hitomitoi "Surfbank Social Club"
Following last year's wonderful "City Dive", here's a new summer city pop album by singer hitomitoi! Again she is joined by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), Dorian, Kashif aka StringsBurn, as well as new collaborators LUVRAW & BTB, grooveman Spot and Avec...
Posted on July 14, 2013 at 00:42. | Released on June 19, 2013
Nona Reeves "Pop Station"
This is a new original album by Nona Reeves, it has been 4 years since their previous, "GO" (2009, Amazon). It has a pop music theme, as you can guess from the title, and label-mate female singer hitomitoi is featured...
Posted on March 4, 2013 at 21:14. | Released on March 6, 2013
Hanazawa Kana "claire"
This is the first album by anime voice actress Hanazawa Kana. This seems to have a good dose of Shibuya-kei, as the whole is sound produced by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), with some songs written by Kaji Hideki ("Library de...
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 23:25. | Released on February 20, 2013
hitomitoi "YOUR TIME Route #1" (12")
hitomitoi's cover album "YOUR TIME Route #1" (released on CD in November 2012) is being released on vinyl. All 9 songs from the album are included. Some audio samples can be heard at Jet Set. hitomitoi "YOUR TIME Route #1"...
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 18:47. | Released in January 2013
hitomitoi "YOUR TIME Route #1"
Following its "Choice" series of foreign song covers, Billboard Records begins a series of Japanese song cover albums titled "Your Time". The first artist of the series is hitomitoi who released her latest original album "City Dive" on the label....
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 21:58. | Released on November 14, 2012
hitomitoi "City Dive EP" (12")
Here's a 6-track EP cut from hitomitoi's latest album "City Dive". The album was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi. Also included here are tracks in collaboration with Dorian and Stringsburn (Pan Pacific Playa). Jet Set ran out of stock in one...
Posted on September 23, 2012 at 01:34. | Released on September 21, 2012
Gig report: hitomitoi sings "City Dive"
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last June singer hitomitoi's new album "City Dive" was released on Billboard Japan Records. The album was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi of city pops unit Ryūsenkei, with some tracks by Dorian and...
Posted on September 3, 2012 at 00:20.
hitomitoi "City Dive"
Singer hitomitoi has a brand new album coming, produced by jazz DJ Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), in collaboration with Dorian and guitarist Kashif aka StringsBurn (Pan Pacific Playa). This album, being described as contemporary city music, is when summer starts! Coming...
Posted on June 15, 2012 at 23:28. | Released on June 20, 2012
Meg "La japonaise"
This new album by Meg, who had escaped to France for a while, is mainly a collection of anime covers previously released on iTunes in France only. Included are tracks produced by Konishi Yasuharu, Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), 2 ANIMEny DJs...
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:51. | Released on April 25, 2012
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. | Released on March 21, 2012
Dorian "Studio Vacation EP" (12")
4 great tracks from Mr. Tropical Disco Dorian (MySpace)'s 2nd album "Studio Vacation" have been released on 12". DJ's with a weak spot for 80's taste tracks don't miss this! Check out the video below, and also our report of...
Posted on November 20, 2011 at 23:38. | Released on November 18, 2011
Asa-Chang "Asa-Chang & shūshū"
Asa-Chang, now the only member remaining of Asa-Chang & Junray, has a compilation out now of his works as a producer, spanning over his whole career. Asa-Chang used to be the leader of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and has a...
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 14:27. | Released on November 9, 2011
Gig report: Dorian "studio vacation" release party, w/ Luvraw & BTB, (((sssurrounddd)))
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound We've been enjoying some cool autumn weather in Tokyo lately, but last Friday was a hot summer night at Shibuya WWW where was held the release party for Dorian's "studio...
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 23:33.
Dorian "studio vacation"
Dorian (MySpace), keyboardist and MC-909 master aka Mr. Tropical Disco, has a new album coming to help us survive the rest of this hot summer. The song "summer rich" features singer hitomitoi. The album's title leaves us wondering whether Dorian...
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 02:32. | Released on August 10, 2011
LAMA "Spell"
LAMA is a new all-star band featuring Nakamura Kōji (iLL, ex-Supercar), Furukawa Miki (ex-Supercar), Ushio Kensuke (agraph) and Tabuchi Hisako (bloodthirsty butchers, ex-Number Girl). This is their first single, a song used as the opening theme of TV anime series...
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 00:00. | Released on August 3, 2011
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. | Released on May 18, 2011
Moonriders "Caméra Égal Stylo Special Edition"
The Moonriders has a reissue coming of "Caméra Égal Stylo", their 5th album first released in 1980. This edition contains a special bonus CD with remixes of all songs by the likes of CTO LAB., Kishino Yūichi (La veuve moustache...
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 23:14. | Released on April 27, 2011
Various Artists "utau Piano danshi"
Here's a first compilation on Delicatessen Recordings, the label of Nakatsuka Takeshi. The title translates to "singing piano guys", and indeed features male singer-songwriters, a few of the songs mainly just piano and vocals while over half is more band-...
Posted on December 7, 2010 at 23:10. | Released on December 8, 2010
agraph "equal"
Electro artist agraph has a 2nd album coming up. This one has been mastered by Sunahara Yoshinori, and features collaborations with Mito (Clammbon) and Carsten Nicolai (alva noto). Audio samples at official release page agraph "equal" 1. lib 2. blurred...
Posted on October 30, 2010 at 15:34. | Released on November 3, 2010
Rocketman "thank you for the music!"
Rocketman (aka comedian Fukawa Ryō) has a greatest hits album coming soon. Aside from 7 songs from his two solo albums ("Love, sea & music" (2006) and "The Sound of Musique" (2007)), included are 3 songs he produced by Cosmetics,...
Posted on July 29, 2010 at 23:05. | Released on August 4, 2010
Gig report: Shinohara Tomoe's Ultra Relax Day 2010
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Wednesday, July 14, was a show celebrating the 15th anniversary of Shinohara Tomoe's debut album "Super Model". The album was reissued just recently with bonus tracks and an added DVD of...
Posted on July 17, 2010 at 21:07.
XXX Residents "Attack of Killer Black Eye Ball!!!!" (CD+DVD)
Spin-off from visual artist Ukawa Naohiro's Ukawanimation! project, XXX Residents is a mysterious multimedia cosplay unit paying tribute to of The Residents. Inside of the eyeballs, it is rumored that Ukawa himself is joined by musicians from iLL, Cicada... Also...
Posted on November 14, 2009 at 19:31. | Released on November 18, 2009
Kinbara Chieko "Night & Day Remixies"
Club-style violinist Kinbara Chieko has a new remix album out now, covering her two previous albums "Sweetest Day" and "Velvet Night" both released last year. Remixers include some of Japan's top club artists, such as Daishi Dance, Coldfeet, Jazzin' park,...
Posted on November 8, 2009 at 00:58. | Released on November 4, 2009
Various Artists "House Nation - Ruby"
This new compilation of Avex' House Nation series includes two Fantastic Plastic Machine appearances: a ravex track and also a remix he did of The BPA (aka Norman Cook) feat. Iggy Pop. Also included is a version of Ayuse Kozue's...
Posted on April 17, 2009 at 00:11. | Released on April 8, 2009
Various Artists "Island Moon ~Groove Love~"
unchained groove (aka Groove Unchant) produces this compilation of R&B covers. Featured artists include Toki Asako (ex-Cymbals), eli (girl it's U, ex-Love Tambourines), Suzuki Momoko (Cosa Nostra), Yoshimi (Sonicberry Favour), Maki Rinka and more. Official release page at label site...
Posted on March 26, 2008 at 15:08. | Released on May 21, 2008
Kimura Kaela "+1"
Kimura Kaela has a new album coming up. She says that with this one she wanted to show a bit of a new wave side. Aside from the great Ishino Takkyū track "Jasper" are included collaborations with Mito (Clammbon), De...
Posted on February 27, 2008 at 18:10. | Released on April 2, 2008
Various Artists "Miss Vocalies, Tokyo -with her Strikes Sextet-"
I had completely overlooked this new compilation put together by Sunaga Tatsuo, containing nothing but jazzy songs featuring Japan's best female vocalists. Included are two brand new songs, by Sunaga t̀ Experience and pianist Akiko Grace, and a bunch of...
Posted on March 15, 2007 at 23:37. | Released on March 7, 2007
Ayuse Kozue "eyes to eyes"
Singer Ayuse Kozue has a self-produced 4th single coming up, and it will include a remix by Halfby. The 2 first tracks are mixed by Tei Towa, and "omoidasu yo" features Clammbon's mito on bass and also girl rapper Bumble...
Posted on March 9, 2007 at 10:32. | Released on May 9, 2007
