Tokyo's Coolest Sound

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1. mito "Dawns"
   mito, bassist of band clammbon, has a solo album coming next week. Featured are many guests including electronic artist agraph, pianist kotringo, and members of bands toe and Rovo. Plus, the album is mastered by Sunahara Yoshinori! Released at the...
   Posted on May 15, 2011 at 01:26

1. Various Artists "Happy Holidays! ~80's Pops Covers~"
   This is a compilation of various covers of 80's hit Japanese pop songs, featuring Sakamoto Ryūichi with Minekawa Takako, Toki Asako, Yakushimaru Etsuko, Hitomitoi with Sokabe Keiichi, clammbon, Sebastian X, and more. Various Artists "Happy Holidays! ~80's Pops Covers~" 1....
   Posted on March 26, 2012 at 21:53
2. Japan United with Music "All You Need Is Love" (CD+DVD)
   Led by Sakamoto Ryūichi, this charity single covers The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" in an electronic arrangement, and featuring some 30 big names participating on vocals and production. Profits are said to be donated for children victims of...
   Posted on February 1, 2012 at 22:59
3. Various Artists "Ryuichi Sakamoto Tribute"
   Here's a tribute album to Sakamoto Ryūichi, produced by Tobeta Bajune and featuring plenty of great electronic artists such as Atom, MimiCof, DJ Yogurt and more. A cover of "dennōgiwa" also features Ōnuki Taeko. The album is released on Sakamoto's...
   Posted on January 15, 2012 at 01:13
4. Prof. Sakamoto "Sakamoto kyōju no 8bit Juke Box"
   Prof. Sakamoto (aka Sakamoto kyōju, a nickname that usually refers to Sakamoto Ryūichi but not in this case) is an 8-bit artist also known for being able to play just about any Famicom game theme on a synthesizer off the...
   Posted on December 20, 2011 at 22:56
5. yanokami "toku wa chikai"
   yanokami, the unit of Yano Akiko with rei harakami (the latter who passed out in July of a brain hemorrhage), has a last album coming. This consists of a few new original songs plus a selection of covers of Arai...
   Posted on December 12, 2011 at 21:43
6. Sunaga t Experience "Choice"
   Sunaga t Experience (the jazz unit produced by Sunaga Tatsuo) is back with a new album, this time backed by Billboard Japan part of a series of cover albums on its recently started Billboard Records label. The album features collaborations...
   Posted on November 27, 2011 at 23:33
7. Sakamoto Ryuichi "Original Sound Track 'ichimei' Harakiri - death of a samurai"
   Sakamoto Ryuichi has made a new soundtrack for upcoming samurai movie "ichimei" (director Miike Takashi) about to start in theaters on October 15. It had been about 4 years since his previous soundtrack, "Silk" (2007). Out at the same time...
   Posted on October 9, 2011 at 19:41
8. yanokami "Bamboo Music" (Download)
   yanokami, the unit of rei harakami and Yano Akiko, has a new song available for download. This is a cover of "Bamboo Music", a song from 1982 by Sakamoto Ryūichi and David Sylvian (hear the original on YouTube). rei harakami...
   Posted on August 4, 2011 at 23:53
9. Yellow Magic Orchestra U.S. shows, with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter, Towa Tei
   Text, photos and videos by Nicholas D. Kent (Japanese Electronic Music) for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Two reports of Yellow Magic Orchestra shows held in California last month (June 26 at Hollywood Bowl, L.A., with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter and Towa...
   Posted on July 23, 2011 at 20:13
10. Merpeoples "Metropolis"
    This is the 2nd mini-album from Merpeoples, is an indie-pop band of 4 girls in their 20's formed in 2008. This release contains a cover of "i-ke-na-i Rouge Magic", a classic techno-kayō track by Imawano Kiyoshirō and Sakamoto Ryūichi. Watch...
    Posted on June 14, 2011 at 00:12
11. sōtaiseiriron "tadashii sōtaiseiriron"
    sōtaiseiriron have been around for 4 years and have released 3 albums. This new one features songs from the previous albums along with some brand new recordings, all revamped by many famous artists: Cornelius, Buffalo Daughter, Sakamoto Ryūichi, Ōtomo Yoshihide,...
    Posted on April 25, 2011 at 23:22
12. Various Artists "Christmas Songs"
    Here's another Christmas compilation, coming from commmons, made up of all previously unreleased Christmas tracks by a fascinating line-up of artists. Featured are all three of YMO, Minekawa Takako, Tokumaru Shūgo, Harada Tomoyo, kotringo, naomi & goro, Sean O'Hagan (The...
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 22:55
13. Yakushimaru Etsuko "Cosmos vs Alien"
    Yakushimaru Etsuko (of Sōtaiseiriron) has a new solo single, of which title song "Cosmos vs Alien" is being used for the opening of anime series "Arakawa Under The Bridge 2". The single comes with 2 more new songs, all written...
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 23:21
14. Ōnuki Taeko & Sakamoto Ryūichi "UTAU"
    A new album by Ōnuki Taeko and Sakamoto Ryūichi, their first collaboration album in 13 years! This features mainly songs by Sakamoto with Ōnuki's vocals, and comes in two editions, one with a bonus instrumental CD. Official page at commmons...
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 00:16
15. frenesi "Märchen"
    frenesi (MySpace) is back again this year with a new album titled "Märchen" (in Japanese "Meruhen"), follow-up to last year's wonderful "Cupra"! This new album, subtitled "Computer no namida." ("Computer tears"), contains a cover of Cosmic Invention's "Computer obaachan" (1981),...
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 21:10
16. Sweet Jam Style "Shibuya-kei Bossa"
    Bossa nova cover project Sweet Jam Style's first release is a collection of Shibuya-kei classics. Included are hit songs by Pizzicato Five, Cornelius, Kahimi Karie, Original Love, Flipper's Guitar and Ozawa Kenji. The album features various female vocalists, and is...
    Posted on July 20, 2010 at 22:10
17. Atom™ & Masaki Sakamoto "Alien Symphony"
    Atom™ (aka Atom Heart) joins pianist/neurologist Masaki Sakamoto for a first original album titled "Alien Symphony" out now in Japan. Guest vocalists include Koshi Miharu. Also available on iTunes is a special album of remixed tracks from the album: Atom™...
    Posted on May 19, 2010 at 22:01
18. Various Artists "commmons: schola vol.5 Yukihiro Takahashi & Haruomi Hosono Selections: Drums & Bass"
    Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons has a series of compilations coming with a book, called "schola". The series started with 3 installments of classical music, but vol.4 brought jazz, and now vol.5 invites the two other YMO members Takahashi Yukihiro and...
    Posted on May 5, 2010 at 09:12
19. Various Artists "CC:01 -commmons compilation-"
    Here's a first label sampler compilation from Sakamoto Ryūichi's commmons, also hoping to give a good starting point to new fans of the label. Featured artists include HASYMO, Sakamoto Ryūichi, mi-gu (aka Araki Yūko, drummer of The Cornelius Group), naomi...
    Posted on February 19, 2010 at 23:37
20. naomi & goro "Bossa Nova Songbook 2"
    Bossa nova duo naomi & goro bring us a 2nd cover album, again on Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons. Included are famous songs by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle and Caetano Veloso. Cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, famous for his...
    Posted on July 5, 2009 at 18:59
21. Towa Tei "middle and mellow of TOWA TEI"
    Here comes a greatest hits collection of Towa Tei selected by editor-in-chief of magazine Barfout! Towa Tei "middle and mellow of TOWA TEI" 1. Let Me Know (from "Let Me Know" single) 2. Technova-Opaz Flying High Remix Ver.3 (from "Future...
    Posted on May 18, 2009 at 22:28
22. Cornelius "CM3"
    This 3rd album of Cornelius' remix works focuses on the part of his career between and around the albums "Point" and "Sensuous". Also released at the same time is a 2-DVD set of a live show plus TV footage, "Ultimate...
    Posted on March 5, 2009 at 21:43
23. HASYMO "the city of light / tokyo town pages"
    HASYMO, the recent unit of Sakamoto Ryūichi, Hosono Haruomi and Takahashi Yukihiro (all three formerly YMO = Yellow Magic Orchestra), has a new single coming up. Included are "the city of light", the theme song of News23, and "tokyo town...
    Posted on July 22, 2008 at 15:38
24. tron: Hosaka Akane live
    Electronic artist Hosaka Akane's album "Niko Niko Denki Muzic" is just out, and she will be performing at this nice event that will also serve as release party! Also playing will be San Franciso-based Christopher Willits (who has done a...
    Posted on June 11, 2008 at 15:28
25. World Happiness
    Takahashi Yukihiro (Yellow Magic Orchestra, Sketch Show) and art director Shindō Mitsuo (Contemporary Production) present this summer festival where can be caught pupa (Takahashi's new all-star unit), HASYMO, Suzuki Keiichi (Moonriders), Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Bonnie Pink, NRT320 (Shindō Mitsuo's...
    Posted on May 8, 2008 at 13:56
26. Various Artists "Happy Holidays! by commmons"
    Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons brings us a compilation of calm songs, acoustic and then some, selected from its growing catalog. Included are songs with Minekawa Takako, Kahimi Karie, and lots more. This is a special label sampler sold only at...
    Posted on March 19, 2008 at 15:09
27. Sakamoto Ryūichi + Takatani Shirō "LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible ..." (DVD)
    "LIFE - fluid, invisible, inaudible ...", a multimedia installation by musician Sakamoto Ryūichi and visual artist Takatani Shirō (Dumb Type), has been exhibited last year at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media and Tokyo's NTT ICC in 2007. Now...
    Posted on March 18, 2008 at 15:05
28. naomi & goro "Bossa Nova Songbook 1"
    Celebrating the 50th anniversary of bossa nova, guitar/vocal duo naomi & goro offers us this cover album of songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joan Gilberto. It's a first release for them on commmons, and Sakamoto Ryūichi even lends his...
    Posted on March 18, 2008 at 14:41
29. HASYMO "HAS/YMO" (DVD)
    The three members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Sakamoto Ryūichi, Hosono Haruomi and Takahashi Yukihiro, got back on stage together last year as HASYMO (HAS = Human Audio Sponge) for the time of a special charity concert, held at Pacifico Yokohama...
    Posted on February 27, 2008 at 15:19
30. "'Death Note × Death Note the Last name × L change the WorLd' Original Soundtrack Triple Club Re-mix"
    This remix album of music from the three films inspired from the "Death Note" manga (Wikipedia) will feature Iwamura Manabu, Akakage, Fukutomi Yukihiro, Jazztronik, Ken Ishii, DJ Maar (Dexpistols) and more. Official release page with some audio samples Original Soundtrack...
    Posted on February 13, 2008 at 14:06
31. Various Artists "Hosono Haruomi Strange Song Book - Tribute to Haruomi Hosono 2" (2 CDs+DVD)
    Following the "Hosono Haruomi Tribute Album" out last year, comes a second one! This one is a 2-CD set featuring Buffalo Daughter, Sakamoto Ryūichi, Sakamoto Miu, Ōnuki Taeko, Suzuki Keiichi (Moonriders), Sheena & The Rokkets, Kicell, and overseas artists such...
    Posted on November 16, 2007 at 10:40
32. Various Artists "Holy 8bit Night"
    Indies chip-tune label VORC brings us a Christmas compilation of well-known Christmas pop songs remixed in 8-bit style by Japanese and international artists. There will be a release party on December 16 at Shibuya amate-raxi. Entrance is ¥2500, or ¥2000...
    Posted on November 9, 2007 at 16:30
33. Original soundtrack "Silk (Soie)", "Tony Takitani"
    Sakamoto Ryūichi has two new soundtracks coming up this December! First, he did the music for the film "Silk (Soie)" (2007), a collaboration between Canada, Japan and Italy directed by Canadian François Girard. This is his first movie since the...
    Posted on October 17, 2007 at 15:24
34. Various Artists "nihon no uta: dai1shū"
    Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons brings us this collection of Japanese traditional or regional songs interpreted by artists such as Cornelius, Kahimi Karie, Yann Tomita, Sakamoto Ryūichi + Nakatani Miki, ...
    Posted on August 21, 2007 at 17:53
35. Various Artists "Lingkaran For Baby"
    LOHAS magazine Lingkaran has put together a collection of nursury rhymes sung by a bunch of like-minded artists. The line-up includes Nomiya Maki, Toki Asako, Chocolat & Akito, Furukawa Miki, Yano Akiko & Sakamoto Miu, Cano Caoli, Yukawa Shione, and...
    Posted on August 21, 2007 at 17:30
36. kuchiroro "Golden Love"
    kuchiroro's new album will feature a guest appearance by Halcali! Also being that they're now released on the Sakamoto Ryūichi's label commmons, it might be time for me to check them out. kuchiroro "Golden Love" 口ロロ 「Golden Love」 1. Golden...
    Posted on July 31, 2007 at 15:40
37. Various Artists "10Girls' Voice"
    A compilation of electronic tracks with female vocal will be released by label Elegant Disc. Including songs by both pro and amateur singers, the compilation features Yoshimi (Sonicberry Favour), Anna Yamada (singer praised by Sakamoto Ryūichi), Takahashi Yūki (...
    Posted on May 16, 2007 at 14:22
38. Various Artists "Hosono Haruomi Tribute Album - Tribute to Haruomi Hosono"
    Here comes a very interesting tribute album to Hosono Haruomi (Sketch Show, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Happy End). The 2-CD set will include appearances and many surprising collaborations, such as Sakamoto Ryūichi + Minekawa Takako (a return!), Yano Akiko + Rei...
    Posted on March 1, 2007 at 11:47
39. Various Artists "Tribute to David Bowie"
    Japanese artists pay tribute to David Bowie in this compilation featuring Nomiya Maki, Fukutomi Yukihiro feat. Arichika Masumi (T.V. Jesus), Sakamoto Miu, Coldfeet, Nona Reeves, and more. Various Artists "Tribute to David Bowie" 1. Nomiya Maki / Fame 2. The...
    Posted on February 8, 2007 at 16:25
40. my charm #11 (Book+CD)
    Girl-oriented small book series my charm (you might think of it as a small irregular magazine) has an 11th issue coming which will include a CD full of songs by great indie artists such as Aprils, Hazel Nuts Chocolate, melting...
    Posted on February 2, 2007 at 17:04
41. 100+8 Sexy Girls From V.S.O.O.P./bonnō Girls "i·ke·na·i Rouge Magic" (CD+DVD)
    ... and you thought Morning Musume were too many? A new unit called bonnō Girls features no less than 108 girls! Their first single is a cover of the Shiseidō commercial song "i-ke-na-i Rouge Magic" written by by Imawano Kiyoshirō...
    Posted on September 12, 2005 at 22:33
42. Tei Towa "Flash"
    Tei Towa's new album will be here in April! The album will feature a bunch of guest artists such as Sakamoto Ryūichi, Nomiya Maki, Tycoon To$h (Nakanishi Toshio (Plastics, [Water] Melon,...)), Buffalo Daughter, Arto Lindsay, Moritaka Chisato, Kylie Minogue, Byron...
    Posted on January 14, 2005 at 13:15
43. Various Artists "Yellow Magic kayōkyoku" & "Techno Magic kayōkyoku"
    Two interesting compilations of 80's techno-pop/kayō, certainly containing a lot of gems, will be released in February at a relatively low price. The first compilation has 3 CDs and consists of only songs written/produced by Yellow Magic Orchestra members (Sakamoto...
    Posted on December 7, 2004 at 17:54
44. Fantastic Plastic Machine "Sound Concierge" #501 and Annex
    A third series of mix CDs by Tanaka Tomoyuki aka Fantastic Plastic Machine has been announced. The formula is same as before, one lounge CD and one house CD. Update 1/6: This time, one of the two CDs seems to...
    Posted on November 12, 2004 at 13:12
45. m-flo "Astromantic Charm School" (CCCD)
    Following their recent album "Astromantic" featuring Nomiya Maki, Crazy Ken Band, Sakamoto Ryūichi, Black Bottom Brass Band, and many other J-Pop artists, m-flo will release a remix album including remixes by Halfby, Comoesta Yaegashi, FreeTEMPO, Kenji Jammer, Tomita Lab, and...
    Posted on July 12, 2004 at 16:01