Tokyo's Coolest Sound

"Parking Lot RendezVous" is a new series of split-singles from label Parking Lot Sounds, of which each matches a Japanese song and a foreign song. On the Japanese side, these first installments both have a song by Learners taken from their new mini-album "Learners High". The other side features songs by The Skints (a punk/reggae band from East London) and The Doped Up Dollies (a girl trio from Boston) respectively. These nice-priced split releases sound like a great opportunity to discover new good music!

Hear audio samples at Jet Set here and here.

Learners / The Skints "PARKING LOT RENDEzVOUS Vol.1" (7")

A. Learners / Moi Je Joue
AA. The Skints / Ring Ring

Parking Lot Sounds PLS-010
Out now (9/26), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Learners / The Doped Up Dollies "PARKING LOT RENDEzVOUS Vol.2" (7")

A. Learners / Take a Trip
AA. The Doped Up Dollies / What I Got

Parking Lot Sounds PLS-011
Out now (9/26), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

CTO LAB., gadget techno-pop unit and supergroup of Okada Tohru (Moonriders), polymoog (Elektel) and Imai Kentaro (The Aprils), has a brand new album coming in November! It will be their 2nd full-length album, following their 1st "Okie Dokie" (2010) and mini-album "3 Cycles" (2015).

The album's lead track is titled "not(.)but(,)", a song for which Saeki Kenzō (Pearl Bros., Jollits) wrote the lyrics. "hitogomi no naka no obake dōshi" has lyrics written by Himeno Tama, and there are several more brand new songs to be found. Also included are "The Theme of Ma.K." (previously released digitally last year) and "sekai wa BON HI-BON! ~ dai! tensai TV-kun no Theme 2013" (released as a single in 2013).

Two members of CTO LAB. will be part of event "Guitar Pop Restaurant vol.40 ~Guitar Pop Festival 2018~" to be held on Sunday November 18 at Koenji High. Polymoog will perform part of Elektel, and Imai Kentaro will DJ. Many great artists of the neo-Shibuya-Kei scene will also perform. Find details and reserve at the event official page.

CTO LAB. "Beyond The Box"

1. THE THEME OF Ma.K.
2. not(.)but(,)
3. Cloverleaf JCT
4. sekai wa BON HI-BON! ~ dai! tensai TV-kun no Theme 2013 (Original Version)
5. hitogomi no naka no obake dōshi
6. mahō ga tokeru made
7. Nazo No Enban
8. Cambrian Explosion

valb label PIA-0004
Out 11/14, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Sampler clip

Girl vocal duo and "future tennis icons" Her Serves & Receive (Japanese name "kanojo no Serves & Receive"), whose first album "Service Ace" was recently released, has a first 7" coming this week. Included are "Cheerio!" (music written by Matsuo Muneyoshi (ex-Instant Cytron)) and "Racket Love" (produced by Indonesian city pop band Ikkubaru). Both are great songs, and they were mixed by Satō Seiki (microstar). The single has a two-sided jacket design.

Check out their event schedule here.

Her Serves & Receive "Cheerio! c/w Racket Love" (7")
彼女のサーブ＋彼女のレシーブ 「Cheerio! c/w Racket Love」

A. Cheerio!
B. Racket Love

narisu Records NRSP-751
Out 9/26, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Aira Mitsuki was featured in a new song by unit Seijaku In Tokyo released digitally this month. Check it out on iTunes or Spotify, or listen on YouTube below.

Seijaku In Tokyo "Playlist feat. Aira Mitsuki" (Download)

Seijaku in Tokyo
Out now (9/12)
Sample/buy: , Spotify

"Playlist feat. Aira Mitsuki"

Saoriiiii has a new EP out now digitally! The new songs are produced by Seijaku In Tokyo. Check out the video below.

A release party will be held on September 29 from 18:00 at Strobe Cafe in Harajuku, also featuring Seijaku In Tokyo, Nakatsuka Takeshi, The Lady Spade and more. A CD edition of the EP will be sold at the show.

Saoriiiii "Tokyo Kunyan" (Download)
Saoriiiii 「トーキョー・クーニャン」

1. Tokyo Kunyan
2. Wanshanhao!
3. command y
4. fancy girl

Rooftop Studio
Out now (9/19)
Sample/buy: , Spotify

"Tokyo Kunyan"

Cutie Pai has a new single being released! The title song is of course glasses-themed ("megane"). The single comes in two different versions, the Type A contains a remix of "This Is Megane" by CANDLES, while Type B instead has new song "miss you" arranged by polymoog (Elektel, CTO LAB). Type A's jacket was illustrated by manga artist Matsumoto Kyūjo.

Cutie Pai "megane myboy"
Cutie Pai 「メガネ myboy」

Type A
1. megane myboy
2. THIS IS MEGANE - CANDLES Remix. -
3. megane myboy (Karaoke)

Cutie Pai Records/On-do CTPR-2006
Out 9/25, ¥1113 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Type B
1. megane myboy
2. miss you
3. megane myboy (Karaoke)

Cutie Pai Records/On-do CTPR-2007
Out 9/25, ¥1113 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"miss you" (short ver.)

Jacket photo shoot video

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has a 4th album about to be released! "Japamyu" comes over 4 years after "Pika Pika Fantajin" (2014). Included are the previously released songs "Harajuku Iyahoi", "Kimi No Mikata" and "Todoke Punch", as well as a new edit of "Sai & Co". Otherwise there are plenty of new songs, such as "Kizunami" which was announced to be the theme song of the upcoming "Monster Strike: The Movie - sora no kanata" to open in theaters on October 3, and also a cover of capsule's "koi no hana" (from first album "High Collar Girl" (2001)). Of course the whole is written and produced by Nakata Yasutaka.

The album's art direction was done by Shindō Mitsuo (of Pizzicato Five fame), and the limited edition comes with a special photobook, plus a DVD of the entire last show from the "KPP Japan Iyahoi Tour 2017" that was held at NHK Hall in Tokyo. Don't miss grabbing this!

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Japamyu"
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「じゃぱみゅ」

1. Virtual Pamyu Pamyu
2. Kizunami
3. Harajuku Iyahoi
4. Otono Kuni
5. Kimino Mikata
6. Chami Chami Charming
7. Enka Natrium
8. Koino Hana
9. Todoke Punch
10. Sai & Co (Album Edit)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Sai & Co
2. Ponponpon
3. Mi
4. Saigono Ice Cream
5. Kimi Ni 100 Percent
6. Kisekae
7. Furisodation
8. Fashion Monster
9. Tsukema Tsukeru
10. Noriko To Norio
11. No No No
12. Crazy Party Night -Pumpkins Strike Back-
13. Easta
14. Oshiete Dance Floor
15. Candy Candy
16. Mondai Girl
17. Invader Invader
18. Todoke Punch
19. Ninja Re Bang Bang
20. Kira Kira Killer
21. Harajuku Iyahoi
22. Cosmetic Coaster
23. Mottai Nightland

Limited edition (CD + Special photobook + DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Warner Music/unBORDE WPZL-31480
Out 9/26, ¥4800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (12% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
Warner Music/unBORDE WPCL-12900
Out 9/26, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Otono Kuni"

"Kimino Mikata"

"Harajuku Iyahoi"

Cornelius has a new album being released this week! This is actually an album that revolves around the latest, "Mellow Waves". Included are some remixes (two of which were previously released part of the Sound & Recording magazine), some tracks that were released as 7" B-sides ("Inside a Dream" and "Not Bad, This Feeling"), two versions of "Audio Architecture" (a song made for the exhibition of the same name) previously released on 7", as well as some studio live recordings for Spotify and NPR Music. Along with all these rarities are yet some more previously unreleased and unheard tracks, making this album full of new stuff even for the avid collector.

By the way, the next Sound & Recording magazine will come with a 5" sonosheet of exclusive track "Sonorama 2". Find details below.

The "Mellow Waves Tour 2018" will be held in October in 8 Japanese cities. Tickets are on sale (tour details here). Also Cornelius will perform at Legacy Taipei (Taiwan) on November 9 (details) and in Hong Kong on November 11 (at the Clockedflap Festival 2018).

Cornelius "Ripple Waves"

1. Audio Check Music
2. Audio Architecture
3. Passionfruit (Drake cover) (Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC)
4. If You're Here (Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC)
5. Sonorama 1
6. Not Bad, This Feeling (warukunai. kono kanji)
7. Inside a Dream (yume no oku de)
8. In a Dream (NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert)
9. Audio Architecture (Studio Live)
10. The Spell Of A Vanishing Loveliness (Beach Fossils Rework)
11. Helix/Spiral (Reginald Omas Mamode IV Rework)
12. Mellow Yellow Feel (Hiatus Kaiyote Rework)
13. Surfing On Mind Wave pt 2 (Liquid Fairy-A Sound Collage by Lawrence)
14. In a Dream (yume no naka e) (Haruomi Hosono Rework)
15. If You're Here (anata ga iru nara) (Ryuichi Sakamoto Rework)

Warner Music WPCL-12923
Out 9/19, ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, HMV, Tower Records ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Sound & Recording Magazine November 2018" (Magazine+Sonosheet)
(236 pages)

Includes sonosheet: "Sonorama 2"

Rittor Music
Out 9/25, ¥1203 (excl. tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only)

"Audio Architecture"

"Audio Architecture (Studio Live)"

"The Spell Of A Vanishing Loveliness (Beach Fossils Rework)"

SOLEIL, the band fronted by now 15-year-old singer Soleil, has a 2nd album being released very soon! Following the excellent "My Name is SOLEIL" released last March, the new full-length also consists of all original songs with the exception of a cover of Barry Gray's "UFO" theme and a remake of Hicksville's "koi no hajimari". With the same concept as last time, the album takes inspiration from the 60's and was all recorded in mono!

The new songs include ones written by Takanami K-tarō (Playtime Rock, ex-Pizzicato Five), Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), microstar, Sawabe Wataru (Skirt), Moriwaka Kaori (ex-Go-Bang's), Harada Shinji, and of course members Sally Kubota (Sally Soul Stew, ex-The Phantom Gift, Les 5-4-3-2-1) and Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville), with also lyrics written by Iria (Juicy Fruits) and Kaseki Cider. One song was chosen from a contest open to the public, of which the winner was Gen-yu Nou (of band shinowa).

For those in Japan, grabbing the album at Tower Records can get you a bonus promo poster (while supplies last). Find details here. Free in-store mini-live events will be held on September 30 from 12:00 at Tower Records Shinjuku (7F) (details) and on October 7 from 13:30 at Tower Records Shibuya (4F) (details).

Also, a tour of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka will be held just before the 15-year-old singer temporarily takes a break until next spring to focus on her studies. The Tokyo show will be held on September 22 at Kichijoji Rock Joint JB. Don't miss it! Tickets are on sale.

SOLEIL "SOLEIL is Alright"

1. My Sweet Fifteen
2. Baby Boo
3. La Petite Voleuse
4. Late Summer Silhouette
5. My Emo-Coloured Corazon
6. The Beginning of Love
7. Bittersweet Graduation
8. Sweet Boy
9. Hong Kong Chang
10. Every Day Every Night
11. Fever of Love
12. UFO

Victor Entertainment VICL-65044
Out 9/19, ¥2315 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"My Sweet Fifteen" (short ver.)

Teaser clip

Mia Nascimento (Milli Milli Bar, ex-Especia) (Twitter) has a new solo song out now on iTunes, Spotify, etc. It was written and produced by Yafune Tetsurō (Milli Milli Bar). The song has often been played in their shows and is said to be one of Mia's favorites.

Mia's next show is tomorrow September 13 at Komazawa Strawberry Fields. The show starts at 19:00 and she should be on stage around 21:20.

Mia Nascimento "Dance in the Moonlight" (Download)
ミア・ナシメント 「満月のDANCE」

crooners
Out now (9/3)
Sample/buy: , Spotify

Early performance of "Dance in the Moonlight" by Milli Milli Bar in November 2017

Trackmaker/producer STUTS has a 2nd album coming soon! "Eutopia" features guest vocalists such as Thai singer Phum Viphurit, hitomitoi, jazz singer Maya Hatch, and rappers Chinza Dopeness, Campanella, JJJ, Senninsho, Daichi Yamamoto and G Yamazawa. Some collaboration track with Nagaoka Ryōsuke (Petrolz) will feature C.O.S.A. x Kid Fresino and asuka ando. Also, several songs use manipulated samples from a live studio recording session including guitarist MC.sirafu (of The Natsuyasumi Band), nakayaan (of mitsume), Ohgi Akihiko (of zainichi Funk) and more.

A release tour will be held in November, with the first show on November 3 at Shibuya WWW X with many musicians and singers who appeared on the album (details). Tickets are on sale.

STUTS "Eutopia"

1. Eutopia Intro
2. Dream Away feat. Phum Viphurit
3. Ride feat. G Yamazawa, Senninsho & Maya Hatch
4. Pursuit
5. Breeze feat. Daichi Yamamoto
6. Paradise (Ever Green)
7. Sticky Step feat. Chinza DOPENESS & Campanella
8. Circle Interlude
9. Above the Clouds feat. Nagaoka Ryōsuke, C.O.S.A. × KID FRESINO & asuka ando
10. Never Been
11. Voyager
12. FANTASIA feat. hitomitoi
13. Eutopia
14. Eternity
15. Changes feat. JJJ

Atik Sounds PECF-5003
Out 9/5, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Dream Away feat. Phum Viphurit"

Piano-led jazz-rock instrumental trio fox capture plan has a 7th original album out now! Included is a self-cover of their theme song for drama series "The Confidenceman JP".

Check out the album's special site.

A tour will be held in October, to finish at Ex Theater Roppongi in Tokyo on November 4.

fox capture plan "Capturism"

1. Capturism
2. Greatest Blue
3. We Are Confidence Man
4. Kick Up
5. Interlude
6. Mad Sympathy
7. Liberation
8. Overdrive
9. Because Of You
10. Paradigm Shift

Playwright PWT-048
Out 9/5, ¥2315 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"We Are Confidence Man"

"Capturism"

Teaser clip

Chabe's rockabilly band Learners is back with a brand new mini album! This includes two new original songs, "Cassis Oolong" and "Take a Trip", as well as covers of The Bangles, Brigitte Bardot, The Looking Glass (in a cover featuring Kaji Hideki) and Fairground Attraction. This follows album "More Learners" released in 2017.

The limited edition comes with a bonus CD of instrumental versions of all songs.

A one-man release party will be held on Wednesday September 26 at Shibuya WWW X, with opening act Annie the Clumsy and DJ Atsushi (Attractions, Crazee Gold Mine) (details). Tickets are on sale! Learners can also be seen at the "9PARTY" festival-like event on Tuesday October 9 at Daikanyama Unit/Unice/Saloon, with also feature Pizzicato One and many others (details here).

Learners "Learners High"

1. Cassis Oolong
2. Take a Trip
3. Walk Like An Egyptian
4. Moi je joue
5. Mirror Man feat. Kaji Hideki
6. Allelujah

Limited edition (Includes bonus instrumental CD)
KiliKiliVilla KKV-65L
Out 9/12, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (1 CD only)
KiliKiliVilla KKV-65
Out 9/12, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Cassis Oolong"