Tokyo's Coolest Sound

The Pen Friend Club has just released a 5th album. Included are covers of Roger Nichols ("Don't Take Your Time"), Burt Bacharach ("My Little Red Book"), Ohtaki Eiichi ("suisaiga no machi"), The Rascals ("Good Lovin'"), Brian Wilson ("Melt Away") as well as original songs such as "Our Place", "hishō suru nichojō", "egao egao", "boku to kimi no Melody" and a self-cover of "mabataki" (song written for idol group RYUTist).

A release party will be held at Ekoda Buddy on April 1st. The Pen Friend Club can also be seen at Tower Records' 39th anniversary show on April 7 at Shin-Kiba Studio Coast (details). Also, an in-store event will be held at Disk Union dues in Shinjuku on April 22 for those who bought the album at participating Disk Union shops. Find all details here.

The Pen Friend Club "Garden Of The Pen Friend Club"

1. Our Place
2. hishō suru nichijō
3. Don't Take Your Time
4. Melt Away
5. egao egao
6. My Little Red Book
7. mabataki
8. suisaiga no machi
9. Good Lovin'
10. boku to kimi no Melody
11. Our Place (Reprise)

Penpal Records PPRD-0003
Out now (3/21), ¥2500 (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.

Sampler clip

Shonen Knife has just released a new live album, recorded at Fandango in Osaka on December 22, 2017. This show was performed by Naoko, Atsuko and Risa.

It seems that an overseas edition is also to be released on May 4 on Good Charamel Records and will contain a DVD.

Shonen Knife are about to hold an extensive "Shonen Knife UK Tour 2018" in April. Check all dates here. Then in July they'll play in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka on the 7th, 14th and 16th respectively.

Shonen Knife "ALIVE! in Osaka"
少年ナイフ 「ALIVE! in Osaka」

1. Pop Tune
2. Super Group
3. Banana Chips
4. Twist Barbie
5. ganbare Bison (Bear Up Bison)
6. Bad Luck Song
7. Green Tangerine
8. Move On
9. Jump Into The New World
10. Rock'n'roll T-Shirt
11. Cruel To Be Kind
12. All You Can Eat
13. Sushi Bar Song
14. Wasabi
15. Ramen Rock
16. Rocket ni notte (Riding On The Rocket)
17. Buttercup (I'm A Super Girl)
18. Pyramid Power
19. Antonio Baka gai (Antonio Baka Guy)
20. It's A New Find
21. BBQ Party

P-Vine PCD-25251
Out 3/14, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

Trailer clip (from Good Charamel Records)

City pop band Yogee New Waves has a new EP out now, their first since their recent move to a major label! Included are some brand new songs and a new remix of "Ride on Wave" (lead track of 2nd album "WAVES").

There's a limited edition that comes with a bonus DVD of a documentary plus three music videos.

Yogee New Waves are just about to start a Japan tour which will stop at Studio Coast in Tokyo on April 20. Tickets are on sale.

Yogee New Waves "SPRING CAVE e.p."

1. intro
2. Bluemin' Days
3. Boyish
4. PRISM HEART
5. Summer of Love (Sinking Time Ver.)
6. Ride on Wave [Sweet William Remix]

DVD
1. Documentary "YOG of Bros."
2. World Is Mine (Music Video)
3. SAYONARAMATA (Music Video)
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL? (Music Video)

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Colourful Records VIZL-1315
Out now (3/14), ¥2300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Colourful Records VICL-64929
Out now (3/14), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Bluemin' Days"

"Documentary 'YOG of Bros.'" trailer

"World Is Mine"

"SAYONARAMATA"

"HOW DO YOU FEEL?"

Wakita Monari has a brand new song out now on iTunes, Spotify, etc.! "Take It Lucky!!!!" was written and produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and it was featured as the theme song of online drama "Lucky" aired earlier this year. A physical release (CD+7") is also planned for April 25.

A release party will be held on May 6 at Shinjuku Marz. There will be a set backed by DJ Nachu in the afternoon, followed by a band set in the evening. Tickets are on sale (details).

Wakita Monari "Take It Lucky!!!!" (Download)
脇田もなり 「TAKE IT LUCKY!!!!」

1. Take It Lucky!!!!
2. Take It Lucky!!!! (Inst)

Vivid Sound
Out now (3/23)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Out now is a 2nd soundtrack album for NHK's popular educational TV program "Design Ah" (「デザインあ」) for which all the music is by Cornelius! Featured are vocals by Chocolat, Aoba Ichiko, Harada Ikuko (clammbon), Hanaregumi, KAKATO (Tamaki ROY x Chinza Dopeness), Cibo Matto, Arto Lindsay, jan and naomi, and Sakamoto Maaya.

Released at the same time is a first Blu-ray/DVD of 90 minutes of popular footage from the show, selected from its its 7 years of broadcasts! Find details below.

For big fans of the show, there are also two books that were published this month: "'Design Ah' miru hon" (a book to look at) and activity book "'Design Ah' kaku hon" (a book to write).

A "Design Ah Exhibition" is being held at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design until May 20. It will also be shown in Tokyo at Miraikan from July 19 to October 18, 2018. Find details here.

Cornelius will go to Europe in June, appearing at Field Day Festival in London on June 2, and then at Sonar Festival in Barcelona from June 14 to 16. Don't miss his great show for recent album "Mellow Waves"!

Cornelius "NHK 'Design Ah' 2"
Cornelius 「NHKデザインあ2」

1. asa no 5funban Theme
2. Design Ah no Theme (Vocal: Chocolat)
3. tezawari uta (Vocal: Aoba Ichiko)
4. Design no kengaku
5. dōsen uta (Vocal: Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius))
6. na-n da?
7. kangaeteinai
8. sen (Vocal: Harada Ikuko)
9. Un Deux Trois
10. ura omote
11. na-n da?
12. tsunageru (Vocal: Hanaregumi)
13. shimau
14. ore ga aitsu de aitsu ga ore de
15. tanuki shisho
16. medetai - daruma (Vocal: KAKATO (Tamaki ROY x Chinza Dopeness))
17. tsukuru
18. suton
19. garagara (Vocal: Cibo Matto)
20. nanya kanya
21. na-n da?
22. nokori
23. TIME (Vocal: Arto Lindsay)
24. Minchō san to Gothic san 2
25. shiwake
26. moji Hunting　(Vocal: jan and naomi)
27. na-n da?
28. Minchō san to Gothic san
29. tomoru hikaru (Vocal: Sakamoto Maaya)
30. na-n da?
31. Ending Theme

Warner Music WPCL-12842
Out 3/21, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡), Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"Design A" (Blu-ray/DVD)

1. Design no kansatsu
2. Design no kengaku
3. tsukuru
4. kaisan!
5. omottetan to chogau
6. gaman girigiri Line
7. uta: "Ah no Theme", "Design kazoeuta", "garagara", "dosen uta", "maru to shikaku", "medetai mizuhiki", "yajirushi Song", "SHOOT&EDIT", "TIME"
8. Design mondō
9. nai sekai
10. Simple Mark
11. shimau
12. ma ni awaseru
13. kurikaeshi
14. mon
15. Sound of Composition
16. sozai taisō daiichi
17. tanuki shisho
18. nanya kanya
19. nokori
20. Un Deux Trois
21. Clutch

Blu-ray edition (Region free)
NHK NSBS-22952
Out 3/23, ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DVD edition (Region 2 NTSC)
NHK NSDS-22953
Out 3/23, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (18% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume has a brand new single out now. "mugen mirai" is the theme song of movie "Chihayafuru -musubi-", the last part of live-action movie trilogy based on manga "Chihayafuru". Check out the music video below.

The single is available in three editions. There's main limited edition that contains the regular edition (with B-side "Fusion") and a DVD, and another "time-limited edition" that has a different B-side ("FLASH") and DVD.

CDJapan, Amazon and Tower Records give away a poster while supplies last.

Perfume "mugen mirai"
Perfume 「無限未来」

1. mugen mirai
2. Fusion
3. mugen mirai

Limited edition DVD
1. mugen mirai -Video Clip-
2. Perfume View
3. "Docomo x Perfume Future-Experiment Vol.01 kyori o nakuse."
4. "Docomo x Perfume Future-Experiment Vol.01 kyori o nakuse." MC
5. "Docomo x Perfume Future-Experiment Vol.01 kyori o nakuse." TV-CM
6. "Docomo x Perfume Future-Experiment Vol.01 kyori o nakuse." Special Off Shot

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal Music UPCP-9018
Out 3/14, ¥2250 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal Music UPCP-5011
Out 3/14, ¥1343 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Perfume "mugen mirai Chihayafuru ban"
Perfume 「無限未来 期間限定 ちはやふる盤」

Time-limited edition "Chihayafuru ban" CD
1. mugen mirai
2. FLASH
3. mugen mirai -Original Instrumental-

Time-limited edition "Chihayafuru ban" DVD
1. mugen mirai (Music Video)
2. Perfume View (Chiharafuru Ver.)

Time-limited edition "Chihayafuru ban" (CD+DVD)
Universal Music UPCP-9019
Out 3/14, ¥1574 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"mugen mirai"

After having debuted last year with single "Pinky Fluffy", band SOLEIL is already back with a first full-length major album! This consists of only new previously unreleased songs, and matching the band's 60's style all was recorded and mixed in mono! The band features 14-year-old singer Soleil (ex-Tanqun Democracy), bassist Sally Kubota (Sally Soul Stew, ex-The Phantom Gift, Les 5-4-3-2-1) and guitarist Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville).

Songs include ones with music written by Takanami K-tarō (Playtime Rock, ex-Pizzicato Five), Kaji Hideki, Chikada Haruo, Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), Satō Seiki (microstar) and more, with also lyrics by Kaseki Cider, Iria (Juicy Fruits), Iizumi Yūko (microstar), etc. Check out the clips below, and be sure not to miss this great album!

A release party will be held on Sunday March 25 at Yoyogi Zher the ZOO with guest chorist Hoshino Michiru. Also there will be a free in-store mini-live shows on Saturday March 24 at Tower Records Shinjuku from 12:00, and on Monday March 26 at Tower Records Shibuya (4F) from 18:00.

SOLEIL "My Name is SOLEIL"

1. Do You Believe in Magic?
2. Guitar in Love
3. Love Letter in Blue Ink
4. Good Bye, Teddy Bear
5. Apple Princess Go Go!
6. The Fruits Who Dream
7. Marine I Love You
8. Pieces of Candy
9. Are you happy?
10. Summer Wink
11. So Long My Fourteen
12. Theme of SOLEIL

Victor Entertainment VICL-64973
Out 3/21, ¥2315 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Do You Believe in Magic?"

"Guitar in Love"

"Marine I Love You"