Tokyo's Coolest Sound

This new album by Nomiya Maki comes with 2 discs. The first is a collection of songs from her recent albums of the "Shibuya-kei Standards" series (released from 2014 through 2017), and the 2nd is of a previously unreleased entire live show that was held at Motion Blue Yokohama in February 2018 and also featured Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band) and Takano Hiroshi. A brand new recording of Pizzicato Five's "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (aka "The Night Is Still Young") produced by Konishi Yasuharu and featuring rock band The Shaolin Brothers is included! This year is the 25th anniversary of the song (first released in 1993). The album artwork was done by Shindō Mitsuo.

Songs that were selected on disc 1 include several collaborations with other artists such as Suzuki Masayuki, Yokoyama Ken, Murai Kunihiko, Watanabe Marina, Clémentine and Kaji Hideki. Also included is a previously unreleased live performance of "chūō Freeway" during which Monsieur Kamayatsu (who was in the audience) suddenly joined Maki on stage to sing together.

Also, a 7" of "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" and non-album track "Happy Sad" will be released on November 3 for Record Day 2018. Both songs were produced by Konishi Yasuharu and feature The Shaolin Brothers.
Update (2019/4/9): Having sold out once, a 2nd press on black vinyl is going on sale April 10, 2019! Find details below.

This year again a "Shibuya-kei Standards" tour will be held, with dates at Billboard Live Tokyo on November 22 and 23. Those will follow shows at Nagoya Blue Note on November 2 and at Billboard Live Osaka on November 20. Tickets are on sale (details). Also, an in-store event will be held on release day October 31 from 19:00 at Tower Records Shibuya (4F). Find details here.

Nomiya Maki "Shibuya-kei Songbook" (2 CDs)
野宮真貴 「野宮真貴 渋谷系ソングブック」

Disc 1
1. Weekend (Original: Pizzicato Five)
2. bokura ga tabi ni deru riyū (Original: Ozawa Kenji)
3. Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (Original: Pizzicato Five)
4. Latin de Let's Love mata wa 1990 Summer Beauty keikaku (Original: Flipper's Guitar)
5. dai suki na Shirt (Marina's 30th Anniversary Mix) (Original: Watanabe Marina)
6. Shibuya de 5ji (Original: Suzuki Masayuki)
7. natsu no koibito (Original: Takeuchi Mariya)
8. aru hi totsuzen (Original: Toi et Moi)
9. Love So Fine (Original: Roger Nichols & Small Circle of Friends)
10. Chanson des Jumelles (Original: Michel Legrand)
11. Un Homme et Une Femme (Original: Pierre Barouh)
12. What The World Needs Now Is Love (Original: Burt Bacharach)
13. chūō Freeway (Original: Arai Yumi "Yuming") (from Billboard Live 2015/11/19)

Disc 2 (Motion Blue Yokohama 2018 Live)
1. Blue Valentine's Day
2. MC01
3. I Hear a Symphony
4. bokura ga tabi ni deru riyū
5. MC02 <CM Song Corner>
6. Angel wa itsudemo
7. Ariake no Harbour
8. Shūmai ryojō
9. Chelsea no uta
10. MC03
11. Do Re Mi
12. MC04
13. kibun o dashite mō ichido feat. Yokoyama Ken
14. MC05 feat. Yokoyama Ken
15. niji to yuki no Ballad feat. Yokoyama Ken
16. MC06 feat. Yokoyama Ken
17. omote samui yo ne feat. Yokoyama Ken
18. MC07 feat. Takano Hiroshi
19. La Douce Vie feat. Takano Hiroshi
20. MC08 feat. Takano Hiroshi
21. Shanghai Melody feat. Takano Hiroshi
22. Winter's Tale feat. Takano Hiroshi
23. MC09
24. Love so fine
25. MC10
26. Such a Beautiful Girl Like You
27. Pizzicato Five Medley

Universal Music UICZ-4432
Out 10/31, ¥3241 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡)
† Tower Records ships within Japan only
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

Nomiya Maki & The Shaolin Brothers "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji c/w Happy Sad" (7")
野宮真貴と少林兄弟 「東京は夜の七時 c/w ハッピー・サッド」

A. Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji
B. Happy Sad

Universal Music UPKY-9017
Out 11/3, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (New version)

Sampler clip

This is a compilation of songs by Yellow Magic Orchestra (and solo ones by each member too) selected by Towa Tei for YMO's 40th anniversary. The album was remastered by Sunahara Yoshinori. The jacket artwork was done by Tomoo Gokita (known for his artwork for Towa Tei and Metafive).

The CD is made using Sony's Blu-spec CD2 manufacturing process. A double vinyl edition of 12 of the songs is being released at the same time. It was cut by Bernie Grundman.

Check out the release page, and the YMO40 special site

Yellow Magic Orchestra "Neue Tanz"
イエロー・マジック・オーケストラ 「ノイエ・タンツ」

1. Hirake Kokoro -Jiseiki-
2. Ballet
3. Riot In Lagos (Sakamoto Ryūichi)
4. The Madmen
5. Glass (Takahashi Yukihiro)
6. Neue Tanz
7. Camouflage
8. Pure Jam
9. Simoon
10. Cue
11. Firecracker
12. Multiplies
13. Sports Men (Hosono Haruomi)
14. Taiso
15. 1000 Knives
16. Nice Age

CD edition
Sony Music MHCL-30538
Out now (10/17), ¥2400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡), Spotify, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships within Japan only
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

A1. Hirake Kokoro -Jiseiki-
A2. Ballet
A3. Riot In Lagos (Sakamoto Ryūichi)
B1. The Madmen
B2. Glass (Takahashi Yukihiro)
B3. Neue Tanz
C1. Camouflage
C2. Pure Jam
C3. Simoon
D1. Cue
D2. Firecracker
D3. Multiplies

Vinyl edition (2x12")
Sony Music MHJL-49
Out now (10/17), ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Teaser clip

Francis avec Haruko, the unit of Ori Makoto (aka Francis, ex-The Collectors) and Tajima Haruko, has a 2nd mini-album out now! The keyword is "cosmic and colorful electro-pop"! This is the follow-up to "Jamón, jamón" (2017).

Their next show will be held on November 4 at Yokohama The Club Sensation. Also playing is Chikada Haruo and more. Find details here.

Francis avec Haruko "Zero Gravity Love"
ハルコとフランシス 「ZERO GRAVITY LOVE」

1. Joy of a Toy
2. ZERO GRAVITY LOVE
3. Dancing in Shangri-La
4. koibitotachi (Les Amants)
5. my time

VIVA VIVA-04
Out now (10/17), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"ZERO GRAVITY LOVE"

"Joy of a Toy"

Sampler clip

A new remix of "Callin' You" from Wakita Monari's 2nd album "Ahead!" has been released digitally. The remix was done by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke) who wrote the song's music. He said on Twitter that he used a Korg M1 for the piano and organ parts.

Monari's first album "I am ONLY" (2017) was also newly made available digitally, for those who have yet to check it out.

Monari can be seen live at free event "RadiFes 2018" to be held by TBS Radio on October 3 nearby the Kokusai Akasaka Building. Monari will be on stage from 13:00, followed by Hoshino Michiru and also Kaji Hideki. Find details here.

Wakita Monari "Callin' You (Nite in the Groove Mix)" (Download)

Vivid Sound
Out now (10/17)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Wakita Monari "Callin' You (Nite in the Groove Mix) [Instrumental]" (Download)

Vivid Sound
Out now (10/17)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Idol duo Avandoned has released a new single earlier this month! "Lemon Peels" was written and produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (cubismo grafico, Neil and Iraiza, Learners). The B-side was written and performed by punk band SEVENTEEN AGAiN. There's been word that an album is in the works!

The release comes as a 7" and a CD which contains both songs plus instrumentals. Both songs can be sampled at Jet Set, but also check out the video below!

A show will be held at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar on November 17 together with label mates Magic, Drums & Love and DJ Chabe. Check out Avandoned's full schedule here.

Avandoned "Lemon Peels" (7"+CD)
あヴぁんだんど 「レモン・ピールズ」

7"
A. Lemon Peels
B. chanto koko ni Sign shite

CD
1. Lemon Peels
2. chanto koko ni Sign shite
3. Lemon Peels (Inst.)
4. chanto koko ni Sign shite (Inst.)

Vivid Sound/High Contrast HCCD-9603
Out now (10/10), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"chanto koko ni Sign shite"

Fender Rhodes musician Ino Hidefumi has released a brand new album titled "Song Album", of which all songs are vocal and sung by himself. "Skytree" and "From 3000 Feet The Sky Of Tokyo" have lyrics written by Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato One). A bonus disc includes instrumentals of all songs.

"Skytree" and "Witchcraft" were released in advance on 7" (with some copies still available at Jet Set at time of writing).

A vinyl edition of the full album will also be released on Record Day 2018.

Ino Hidefumi "Song Album"

Disc 1
1. Skytree
2. Miracle Of Rendez-vous
3. Now I See It　　
4. Man And Dog
5. Can't Sleep -Album Version-
6. The Sound Of Waves　
7. Witchcraft
8. From 3000 Feet The Sky Of Tokyo
9. You Are So Beautiful　

Disc 2
1. Skytree (Inst.)
2. Miracle Of Rendez-vous (Inst.)
3. Now I See It (Inst.)
4. Man And Dog (Inst.)
5. Can't Sleep -Album Version- (Inst.)
6. The Sound Of Waves (Inst.)
7. Witchcraft (Inst.)
8. From 3000 Feet The Sky Of Tokyo (Inst.)
9. You Are So Beautiful (Inst.)

Innocent Record IRCD-007
Out now (10/10), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Ino Hidefumi "Song Album" (12")

A1. Skytree
A2. Miracle Of Rendez-vous
A3. Now I See It　　
A4. Man And Dog
A5. Witchcraft
B1. Can't Sleep -Album Version-
B2. The Sound Of Waves　
B3. From 3000 Feet The Sky Of Tokyo
B4. You Are So Beautiful　

Innocent Record IRLP-003
Out 11/3, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Trailer video #1

Trailer video #2

Single "Skytree / Witchcraft" teaser trailer

MANON (Instagram), whose first album "Teenage Diary" was released in July, has a new remix now available digitally! The track is a collaboration with Tokyo teen hip-hop crew Normcore Boyz (Twitter), who added their original rap in place of verses. It was first released as a music video on YouTube in August. Watch it below!

Normcore Boyz' first digital EP "Tokio Teleport" () was released earlier this year.

Manon "2 Live In A Real World (Remix) feat. Normcore Boyz" (Download)

Caticorn Records
Out now (10/19)
Sample/buy: , Spotify

Wack Wack Rhythm Band (official Facebook page) has a brand new 7" single out now! A-side "Easy Riding" is a brand new happy-sounding soft rock instrumental, while B-side is a vocal cover of jazz standard "I'll Close My Eyes".

Another new 7" will be released on November 11, and also a re-issue of first album "Weekend Jack" will be released on November 21. Stay tuned!

A release party for both singles will be held on November 25 at Shibuya Under Deer Lounge, also featuring Cat Boys and Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods. WWRB will perform with guest vocalist Hoshino Michiru. The show will start at 18:00.

Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Easy Riding / I'll Close My Eyes" (7")

A. Easy Riding
B. I'll Close My Eyes

WWRB WWRB001
Out now (10/10), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Sampler clip