quiet Blue
6. A Song of Last Things

Atik Sounds / Space Shower Music PECF-5002
Out 6/21, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Horizon"

Chie & The Wolf Baits is a rock'n'roll girl trio led by Learners' guitarist Horiguchi Chie. This first album comes in a mini-LP sleeve with a 12-page booklet. HMV gives away a signed 7" sleeve (while supplies last).

On June 18 from 14:00, Chie will play a special acoustic in-store set at Disk Union's Punk Market floor in Shinjuku. Details at Disk Union.

Chie & The Wolf Baits can be seen live on June 19 at Shinjuku Red Cloth, and a one-man show is being planned on July 8 at Kanda Shojimaru. Check out Chie's schedule here.

Chie & The Wolf Baits "Chie & The Wolf Baits"

1. Thuderbird
2. Two Timin' Man
3. 6120
4. Dress Up Doll
5. Funnel of Love
6. Mama to shōnen
7. Precious Lie
8. ippiki ōkami
9. No More For You
10. yami to Knife

Voltage Records BQG-S50
Out 6/21, ¥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.

Here's a greatest hits album of band Nona Reeves, covering the 3 original albums and 3 cover albums released during their 5 years so far on Billboard Records.

Nona Reeves "Billboard Best 2011-2016"

1. P-O-P-T-R-A-I-N
2. yume no koibito
3. STEP BY STEP
4. Mr. Melody Maker
5. LAST ROMANCE
6. I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER
7. Gagarin
8. LUCKY GUY
9. HARMONY
10. SMOOTH CRIMINAL
11. Never Ever Let U Down
12. BAD BOYS
13. Blackberry Jam
14. kōsō biru
15. yasumō, ONCE MORE
16. KOKOMO

Billboard Records HBRJ-1026
Out now (6/14), ¥2650 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

Sampler clip

"P-O-P-T-R-A-I-N"

"yume no koibito"

"Harmony"

"Blackberry Jam"

"Gagarin"

Halfby has just released a 12" single of song "Slow Banana feat. Alfred Beach Sandal" from his latest album "Innn Hawaii" (2015). The B-side is a new remix by XTAL & Ahh! Folly Jet.

Halfby "Slow Banana" (12")

A. Slow Banana feat. Alfred Beach Sandal
B. Slow Banana (XTAL & Ahh! Folly Jet Remix)

Second Royal EMF-079
Out now (6/14), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

"Slow Banana feat. Alfred Beach Sandal"

Fujin Club, the mysterious pop unit formed of housewives from island Sadogashima in Niigata pref., is back with a new single of a city pop summer tune with a title that translates to "Travel & Ferry"! Once again produced by M. Lemon (aka Satō Nozomu of caméra-stylo), this is the follow-up to their fun and charming first album "Fujin Club" (2016).

Fujin Club "tabi to Ferry"
婦人倶楽部 「旅とフェリー」

1. tabi to Ferry
2. ochauke monogatari
3. natsu wa natsu yasai
4. tabi to Ferry ~Instrumental~
5. taraibune ni notte ~M. Lemon Remix~

Grand Pacific Work GPWF-0002
Out 6/14, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"tabi to Ferry"

Taken from recent mini-album "Rock'n Roll No Hajimari Ha" (2016), here's a 7" of two tracks by keyboardist Emerson Kitamura! Both songs are instrumental covers, of "Spinning Wheel" (originally by Blood, Sweat & Tears) and "Remember" (written by Irving Berlin), the latter in a shorter single edit. Hear audio samples at Jet Set.

Emerson Kitamura can be seen playing at bookstore Hōrō in Sendagi on Saturday June 17. Hour-long sets will start from 16:00 and 19:00, and can be enjoyed while checking out used books. Tips are welcome. His full schedule can be found here.

Emerson Kitamura "Spinning Wheel / Remember" (7")
エマーソン北村 「Spinning Wheel / Remember」

A. Spinning Wheel
B. Remember

bubblingnotes KMVLS-009
Out now (6/3), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

A brand new album by Cornelius (international site) is coming at the end of June! Announced a few months ago and preceded by the release of two 7" singles, here comes "Mellow Waves", the long awaited follow-up to "Sensuous" (2006)! Check out the clips below, and this special site.

Also check out special book "Cornelius × Idea: Mellow Waves: Cornelius no ongaku to Design" ("Cornelius' Music and Design") published just a few days before the album. It's a 128-page visual book that focuses on designs from the new album (and some retrospective), and comes with a CD of an exclusive track! Find details below.

Update (June 13, 2017): "Sound & Recording Magazine"'s next issue, out June 24, will have a special feature on Cornelius and "Mellow Waves". The issue will contain a download code for two remixes by Hosono Haruomi and Sakamoto Ryūichi! Find details below. (Note that the download code is only valid until July 25, 2017.)

Update (January 27, 2018): The album is now available for international pre-order in CD and LP formats at this official shop.

Cornelius "Mellow Waves"

(Japanese titles in parentheses)
1. If You're Here (anata ga iru nara)
2. Sometime / Someplace (itsuka / dokoka)
3. Dear Future Person (mirai no hito e)
4. Surfing on Mind Wave pt 2
5. In a Dream (yume no naka de)
6. Helix / Spiral
7. Mellow Yellow Feel
8. The Spell of a Vanishing Loveliness
9. The Rain Song
10. Crépuscule

Warner WPCL-12660
Out 6/28, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"Cornelius × Idea: Mellow Waves: Cornelius no ongaku to Design" (Book+CD)
「Cornelius × Idea: Mellow Waves: コーネリアスの音楽とデザイン」
(B5 size, 128 pages, includes CD)

Seibundō Shinkosha 978-4416617809
Out 6/23, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Sound & Recording Magazine August 2017" (Magazine+Download code)
(276 pages, includes download code valid until July 25, 2017)

Cornelius "Mellow Waves" feature:
- Interview with Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius) & manipulator Mishima Tomoaki
- Cornelius' 3-D Studio & favorite plug-ins
- Interview with engineer Takayama Tohru
- Sunahara Yoshinori listens to "Mellow Waves"
- Download code for "In a Dream remixed by Haruomi Hosono" and "If You're Here re-work by Ryuichi Sakamoto" valid only until July 25, 2017

Rittor Music
Out 6/24, ¥926 (excl. tax)
Order: Amazon, Tower (Japan only), HMV

"If You're Here"

"Sometime / Someplace"

"Dear Future Person"

Mondo Grosso, the solo unit of Ōsawa Shinichi, has just released a brand new album! It had been some 14 years since his latest works under the Mondo Grosso name, and then suddenly came the "Labyrinth" single released on Record Store Day last April. A bunch of vocalists are featured on this album, including bird, UA, Ino hidefumi, Yakushimaru Etsuko and many more.

A limited edition comes with a bonus DVD of 4 video clips, while iTunes has a bonus track: "Spring Awakes Eternally (Ver. 1)" feat. UA. The official English titles below are from iTunes.

Mondo Grosso "Reborn Again and Always Starting New"
Mondo Grosso 「何度でも新しく生まれる」
(Japanese title: "nando de mo atarashiku umareru")

1. TIME (Vocal: bird)
2. Spring Awakes Eternally (Ver. 2) (Vocal: UA)
3. labyrinth (Vocal: Hikari Mitsushima)
4. Astronauta perdido (Vocal: Ino hidefumi)
5. Planet Tantra (Vocal: Aska Saitō (Nogizaka46))
6. SOLITARY (Vocal: Kei Ōwada)
7. ERASER (Vocal: Anne Futagami)
8. SEE YOU AGAIN (Vocal: Kick a Show)
9. late night blue (Vocal: YUKA (moumoon))
10. GOLD (Vocal: Kaori Shimoshige)
11. Hello, Do You Copy? (Vocal: Etsuko Yakushimaru)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Labyrinth
2. wakusei Tantra
3. SEE YOU AGAIN
4. TIME

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
cutting edge CTCR-40387
Out now (6/7), ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (14% off *), HMV (11% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
cutting edge CTCR-40388
Out now (6/7), ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Labyrinth"

"TIME"

"SOLITARY"

"wakusei Tantra" (Short edit)

"SEE YOU AGAIN" (Short edit)

"haru wa towa ni mezameru" (Recording session footage)

This is the 2nd album of Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys, band led by Kubota Shingo who once was the frontman of late 70's new wave band 8 1/2. The band has 10 members including guitarist Muramatsu Kunio (ex-Sugar Babe), keyboardist Kotaki Mitsuru (ex-Cinema), bassist Yajima Chikara (ex-8 1/2), chorist Itō Eriko (who has sung chorus in Pizzicato Five) and "mascot boy" Sasha (once a roadie for bands such as Pizzicato Five, Boredoms and Godiego), just to name a few. Check out the clip below, directed by Tezka Macoto.

Also, just recently, a 7" of catchy tunes "Bubblegum Lovers" and "Adam to Eve no kaori" (from previous album "What's Your Dream?" (2015, Amazon, CDJapan)) was released on label Turtle Snail. It's available at Jet Set. Find details below.

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "One from Sunny's Heart"
サニー久保田とオールドラッキーボーイズ 「One from Sunny's Heart」

1. Melody
2. oinori Days
3. Akasaka atari
4. Chirorin
5. Thomas Jerome Newton wa shinazu
6. tsuki no kagayaku yoru ni
7. omoi togeta otoko
8. machi de ichiban no sakaba
9. Candy Box
10. ashita o shinjite

Old Lucky Records OLBS-0002
Out 6/1, ¥2778 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "Bubblegum Lovers" (7")
サニー久保田とオールドラッキーボーイズ 「バブルガムラバーズ」

A. Bubblegum Lovers
B. Adam to Eve no kaori

Turtle Snail TS-006
Out now (5/26), ¥1388 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

"Candy Box (Short ver.)"

Singer Nakano Aya has a new single out this week! Produced by Mutō Shōhei (drummer, vocalist and leader of jazz band Katteni-Shiyagare), the music is also performed by Kathmandu, a unit formed mainly of his band's members. The title song is an original written by Mutō, and the B-side is a danceable cover of Bette Midler's "Stuff like that there".

The single comes as a 7" with a CD that includes instrumentals.

Nakano Aya's next show will be held on June 16 at Yokohama Friday. She will be backed by salsa band Central. Check out her live schedule here.

Nakano Aya "Asami no Blues" (7"+CD)
なかの綾 「アサミのブルース」

7"
A. Asami no Blues
B. Stuff like that there

CD
1. Asami no Blues
2. Stuff like that there
3. Asami no Blues (Karaoke)
4. Stuff like that there (Karaoke)

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCCD-9585
Out 6/7, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

This 7" is of two live recordings from Nomiya Maki's "Shibuya-kei Standards" show series. In the one held in November 7, 2014 she was joined on stage by Kaji Hideki, and they sang "amefuri toshi" (a duet with Maki from his album "Ice Cream Man" (2014)) followed by a cover of Flipper's Guitar's "Summer Beauty 1990". The 2014 show not having been released before, these two live versions are available here for the first time.

Sold in advance at Maki's "Vacances Shibuya-kei" shows in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo last month, and later only at Tower Records Shibuya, the 7" is now also available at Jet Set and has also been spotted at HMV record shop. Both songs can be sampled at Jet Set.

On July 22 & 23 will be held "Peanuts Camp 2017", a festival curated by Kaji Hideki. His early 90's band Bridge, which was temporarily brought back together for a show this year, will play one more last show. Tickets are on sale.

Hideki Kaji et Maki Nomiya "Rainy City / Summer Beauty 1990" (7")
HIDEKI KAJI et MAKI NOMIYA 「雨降り都市／SUMMER BEAUTY 1990」

(Japanese titles in parentheses)
A. Rainy City (Live Version) (amefuri toshi)
B. Summer Beauty 1990 (Live Version) (Latin de Let's Love mata wa 1990 Summer Beauty keikaku)

AWDR/LR2 DDKB91003
Out now (5/31), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.