Tokyo's Coolest Sound

There's a vinyl edition of Kinoco Hotel leader Marianne Shinonome's first solo album "Mood Adjuster" out now! Aside from many originals, the album contains covers of "Se Voce Pensa" (originally by Roberto Carlos) and "Good Bye" (originally sung by Kon Yōko).

In related news, it has just been announced that Kinoco Hotel drummer Fabienne Inawashiro has left the band, after over 11 years, and from their next show the line-up will feature new drummer Natasha Urayasu. I really liked Fabienne's skills and her great smile, but I look forward to more exciting music from Kinoco Hotel!

Upcoming shows by Marianne's solo project will be out of town, on March 14 in Kyoto and on March 15 in Nagoya. Meanwhile, Kinoco Hotel will play on March 3 at Shinjuku Loft in an event featuring several other artists (details).

Marianne Shinonome "Mood Adjuster" (12")
マリアンヌ東雲 「MOOD ADJUSTER」

A1. dasshutsu
A2. Savanna
A3. Mood Adjuster
A4. Poolside Pretender
A5. Se Voce Pensa
B1. Glass no jikan
B2. sabakareru monotachi e
B3. Good Bye
B4. hōryū no Subterraneans
B5. zekkai no onna

Victor Entertainment/JET SET JSLP124
Out 2/19, ¥3100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Mood Adjuster"

Album trailer

Learners has a 3rd album about to be released! It's the follow-up to album "More Learners" after which mini-album "Learners High" was also released.

Included are three original songs, for which the lyrics were written by singer Sara Mary, and also covers such as CCR's "Lookin' Out My Back Door", jazz standard "Get Happy" (previously sung by Judy Garland, Fairground Attraction, Rufus Wainwright among many others) and more. Also included is latest single "Always On My Mind" (song popularized by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, etc.) which was released on 7" in March 2019 and quickly sold out 1000 copies, and an album version of its B-side "Strong Enough" (a Sheryl Crow cover).

A vinyl edition will follow a bit later on April 10!

Learners will tour Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo in March. Catch them at Shibuya Club Quattro on March 10, the show starting at 19:30! Find tour details here.

LEARNERS "Hello Stranger"

1. Chambre no koi
2. tsukikake
3. Lookin' Out My Back Door
4. Wiper Blues
5. Always On My Mind
6. Get Happy
7. Riding High
8. Strong Enough

CD edition
KiliKiliVilla KKV-097
Out 2/19, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Vinyl edition
KiliKiliVilla KKV-097VL
Out 4/10, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV

"Strong Enough"

"Always On My Mind"

Wakita Monari's excellent 2nd album "AHEAD!" (2018) is being released on vinyl! This album includes several songs produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke), and also ones produced by microstar, Illicit Tsuboi (co-written by YUI (Bakubaku Dokin)), Sasaki Jun (ex-Cosa Nostra) (with lyrics by Suzuki Momoko, also ex-Cosa Nostra)), Count Joke (both of them), among others.

There will be in-store events to promote the release, with ones on Tuesday February 18 at HMV record shop Shinjuku Alta from 19:30, on Wednesday Feb. 19 at HMV&Books Shibuya from 20:00, on Saturday Feb. 22 at Tower Records Kinshichō from 18:00 and on Sunday Feb. 23 at Tower Records Shinjuku also from 18:00. Details here.

Then on Thursday February 27, Monari will perform part of "LIVE Light Mellow Vol.2.5" at Shibuya Loft Heaven, along with band Amane Trill (details). Tickets are on sale!

Wakita Monari "AHEAD!" (12")
脇田もなり 「AHEAD!」

A1. Callin' You
A2. PEPPERMINT RAINBOW
A3. Gozigen Lover-Joi
A4. Dear
A5. ai no Decadence
A6. hashiru boku
B1. TAKE IT LUCKY!!!!
B2. CUTi-BiL
B3. LEMON
B4. yūsei kara no I Love You oh! oh!
B5. WINGSCAPE
B6. ao no yume

Vivid Sound/High Contrast HCR9688
Out 2/19, ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Gozigen Lover-Joi"

"TAKE IT LUCKY!!!!"

Brilliant 16-year-old singer-songwriter KEEPON, who is a huge fan of Hosono Haruomi, is releasing a 7" of two covers of songs from "Hosono House" (1973). KEEPON was 15 when the recording was done by himself at his home studio.

Hosono Haruomi himself did the mix of "Party", while the B-side was mixed by Kubota Makoto. The jacket photo was done by Nogami Masahiro, the same photographer who shot "Hosono House". The release also contains a CD of the same recordings.

KEEPON has released 4 albums since 2018, the latest being titled "mayonaka Boy" (2019, Amazon). Check out what he does in the "mayonaka Boy" music video and this video of song "yūsuzumi ni". There's lots more to watch on YouTube.

A release party will be held on March 3 at Daikanyama "haretara sora ni mame maite". Details here.

KEEPON "Party" (7"+CD)
KEEPON 「パーティー」

A. Party
B. Owari no Kisetsu

Li'l Daisy LDEP-005
Out 2/21, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV

SOLEIL, a great band that has put a stop to its activities at the end of 2019, has two releases coming this February 26, 2020!

The first is a live DVD which consists mainly of the last show held on December 22 at Veats in Shibuya. Seven songs from two other solo shows held earlier in 2019 are also included, plus all of their music videos (also seven of them). This is SOLEIL's first (and last) live DVD!

The other release is a vinyl edition of 3rd album "Lollipop Sixteen" (2019), of which the artwork was a deep wink to Elvis Costello.

SOLEIL was a band with a gentle '60s rock sound fronted by teenage singer Soleil (who previously also sang in Tanqun Democracy), led by producer and bassist Sally Kubota (of The Scooters, les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift), and also featuring guitarist Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville) who played in all recordings and in the last show. Other musicians who can be seen on stage on the DVD include support (and recording) drummer Shirane Kenichi (of GREAT3), chorist Moeka (of Machida Girls Choir), and live support guitarist Hirakawa Yuichi (of The Pen Friend Club). Many songwriters contributed music and lyrics to SOLEIL's repertory.

SOLEIL "Live at Veats" (DVD)
(Region 2 NTSC)

December 22, 2019: "SOLEIL Last Christmas Concert" @ Veats Shibuya (Tokyo) Part 1
1. OPENING ~ Theme of SOLEIL
2. Do You Believe in Magic?
3. Sweet Boy
4. My Emo-Coloured Corazon
5. High School Lullaby
6. Pieces of Candy
7. Hong Kong Chang
8. Twinkle Heart
9. So Long My Fourteen
10. MARINE I LOVE YOU
11. My Sweet Fifteen
12. 5-4-3-2-1
13. School's Out
14. Le Cœur Qui Fuzz
15. Good Bye, Teddy Bear
16. Are you happy?

July 20, 2019: "Lollipop Sixteen Tour" @ WWW X (Shibuya, Tokyo)
17. Anachronic Girl
18. Apple Princess Go Go!
19. Red Balloon

March 30, 2019: "Hello, Again SOLEIL!" @ WWW X (Shibuya, Tokyo)
20. Mellotron Girl
21. Bittersweet Graduation
22. Baby Boo
23. Love Letter in Blue Ink

December 22, 2019: "SOLEIL Last Christmas Concert" @ Veats Shibuya (Tokyo) Part 2
24. Apple Princess Go Go!
25. Guitar in Love
26. Pinky Fluffy

Music videos
27. Do You Believe in Magic?
28. Guitar in Love
29. MARINE I LOVE YOU
30. My Sweet Fifteen
31. Mellotron Girl
32. High School Lullaby
33. Twinkle Heart

Victor Entertainment VIBL-979
Out 2/26, ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

SOLEIL "Lollipop Sixteen" (12")

A1. Le Cœur Qui Fuzz
A2. Mellotron Girl
A3. Anachronic Girl
A4. High School Lullaby
A5. Red Balloon
A6. Zozoi
B1. 5-4-3-2-1
B2. School's Out
B3. Soleil's Kanon
B4. Tokimeki
B5. Lollipop Sixteen
B6. Summer of 2019

Victor Entertainment VIJL-60212
Out 2/26, ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Do You Believe in Magic?" (Short ver.)

"Guitar in Love" (Short ver.)

"Marine I Love You" (Short ver.)

"My Sweet Fifteen" (Short ver.)

"Mellotron Girl" (Short ver.)

"High School Lullaby" (Short ver.)

"Twinkle Heart" (Short ver.)

Here's another new song from Nosa Reina's upcoming album "Sports and Distractions" (Japanese title "Sports to kibarashi"). The artwork was illustrated by Makita Namina. This is the third song released so far, following "Pink Delusional Aquarium" and "City Blue Carnival".

Reina will perform at event "Feelin' Groovy" on Tuesday February 11 at UFO Club, Higashi-Kōenji. The event will also feature Francis, Saitō Neon Sign and more.

Reina Nosa "Eccentric Western Exercise" (Download)
野佐怜奈 「不思議なウエスタン体操」
(Japanese title: "fushigi na Western taisō")

Reina Nosa
Out now (2/8)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's latest song, "Kimiga Iine Kuretara" (released digitally last May), is getting released on 7" vinyl this month! The song comes on cute pink vinyl, and the B-side is a previously unreleased instrumental. Also check out latest album "Japamyu".

Kyary and her producer Nakata Yasutaka (CAPSULE) are going on a DJ tour, titled "YSTK×KPP vol.2", with dates on February 12 at Zepp Osaka, February 13 at Zepp Nagoya, and February 21 in Tokyo at Toyosu Pit. Tickets are on sale.

Shows have also been announced abroad on March 15 in Mexico City (part of the "Vive Latino 2020" festival), on April 12 and 19 at Coachella, and also a solo show on April 16 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Kimiga Iine Kuretara" (7")

A. Kimiga Iine Kuretara
B. Kimiga Iine Kuretara (Inst.)

Kimigaiinekuretara KMGI-0001
Out 2/26, ¥1600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Kimiga Iine Kuretara"

Shortly following album "Nulife" released in December, DÉ DÉ MOUSE has just released digitally a new remix of early hit track "baby's star jam".

And at the same time three earlier releases that were sold only at live venues have been also made available digitally for the first time: "faraway girl" (2012, , Spotify), "to milkyway planet" (2013, , Spotify) and "planet to planet" (2015, , Spotify).

There will be a release party on February 15 at Shibuya WWW X, that will feature a session with bassist Unigame Takuto (Sawagi) and drummer Yamamoto Akinori (Lite). Tickets are on sale via e+.

DÉ DÉ MOUSE "baby's star jam (Edit 001)" (Download)

not records
Out now (1/31)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, Amazon MP3 Japan, Amazon MP3 U.S.

Following last week's remix by 80KIDZ, here's another one of Maika Loubté's "Nobara" this time by Ground (aka Gr○un土). The song is originally from Maika's album "Closer" (2019).

Album "Closer" was recently released on clear vinyl in Japan, and an international release on Toothpaste Records (UK) has been announced for March 27, 2020, making it more widely available in Europe and elsewhere. There's also word that she will perform in Europe this year.

Maika Loubté "Nobara - Ground Remix" (Download)

Water Records
Out now (1/31)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, Bandcamp