Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Original Love has just released an official cover album, in which many artists perform their versions of Original Love's songs from the repertory of 30 years. Featured are Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato One) — with "Let's Spend The Night Together", a song that Tajima Takao first sang when he was in Pizzicato Five —, Harada Tomoyo, Sheena Ringo and Tokyo Incidents (Tokyo Jihen), Yogee New Waves, Ryōsuke Nagaoka (Petrolz), SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS & Kento Nagatsuka (WONK), TENDRE, YONCE (Suchmos) and Saitō Kazuyoshi & Rei. There are also two collaborations of Original Love, with Ovall and PSG (PUNPEE, 5lack, GAPPER).

All songs can be sampled on the Original Love 30th Anniversary Site.

There's a limited edition of 5000 copies that comes with a DVD of a show from the "Original Love 30th Anniversary Tour 'Don't Forget Your Soul Power'", held at Nakano Sunplaza on July 17, 2021.

Various Artists "What a Wonderful World with Original Love?"

1. Harada Tomoyo / As Time Goes By (asahi no ataru michi)
2. Ryōsuke Nagaoka / Dear Baby
3. Sheena Ringo / LET'S GO!
4. SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS & Kento Nagatsuka (WONK) / MILLION SECRETS OF JAZZ
5. Saitō Kazuyoshi & Rei / JUMPIN' JACK JIVE
6. TENDRE / IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD
7. Konishi Yasuharu / Let's Spend The Night Together
8. Yogee New Waves / Let's Go To The Darkside Of The Moon
9. Tokyo Incidents (Tokyo Jihen) / Primal
10. YONCE (Suchmos) / Show Man
11. Original Love & Ovall / Kiss (seppun)
12. PSG (PUNPEE, 5lack, GAPPER) & Original Love / I WISH / aishitemasu

DVD (Limited edition only)
"Original Love 30th Anniversary Tour 'Don't Forget Your Soul Power'" (117 minutes)
1. IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD
2. Lover Man
3. DEEP FRENCH KISS
4. Zeroset
5. ryūsei toshi
6. kokoro
7. DREAMS
8. I WISH
9. MILLION SECRETS OF JAZZ
10. bless You!
11. THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
12. seppun
13. asahi no ataru michi
14. Midnight Shuffle
15. Bronco
16. TWO VIBRATIONS
17. THE ROVER
18. Encore: R&R

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Victor Entertainment VIZL-1940
Out now (9/29), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
Victor Entertainment VICL-65564
Out now (9/29), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Original Love & Ovall "seppun"

Francis is the solo project of bassist and singer-songwriter Makoto Ori (who previously played in bands Picky Picnic, Original Love and The Collectors), and after a long wait here comes finally a brand new album titled "Bolero"! Included are several songs that he had been playing in his live shows, and also a bunch of new ones. Check out the music videos and sampler clip below! The art direction and illustration is by Hitoshi Odajima.

Featured musicians include guitarist Jun Matsue (solo on "Repulsion"), drummer Shirane Kenichi (GREAT3) (on "Coquette Marionnette" aka "kawaii omocha"), keyboardist Hirohisa Horie (Neil & Iraiza) (solo on "Sessomatto"), Satō Yūsuke (caméra-stylo) (all instruments & arrangement on "Anemone"), and more. Vocal guests include Tomoko Kunimi (Wack Wack Rhythm Band, Sloppy Joe, nimit&co.) (scat on "Sessomatto"), Haruko Tajima (chorus on "Dandy Warhol"), Lily (Oldtimer) (vocals on "Matilda" and chorus on "Dandy Warhol"), and Himeno Tama (chorus on "Anemone").

Francis' previous solo album was "bUrNing BEar!" (released in 1994!), and it's also now finally available for the first time digitally ( (World), (Japan), Spotify, YouTube Music). In the recent years, he has also released two great mini-albums in collaboration with Haruko Tajima, as Francis avec Haruko: "Jamón, jamón" and "Zero Gravity Love".

Francis "Bolero"

1. S'il vous plaît, Ha
2. Repulsion
3. Matilda (feat. Lily)
4. Coquette Marionnette
5. Tropical Silent Pulse
6. Casanova
7. Viva! coffee jelly
8. Dandy Warhol
9. Bolero
10. Sessomatto
11. Anemone
12. Delaware

Viva VIVA05
Out 9/27, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Repulsion"

"Viva! coffee jelly"

"Sessomatto"

Sampler clip

dip in the pool (official Facebook page) has just released a brand new recording, of a cover of Larry Heard's (a.k.a. Mr. Fingers) "What about this love". Check out the teaser clip below!

This follows last year's digital single "Colour of Life" (, Spotify, YouTube Music). Both of these songs will be included in a new album to be titled "8 red noW", to be released on October 20, along with 6 remastered songs from the 1997 album "Wonder 8" (notice the title similarity!). Stay tuned for details!

A tour of three cities will be held this fall and winter, starting with a full band set at Billboard Live Tokyo on October 8. Find details here.

"What about this love" can also be heard in Tokyo's Coolest Sound's latest radio show (vol.20), which will be replayed a few more times until September 29, 2021.

dip in the pool "What about this love" (Download)

1. What about this love
2. What about this love (instrumental)

grandisc
Out now (9/24)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Teaser clip

Maika Loubté's song "Show Me How", released in its original form in October 2020, has been remixed by singer-songwriter/keyboardist/producer Kan Sano! There's also a music video that you can watch below. It was filmed at l'Institut français du Japon (Tokyo).

Maika's brand new album "Lucid Dreaming" will be released on October 20! Stay tuned for details!

Maika Loubté "Show Me How (Kan Sano Remix)" (Download)

Water Records
Out now (9/22)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

13 songs of Pizzicato Five that have music written by K-taro Takanami and are sung by Maki Nomiya, from the catalog of Nippon Columbia, have been released digitally as a compilation album! This is apparently the first of a series of three "Pizzicato Five On Demand" digital albums.

The songs included previously appeared on "This Year's Model e.p." (1991), "London-Paris-Tokyo e.p." (1991), "Readymade Recordings e.p." (1991), "Sweet Pizzicato Five" (1992) and "Bossa Nova 2001" (1993). Of those included, Maki wrote (or co-wrote) the lyrics of five of the songs, Konishi Yasuharu wrote lyrics of three songs, and a cover of Morio Agata is also included.

Maki Nomiya did an online concert for the 40th anniversary of her debut on September 21, and sung several of K-taro's songs. The show is viewable archived until September 28 (Japan time). The site and support is only in Japanese.

The release of a Pizzicato Five 7" has been announced for Record Day 2021 on November 27, though the tracklist hasn't yet been revealed (it can be pre-ordered at CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, etc.). Also, somehow the set of sixteen 7"s titled "The Band of 20th Century" is still available at Jet Set and HMV. A must for fans and collectors!

Pizzicato Five "PIZZICATO FIVE On Demand (Takanami keitaro edition)" (Download)
ピチカート・ファイヴ 「配信向けのピチカート・ファイヴ その1 高浪慶太郎の巻」
(Japanese title: "haishin muke no Pizzicato Five sono 1 Takanami keitaro no maki")

1. Brigitte Bardot T.N.T.
2. Tokyo's Coolest Sound
3. Past, Present, Future
4. Vacance
5. soratobu rikakyoushitsu
6. Shock Treatment
7. Funky Lovechild
8. Cosmic Blues
9. Peace Music
10. Sleeper
11. Rain Song
12. Eclipse
13. Saga

********** records / Nippon Columbia
Out now (9/22)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

The three albums of Sketch Show (Haruomi Hosono & Yukihiro Takahashi), which were re-issued on vinyl in July, have just been released as one boxed set of three CDs. It's been 20 years since the release of 3rd and latest album "LOOPHOLE". Along with the release of these CDs, all three albums will be made available on download/streaming platforms.

A limited edition contains a bonus DVD of a show from December 2002, which was once released as a DVD titled "WILD SKETCH SHOW -SKETCH SHOW LIVE 2002-". The show featured a guest appearance of Ryuichi Sakamoto, and part of the set list were covers of YMO's "Pure Jam" and "CUE" as well as Haruomi Hosono's "Paraiso".

Sketch Show "'audio sponge' 'tronika' 'LOOPHOLE'" (3CDs+Blu-ray)

CD 1 "audio sponge"
1. TURN TURN
2. Wonderful To Me
3. Microtalk
4. WILSON
5. Supreme Secret
6. Do you want to marry me
7. Gokigen ikaga 1.2.3
8. Reform
9. Flying George
10. Turn Down Day
11. Return
12. Theme from a summer place

CD 2 "tronika"
1. ekot
2. chronograph
3. snow #1
4. night talker
5. snow #2
6. ohotzka
7. chronograph -cornelius remix-
8. snow #3
9. ekot -cornelius remix-

CD 3 "LOOPHOLE"
1. MARS
2. WIPER
3. CHRONOGRAPH
4. PLANKTON
5. FLAKES
6. ATTENTION TOKYO
7. NIGHT TALKER -SAFETY SCISSORS MIX-
8. TRAUM 6.6
9. SCOTOMA
10. FLY ME TO THE RIVER
11. EKOT - CORNELIUS MIX -
12. STELLA

DVD (Limited edition only)
"WILD SKETCH SHOW -SKETCH SHOW LIVE 2002-"
1. Reform
2. Ekot
3. Do You Want To Marry Me
4. Supreme Secret
5. Night Talker
6. Ohotzka
7. Wilson
8. Gradated Gray
9. Wonderful To Me
10. Chronograph
11. Turn Turn
12. Microtalk
13. Flying George
14. Return
15. Zoetrope
16. Pure Jam
17. CUE
18. Paraiso
19. end roll
20. LA FEMME CHINOISE (Valuable Take)
21. Opening Short Sketch
22. SKETCH SHOW Chronicle 2002
23. THE END OF THE WORLD (for Prologue of WSS)
24. Original Video Clip "ekot"
25. Original Video Clip "Turn Turn"

Limited edition (3 CDs+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
cutting edge CTCR-96036
Out 9/22, ¥10000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (3 CDs only)
cutting edge CTCR-96039
Out 9/22, ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. Tune in at the times below at http://lafaceb.live. Happy listening!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.20) was aired at http://lafaceb.live on September 22, 2021 from 22:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: September 23, 2021 from 11:00 a.m.

This episode was not archived as-is, but it was replayed at the times below:

EDT (Montréal/New York) —

Thurs. Sept. 23 at 18h, Fri. 24 at 14h, Mon. 27 at 10h, Tue. 28 at 6h, Wed. 29 at 2h

Japan time —

Fri. Sept. 24 at 7h, Sat. 25 at 3h, Mon. 27 at 23h, Tue. 28 at 19h, Wed. 29 at 15h

Listen to the Spotify playlist of most of the songs (some replaced according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts that you can listen to.

1. Nishioka Diddley "Hot Concrete Road" (2021)

Nishioka Diddley (Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Twitter) is a guitarist who is also a chiptune adept. His new solo album released this year, "Bedroom to Outer Space", is a combination of Nanoloop and guitars. The album is available digitally on his Bandcamp, or physically on cassette tape or 8-track (!) on the U.S. label HomeTapes (only a few remaining).

Nishioka Diddley also plays guitar in bands such as Childish Tones and Nih Khmers (a band that takes inspiration from Cambodian music). Watch him perform a Cambodian song at the Square Sounds Tokyo 2019 further down this page.

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Nishioka Diddley, World Standard

2. World Standard "Lumia" (2020)
(Japanese title: ワールドスタンダード 「ルミア」)

World Standard is the solo unit of Sōichirō Suzuki that debuted in 1985 on Hosono Haruomi's Non-Standard label. The song "Lumia" is from latest album "Shikisai Ongaku" released in November 2020. This album is available on CD, via Far Side Music (UK) and hopefully still also at HMV.

World Standard released earlier this year a remastered LP edition of first album "World Standard" (originally released in 1985). Another LP titled "Asagao" released last year, consisting of a remastered early cassette demo, is also available via pianola records (Tokyo) and Far Side Music (UK).

Here you can listen to another song from "Shikisai Ongaku", titled "World Standard":

3. HAAS a.k.a. Hiroshi Takano "film" (2021)

Hiroshi Takano is a famous musician and singer, having debuted in 1988 with an album produced by Yukihiro Takahashi. Since last year he has been releasing a lot of music on his own Bandcamp, including rare live performances, and also some more experimental works such as the ones under his monicker HAAS.

One of those released not long ago is "birds go modern (B.G.M.)" on which appears the song "film". For this album, he sampled birds from records from a long time ago, and made them sing! The album is instrumental, except for the birds, and its whole is very pleasant.

4. Ayane Yamazaki "Phase" (2021)

Singer-songwriter Ayane Yamazaki released in June the album "Ribbon" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), combining ambient pop and easy listening, on which appears the song "Phase".

Ayane also released an album titled "Yobikakerarete" last year (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which included a cover of the theme from "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind".

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: HAAS a.k.a. Hiroshi Takano, Ayane Yamazaki, Toshiyuki Yasuda

5. Toshiyuki Yasuda "Baiza (Piano Solo)" (2021)
(Japanese title: 安田寿之 「Baiza (Piano Solo)」)

Toshiyuki Yasuda's "Baiza" first appeared on his first album "ROBO*BRAZILEIRA" released in 2000 (Spotify, , YouTube Music). For the album's 20th anniversary last year, the artist revisited all of the songs performing them on felt piano which has the soft sound that you can hear in this version.

A full album of these was released this year, titled "Once a Robot Sings" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Aside from digital platforms, it's also available as a download card here, which is shipped to you and lets you download the songs. A limited boxed set including "ROBO*BRAZILEIRA" is also available here.

6. Lullatone "seasonal produce" (2013)

Lullatone is a band based in Nagoya, and formed of Shawn and Yoshimi. The song "seasonal produce" is from album "Falling for Autumn" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) that's part of a series of the four seasons.

Also check out their latest single "Late Nights and Mosquito Bites" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) and also previous EP "Houseplant Music" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) released in July 2020. Watch a music video from it below! Follow Lullatone on Bandcamp not to miss their new releases.

7. NUBACK "Deai (deai no Theme)" (2020)
(Japanese title: NUBACK 「出会いのテーマ」)

NUBACK, the solo project of Dai Nakamura (BANK, Vacation Three, ex-Arch), released last year a new EP titled "Still Life" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ).

This year a 7" of NUBACK was released on German label Growing Bin Records, titled "When The Party Is Over", and it can be found at Jet Set, Juno (UK) and Growing Bin (Germany), etc. Also, a new project started this year and named Blank Music released an EP in February titled "My Name is Blank" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ).

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Lullatone, NUBACK, dip in the pool

8. dip in the pool "What about this love" (2021)

dip in the pool (official Facebook page) is releasing this brand new recording on September 24! The song is a cover of Mr. Fingers' "What about this love" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Check out the teaser clip just below.

The group also released last year the digital single "Colour of Life" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), of which the music was made in collaboration with Montréal artist CFCF. Their previous album was "Highwire Walker" in 2015 (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Both of these songs will be included in a new album to be titled "8 red noW", which has just been announced for release on October 20. Also included are 6 remastered songs from 1997 album "Wonder 8". A tour of three cities will be held this fall and winter, with a full band set at Billboard Live Tokyo on October 8.

Thank you for tuning in!

Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some previous shows on Mixcloud.

Here are more music videos by the artists featured in this episode.

Nishioka Diddley "B.C.K." (cover of Baksey Cham Krong)

World Standard "Shikisai Ongaku" (Short ver.)

HAAS a.k.a. Hiroshi Takano "Windowpane"

Ayane Yamazaki "Melody"

Toshiyuki Yasuda feat. Seika Iwashita "Secret Garden (Demo) + Crickets"

Lullatone "Houseplants While You are Away on Vacation"

Dai Nakamura (NUBACK) "HIMITSU"

dip in the pool "Colour of Life" (Short ver.)

Marinon (who changed her artist name from "marino" in 2018) has just released a brand new song digitally, titled "SriSriSri Lanka". The catchy rap tune made of breakbeats and exotic scales links with her passion for tea (Marinon runs an online tea shop). Check out the new song below!

Since Marinon's latest album is "watashi wa kōchayasan" (also known as "I'm Tea Shop Owner" released in 2017 as marino) (, Spotify, YouTube Music), she also released single "Halloween Tea Party" in 2019 (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

Marinon "SriSriSri Lanka" (Download)
まりのん 「スリスリスリランカ」

Castleton Music
Out now (9/18)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Perfume's latest song "Polygon Wave", released digitally in July, is getting released as a CD EP! Aside from several versions of the title song (including a remix and an instrumental) are included new songs "∞Loop" (read "mugen Loop") and "Android&" (read "Android and").

The limited edition includes a Blu-ray or DVD of 10 songs performed live part of online event "P.O.P (Perfume Online Present) Festival", held to coincide with both the 20th anniversary of their debut and the 15th anniversary of their major debut.

"Polygon Wave" is the theme song of the Japan edition of Amazon Original series "The Masked Singer" which started this month, on which Perfume also appears as panelists (watch a teaser clip of the show here).

Perfume "Polygon Wave EP"
Perfume 「ポリゴンウェイヴEP」

1. Polygon Wave (Original Mix)
2. Polygon Wave
3. Polygon Wave (Remix)
4. Polygon Wave (Instrumental)
5. ∞Loop
6. Android&
7. System Reboot (Perfume Live 2021 [Polygon Wave] Intro)

Blu-ray/DVD (Limited edition only)
"Perfume Imaginary Museum 'Time Warp'"

Limited edition Type A (CD+Blu-ray)
Universal Music UPCP-9028
Out 9/22, ¥4091 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Limited edition Type B (CD+DVD)
Universal Music UPCP-9029
Out 9/22, ¥3182 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal Music UPCP-1008
Out 9/22, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Polygon Wave"

"Perfume Imaginary Museum 'Time Warp'" teaser clip

Buffalo Daughter (Facebook) is releasing a brand new album! It has been 7 years since "Kon-jaction" (2014). There are two music videos that you can watch below. The animated video for "Global Warming Kills Us All" has characters designed by Kid Koala!

While a vinyl edition of the album will be sold internationally (order it or the digital edition on Bandcamp), it seems that this CD edition is only released in Japan.

Buffalo Daughter is also releasing a 7" picture disc of recent EP "Continuous Stories of Miss Cro-magnon (20 Years Later)", available for pre-order on the band's own Bandcamp. This one will ship from Japan.

Buffalo Daughter "We Are The Times"

1. Music
2. Times
3. Global Warming Kills Us All
4. Don't Punk Out
5. Loop
6. ET (Densha)
7. Jazz
8. Serendipity (Tsubu)
9. Everything Valley

musicmine MMCD20040
Out 9/17, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (World), (Japan), Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Times" (V-Edit)

"Jazz"

"ET (Densha)"

"Global Warming Kills Us All (Video Edit)"

Album teaser

Album teaser 2

Xavier is a new project of guitarist/producer Masayuki Ishii (Twitter), sound engineer ZAK, and Buffalo Daughter's Yumiko Ohno! The project will feature collaborations with different artists, of which the first are chelmico and Moeka Shiotsuka (of band Hitsujibungaku). The two songs of this single have just been released on 7", and are also available digitally.

Also featured in the recordings are Suzuki Masato (Little Creatures) on bass, Nishiuchi Tetsu (Reggae Disco Rockers) on sax and flute, and Numazawa Takashi on drums.

Xavier "Call In Sick feat. chelmico / kyūtai feat. Shiotsuka Moeka" (7")
Xavier 「Call In Sick feat. chelmico / 球体 feat. 塩塚モエカ」

A. Call In Sick feat. chelmico
B. kyūtai feat. Shiotsuka Moeka

P-Vine P7-6280
Out now (9/15), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Call In Sick feat. chelmico" official audio

"kyūtai feat. Shiotsuka Moeka" official audio

Kaede (Negicco) released today a new single titled "Cycles", available on CD and digitally. The title song was made by Jacob Tanaka (of band Yanushi), while B-side "((( escape ))) has music written and arranged by Taiwanese band Wendy Wander with lyrics written by Harada Ikuko (clammbon). The jacket is a photo of Kaede with her dog Yuki. Check out the music video for "Cycles" below!

A 7" vinyl edition of this single will be released for Record Day on November 27 (already pre-orderable at Amazon, HMV).

Kaede also recently released concept album "Youth - Original Soundtrack", of which a vinyl edition will be released for Record Day on November 3 (pre-orderable at CDJapan, Amazon, HMV).

Kaede "Cycles"
Kaede 「サイクルズ」

1. Cycles
2. ((( escape )))
3. Cycles (inst)
4. ((( escape ))) (inst)

T-Palette Records TPRC-0281
Out now (9/15), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

It's the 20th anniversary of Yoshinori Sunahara's album "LOVEBEAT", released in 2001! Here it comes newly remastered in three formats.

Aside from the regular edition of the CD album only, there's also a limited edition that includes a Blu-ray disc of a show from 2009. The CDs are of the high-quality "Blu-spec CD2" standard (plays in normal CD players), and the limited edition comes in a special sleeve.

Last but not least, there's also a limited double-vinyl that comes a bonus side of a brand new new dub mix of "LOVEBEAT" and demo & loops circa 2000-2001!

A recent DJ performance of Yoshinori Sunahara on DOMMUNE can be watched here.

Yoshinori Sunahara "LOVEBEAT 2021 -Optimized Re-Master-"
砂原良徳 「LOVEBEAT 2021 -Optimized Remaster-」

1. Earth Beat
2. Balance
3. In And Out
4. LOVEBEAT
5. Spiral Never Before
6. Echo Endless Echo
7. Hold'On Tight
8. Sun Beats Down
9. Bright Beat
10. The Center of Gravity

Blu-ray (Limited edition only)
"Live at LIQUIDROOM 2009"
1. The First Step
2. Earth Beat
3. Balance
4. Wave Motion (Version 2)
5. Capacity
6. LOVEBEAT
7. The Center of Gravity

Limited edition (Blu-spec CD2 + Blu-ray)
Sony Music MHCL-30686
Out 9/15, ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (Blu-spec CD2)
Sony Music MHCL-30688
Out 9/15, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Yoshinori Sunahara "LOVEBEAT 2021 2021 -Optimized Re-Master-" (2x12")
砂原良徳 「LOVEBEAT 2021 -Optimized Remaster-」

A1. Earth Beat
A2. Balance
A3. In And Out
B1. LOVEBEAT
B2. Spiral Never Before
B3. Echo Endless Echo
B4. Hold'On Tight
C1. Sun Beats Down
C2. Bright Beat
C3. The Center Of Gravity
D1. LOVEBEAT 2021 Dub Mix
D2. 2000-2001 YSST Demo & Loops

Vinyl edition (2x12")
Sony Music MHJL-190
Out 9/15, ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Teaser clip

"LOVEBEAT" (2001 original version)

Neo-doo-wop group Jintana & Emeralds is releasing a long-awaited 2nd full-length album! It has been over 7 years since debut album "Destiny" (2014, , Spotify). This time the album has a concept of a trip to the imaginary Emerald City, with a soundtrack of which time seems to have stopped in the 50s, and the CD comes with a guidebook-like booklet that showcases the exotic city's features. Check out the trailer clip below as well as music videos for pre-released singles "Love Again feat. Los Retros" (filmed in Mexico) and "Oh! Southern Wind".

The group is formed of Jintana Emeralds, Kashif Emeralds (aka Kashif) (both of collective Pacific Pan Playa), Crystal Emeralds (aka XTAL of Traks Boys, (((sssurrounddd)))), with singers Toi Emeralds (aka hitomitoi), Mami Emeralds (Abe Mami) and Cao Emeralds (Kami Kaoru).

JINTANA & EMERALDS "Emerald City Guide"

1. Oh! Southern Wind
2. Emerald Glass
3. Summer Begins
4. taiyō no sei
5. Love Again feat. Los Retros
6. futari no natsu
7. Mirage
8. Drip Trip
9. There She Goes
10. Dreamin'

P-Vine PCD-25331
Out 9/15, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Oh! Southern Wind"

"Love Again feat. Los Retros"

Trailer clip

CAPSULE has just released a new track digitally, titled "Future Wave"! It comes with a music video that you can watch below. This follows new song "Hikari no disco" released in June, which was followed by "Utsusemi". Hopefully there will be more to come from CAPSULE who celebrated their 20th debut anniversary (since single "Sakura" in 2001) this year.

Also, a remaster project started last month and so far albums "FRUITS CLiPPER" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) and "Sugarless GiRL" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) have been released digitally in newly remastered sound. Individual remastered songs have also been posted steadily on CAPSULE's official YouTube channel, so subscribe if you haven't yet.

In Nakata Yasutaka-related news, the release of a new Kyary Pamyu Pamyu album titled "Candy Racer" has been announced for October 27! Stay tuned!

CAPSULE "Future Wave" (Download)
CAPSULE 「フューチャー・ウェイヴ」

Warner Music
Out now (9/10)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Your Song Is Good's guitarist "Maurice" Masatomo Yoshizawa (Instagram) has just released a first solo album, teaming up with XTAL ((((sssurrounddd))), Jintana & Emeralds). A soundtrack of instrumental guitar, the "Guitar Esquisse" title comes from a series of Instagram posts (#guitaresquisse) that Maurice started in May 2020, combining solo guitar and illustrations. The two then came up with the keyword "dub" and reworked ten of the pieces in that direction, which resulted in this album.

It's available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY), on CD, and also on cassette tape.

Masatomo Yoshizawa meets XTAL "Guitar Esquisse Volume One" (CD/Cassette/Download)

1. No.25 Esquisse Intro
2. No.18 Sketch in the Shade
3. No.31 Spirograph
4. No.20 Syncopated Block Print
5. No.11 Esquisse Interlude
6. No.13 Kerning Man
7. No.30 Crystal Science
8. No.41 Vernacular
9. No.14 Eventide Arpeggio
10. No.37 Esquisse Outro

CD edition
Kakubarhythm DDCK-1073
Out 9/8, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Cassette edition
Kakubarhythm KAKU-136
Out 9/8, ¥1700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Hideki Kaji has released today a new summer pop song, titled "Naked Coffee Affogato"! It's co-produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil & Iraiza) who also played keyboards, and also features beats programmed by Arai Toshiya (COUNTJOKE) and guitar by Sato Hiroshi (KONCOS). The digital release includes an instrumental version.

A new album should be released early 2022, the year of Hideki Kaji's 25th anniversary since his debut.

Hideki Kaji "Naked Coffee Affogato" (Download)
カジヒデキ 「Naked Coffee Affogato」

1. Naked Coffee Affogato
2. Naked Coffee Affogato (Instrumental)

Blue Boys Club / AWDR/LR2
Out now (9/8)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Nona Reeves has just released a brand new album, their 17th! Titled "Discography", it's an original album and also contains a cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" sung by Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville). Check out the music videos below!

The album comes in two editions, of which the limited edition contains a bonus DVD of a live show held online on July 4, 2020, plus the two new music videos.

Nona Reeves "Discography"

1. Seventeen
2. Music Family
3. Disco Amigo
4. Wake Up!
5. Hurricane
6. New Journey
7. Ain't No Mountain High Enough feat. Mashiro Megumi
8. Dirty Honey
9. Saturday Lover
10. Satisfy

DVD (Limited edition only)
"NONA REEVES ONLINE SHOW ~LIVE LOVERS~ from Billboard Live supported by CASIO"
Seventeen (Music video)
Hurricane (Music video)

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Daydream Park Records DPR-0002
Out now (9/8), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
Daydream Park Records DPR-0004
Out now (9/8), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Hurricane"

"Seventeen"

The latest album of Sapporo-based trackmaker PARKGOLF (SoundCloud, Twitter), "Totem", which was released digitally in April, is now being released on pink-colored vinyl! Included are collaborations with SUSHIBOYS, Emi Okamoto (of Friends), GOODMOODMOKU, and Taiwanese rapper Mizu98. The vinyl edition includes an exclusive bonus track, and comes with a download code.

PARKGOLF also recently arranged the track of a new song by Emi Okamoto titled "fall", now available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music). This song is the ending theme of the 9th season of anime series "Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories".

PARKGOLF "Totem" (12")

A1. day1
A2. Sunlight / PARKGOLF & GOODMOODMOKU
A3. Girl Forever (feat. Mizu98)
A4. IDU
A5. Wonderland
B1. Fire
B2. Daylight / PARKGOLF & Emi Okamoto
B3. Lumos Maxima / PARKGOLF & SUSHIBOYS
B4. Wakaranai
B5. Totem
B6. Another Totem (Bonus Track)

Date Spot/Jet Set JSLP145
Out now (9/8), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

PARKGOLF & SUSHIBOYS "Lumos Maxima"

5-piece rock band The Bohemians is releasing a new 10th album this week! Check out their new music video below for the song "the legacy". The songs "the legacy" and "the erina" were released in advance digitally (Spotify, (Japan)).

The Bohemians also released recently a live Blu-ray, titled "LOVE TIME COLLECTION OF THE BOHEMIANS SHOW ~Happy Endless Communication Start 2020~ 2020.12.4 at SHIBUYA CLUB QUATTRO" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV), of which a digest can be viewed here.

THE BOHEMIANS "Essential Fanfare"

1. the legacy
2. the reasons
3. the ultra golden brave busters
4. the erina
5. Babylonia no sekai chizu
6. VINYL PRESS STONE
7. kankeisha ni naritakunai!?
8. itoshi no Mari
9. zukan
10. the fanfare
11. nan no hentetsu mo nai Rock'n'Roll

Delicious Label QECD-10013
Out 9/8, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, (Japan ^‡), Spotify
† Tower Records ships within Japan only
‡ How to buy from iTunes Japan?

"the legacy"

Chie Horiguchi, the super guitarist of Learners, is releasing her first solo album! Guest musicians are Miyashita Kosuke (Phono Tones) on pedal steel guitar, Nakamura "Mr. Mondo" Takumi (The Neatbeats) on drums, and Kitajima Hiroyuki (The Rodeos) on bass.

Aside from the CD release on September 8, an LP edition will follow on October 22. Although the LP has a song missing, it comes with a download code of the whole album plus that song.

This follows the release of 7" "Watch Your Back" in July (HMV, Jet Set), which contained a non-album cover of Neil Young's "Pocahontas" for B-side.

Chie Horiguchi "Outsider"

1. Roadrunner
2. Watch Your Back
3. Midnight Rider
4. Austin Texas
5. akuma no shiwaza
6. Buzz Flag
7. Down By Law
8. akai bōdō
9. kimi no ban wa kuru
10. On The Road Again
11. Lilac Fairy
12. Paper Moon
13. Teana

CD edition
KiliKiliVilla KKV-112
Out 9/8, ¥2273 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

A1. Roadrunner
A2. Watch Your Back
A3. Midnight Rider
A4. Austin Texas
A5. akuma no shiwaza
A6. Buzz Flag
B1. Down By Law
B2. On The Road Again
B3. kimi no ban wa kuru
B4. Lilac Fairy
B5. Paper Moon
B6. Teana

LP edition (12"+Download code)
KiliKiliVilla KKV-112VL
Out 10/22, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Watch Your Back" single trailer

Crazy Ken Band is releasing a cover album for the first time ever, including many songs that are part of band's and most precisely leader Yokoyama Ken's musical roots. The selection spans from the 70s to the early 90s. Check the tracklist below, which has the original performer and release year in parentheses.

There are limited editions that come with an extra Blu-ray or DVD disc of recent live performances. Part of it is from a concert held at Nippon Budokan last year, plus there's also a few songs from a fan club event held this year.

Crazy Ken Band "I Like It"
クレイジーケンバンド 「好きなんだよ」
(Japanese title: "suki nandayo")

CD
1. Monroe Walk (Minami Yoshitaka, 1979)
2. Ruby no yubiwa (Terao Akira, 1981)
3. Plastic Love (Takuchi Mariya, 1984)
4. DOWN TOWN (Sugar Babe, 1975)
5. fuyu no Riviera (Mori Shinichi, 1982)
6. eye catch ＊ Kokoro kara kimiwo
7. Sky Restaurant (HiFi Set, 1975)
8. yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara (Arai Yumi, 1974)
9. seppun -kiss- (ORIGINAL LOVE, 1993)
10. jikan yo tomare (Yazawa Eikichi, 1978)
11. natsu no Klaxon (Inagaki Junichi, 1983)
12. eye catch ＊ Aishiteruyo
13. saigo no ame (Nakanishi Yasushi, 1992)
14. ame ni naiteru (Yanagi George & Rainy Wood, 1978)
15. Yokosuka Story (Yamaguchi Momoe, 1976)
16. Yokohama tasogare (Itsuki Hiroshi, 1971)
17. kūkō (Teresa Teng, 1974)
18. nanpasen (Kato Tokiko, 1984) (Nakamori Akina, 1987)
19. eye catch ＊ Motto yokumisete
20. Africa zo to Indo zo (Shuri Eiko, 1973)
21. amai sasayaki (Nakamura Akiko, 1973)

Blu-ray/DVD (Limited edition only)
"CRAZY KEN BAND * NOW at Nippon Budokan Presented by NISHIHARA SHOKAI 2020.10.30"
onna to umi to taiyō to
abuku
Record
aki ni nacchatta
Hong Kong Grand Prix
Tiger & Dragon (Short ver.) → Yokosuka bojō
September (Short ver.) → dakara itta desho
9gatsu 21nichi
ai ga aru nara toshi no sa nante SSS
ikazuri bune
ta-su-ke-te MITSUBACHI
Cinderella → Aoyama Twist kibori no ryū
Encore: aru Racer no shi hakkō! shinyazoku Girlfriend
"CKB TMNK SUMMIT Vol.16 revenge at KT Zepp Yokohama 2021.6.19"
Monroe Walk
ame ni naiteru
Plastic Love
seppun -kiss-

Limited edition (CD+Blu-ray)
Universal Music UMCK-7135
Out 9/8, ¥7800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
Universal Music UMCK-7136
Out 9/8, ¥6800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal Music UMCK-1696
Out 9/8, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Yokosuka Story"

Sampler clip

"NOW at Nippon Budokan" show digest
(This footage may be different from the Blu-ray/DVD)

"TMNK SUMMIT Vol.16" show digest
(This footage may be different from the Blu-ray/DVD)

New wave gyaru Haruko Tajima had released just recently a new track titled "Joshibi Mad Dog" (which I somehow failed to notice right away). The self-produced track is described as a fast hyper pop tune at 201 BPM, and it comes with a healthy dose of gabber beats along the way.

Haruko did a guest appearance in Zoomgals-mate valknee's new music video for the song "Lip Lacquer".

Haruko Tajima "Joshibi Mad Dog" (Download)
田島ハルコ 「女子美の狂犬卍」
(Japanese title: "Joshibi no kyōken manji")

Haruko Tajima
Out now (8/25)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Following another song released last month, "Calm as Day feat. Ruru", here comes a new song from Halfby! This one features American singer-songwriter Ginger Root, from Huntington Beach, California.

Both of these songs will be included on Halfby's brand new album "Loco" to be released on October 6. Stay tuned for details! This year is Halfby's 20th anniversary, and it's been 3 years since his previous album "Last Aloha".

Halfby "Let's Stay Out feat. Ginger Root" (Download)

P-Vine DGP-1004
Out now (9/3)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

xiangyu (Twitter, Instagram) has just released a new song, this time themed around manholes, and the mystery world she imagines under them. Check out the music video below! This track was produced by Gimgigam.

This follows "Milano Sandwich A" released earlier this year.

If you haven't watched it yet, a recent online live performance with impressive visuals can still be watched on YouTube.

xiangyu "MANHOLE" (Download)

Kujaku Club
Out now (9/3)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Two songs from the P-Vine 2010 compilation "Rap kayō" (Amazon, HMV) are being released on 7".

The A-side is one by Crazy Ken aka Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), a song which first appeared on his 1995 solo album "Crazy Ken's World" (). The B-side is a song by Nomura Sachiyo (who passed away in 2017), it was released as a CD single in 1999 (, Spotify).

Don't miss this other 7" of the series, Crazy Ken Band's "okiki kudasai minasama yo / wakasa de munmun".

Crazy Ken / Nomura Sachiyo "Kuroneko no Funk / Such A Beautiful Lady" (7")
クレイジーケン / 野村沙知代 「黒猫のファンク / サッチ・ア・ビューティフル・レディー」

A. Crazy Ken / Kuroneko no Funk
B. Nomura Sachiyo / Such A Beautiful Lady

P-Vine P745-32
Out now (9/2), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Crazy Ken "Kuroneko no Funk"

Nomura Sachiyo "Such A Beautiful Lady"

FNCY is a hip-hop unit formed of Zen-La-Rock, G.RINA and Chinza Dopeness (Twitter). They have just released a 2nd album titled "FNCY BY FNCY". Check out the music videos below! All songs can be sampled in this clip.

At least Amazon and HMV give away a promo CD-R of some instrumental versions (while supplies last).

G.RINA just recently released a solo album titled "Tolerance", which features collaborations with the two other members of FNCY.

FNCY "FNCY BY FNCY"

1. FU-TSU-U (NEW NORMAL)
2. TOKYO LUV
3. COSMO
4. minna no natsu
5. THE NIGHT IS YOUNG
6. CONTACT
7. cider skit
8. him i gotta love
9. FOOD GUIDANCE
10. REP ME
11. anata ni naritai
12. New Days

Evil Line Records KICS-4015
Out now (9/1), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"FU-TSU-U (NEW NORMAL)"

"TOKYO LUV"

"minna no natsu"

"REP ME"