cubismo grafico "Seaside Weekend (feat. Kaori Takeda)" (Download/7")
cubismo grafico, the solo uniit of Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (Instagram, đ) (Learners, Neil and Iraiza), has released a new song! "Seaside Weekend" is a cover of Isabelle Antena, and it is here sung by Kaori Takeda (Instagram, đ) (Tica)....
Posted on July 15, 2024 at 11:30. | Released on August 21, 2024
Magic, Drums & Love "Keep Romance Alive" (7")
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love has released a brand new song on 7" and digitally, titled "Keep Romance Alive". The song was written by member Jinta=Jinta, and as always it's produced by Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda. The B-side...
Posted on December 6, 2023 at 23:57. | Released on December 6, 2023
Magic, Drums & Love "Tohhou Magic" (7"/Download)
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love has released a brand new single today! "Tohhou Magic" is a funky latin summer track of their own style. Like the other recent releases, this is produced by Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (of Learners,...
Posted on July 5, 2023 at 23:34. | Released on July 5, 2023
Record Store Day 2023
Record Store Day will be held worldwide on Saturday April 22! Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. As always, there are no online pre-orders,...
Posted on April 15, 2023 at 23:40. | Released on April 22, 2023
Magic, Drums & Love "Dancehall! Supreme! Shooting!" (7")
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love is releasing a brand new 7" single of two songs! Like the other recent releases, it's produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (of Learners, Neil and Iraiza, Cubismo Grafico). The A-side is a...
Posted on August 24, 2021 at 19:03. | Released on August 25, 2021
Posted on January 17, 2021 at 14:16. | Event held on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at 19:30 (JST)
Naoâ (Negicco) "gift songs", "Nanohana + BestâFriend" (12")
Negicco's leader Nao is releasing a brand new mini-album this week! Included are songs written by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Neil and Iraiza), Chocolat & Akito, the band apart, and Lee HwangDae, and also one with lyrics written by...
Posted on October 11, 2020 at 22:45. | Released on October 13, 2020
Magic, Drums & Love "Amazon Night / Eyes, Hands, Height & Hair" (7"/Download)
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love has a new double-A-side 7" single being released! Like their latest album, "Hurricane Upsetter", it's produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Neil and Iraiza, Cubismo Grafico). The single is said to include...
Posted on July 21, 2020 at 23:19. | Released on July 22, 2020
Learners "tsukikake" (7")
Learners has just released a new 7" of "tsukikake" from 3rd album "Hello Stranger", and for B-side a cover of "Sleep Walk" (Santo & Johnny, Brian Setzer) which appeared on mini-album "More Learners". The 7" is a limited edition...
Posted on June 27, 2020 at 00:15. | Released on June 26, 2020
Learners "Hello Stranger"
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...
Posted on February 15, 2020 at 00:16. | Released on February 19, 2020
avandoned "Margaret"
Idol group avandoned, led by Usakura Beni, is back as a 6-piece, and finally here comes a brand new single! The title song was written by songwriter Tsuruuchi Hana and the music performed by band The Broken TV, while...
Posted on June 24, 2019 at 21:44. | Released on June 26, 2019
Kaji Hideki "Goth Romance"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new album being released! With the title "Goth Romance", he revisits his early music days and also invites a whole lot of friends to participate. The album is produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil and Iraiza),...
Posted on June 5, 2019 at 00:04. | Released on June 5, 2019
Magic, Drums & Love "Hurricane Upsetter"
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love has a brand new album coming this month! The whole was produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Cubismo Grafico). With a base sound of soul/disco, there are felt influences of exotica, city pop...
Posted on May 1, 2019 at 20:25. | Released on May 15, 2019
Avandoned "Lemon Peels" (7"+CD)
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...
Posted on October 20, 2018 at 19:26. | Released on October 10, 2018
Neil and Iraiza "Timeless Melodies" (10")
Neil and Iraiza, the band of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Cubismo Grafico) and Horie Hirohisa (The Cornelius Group, etc.), released last December a new album titled "Timeless Melodies". It is now being released on 10" vinyl! Neil and Iraiza "Timeless...
Posted on July 18, 2018 at 22:56. | Released on August 22, 2018
Avandoned "After School c/w bakuhatsu suru Romance" (CD+7")
Idol duo Avandoned have a new single out this week! Like previous single "Donut Friends", this is produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (cubismo grafico, Neil and Iraiza, Learners). The A-side was written by members of Koncos, and the B-side by...
Posted on May 22, 2018 at 21:23. | Released on May 23, 2018
Sawagi "Kabo Wabo"
Sawagi, a band that gives an energetic show of dance music played with live instruments, has a new album coming and it's co-produced by Chabe (Learners, cubismo grafico, Neil and Iraiza)! A remix by Chabe as cbsmgrfc is also included....
Posted on May 21, 2018 at 22:49. | Released on May 23, 2018
Neil and Iraiza "Timeless Melodies"
Neil and Iraiza, the band of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Cubismo Grafico) and Horie Hirohisa (The Cornelius Group, etc.), is back with a brand new album! This comes 15 years after "New School" (2002)! "Timeless Melodies" is packed with warm...
Posted on December 18, 2017 at 23:58. | Released on December 20, 2017
Kaseki Cider "Onigiri University"
Rapper Kaseki Cider has a brand new album out now! It had been almost 5 years since his previous original album "Mr. City Pop". Guests include Wakita Monari, Negicco, Mashiro Megumi (Hicksville), DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan, SatĆ Nanako, Matsuda...
Posted on August 2, 2017 at 22:00. | Released on August 2, 2017
Mocche Nagai "Yeh! Yeh!"
Singer & guitarist Mocche Nagai has a 2nd album coming this month! Produced by Chabe, the back band features members of Learners and Gentle Forest Jazz Band. Mocche Nagai can next be seen on stage on May 17 in Tokyo...
Posted on May 8, 2017 at 21:50. | Released on May 17, 2017
Learners "More Learners"
Learners, the 5-piece rockabilly band featuring Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji and singer Sara Mary, has a brand new 2nd album being released this week! Included are many covers, and also 3 original songs. A release party will be held on February...
Posted on January 30, 2017 at 21:29. | Released on January 31, 2017
Kaji Hideki "The Blue Boy"
Kaji Hideki celebrates this year the 20th anniversary since his solo debut in 1996. I've lost count, but "The Blue Boy" is said to be his 15th original album! His back-band on this album is formed of Furukawa Taichi and...
Posted on May 4, 2016 at 21:44. | Released on May 25, 2016
Record Store Day 2016
This year again Record Store Day is being held in Japan, this time on Saturday April 16! A lot of special and limited vinyl editions are being released on that very day, and at first only available in physical shops....
Posted on April 14, 2016 at 23:15. | Released on April 16, 2016
Learners "Learners"
Learners is the newest band of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico Five), together fronted by model/singer Sara Mary (half-American half-Japanese). Following the release of three 7" singles, here comes their first full-length album, consisting of mainly covers. They have a...
Posted on December 23, 2015 at 13:57. | Released on December 16, 2015
Record Store Day 2015
Here comes Record Store Day 2015, to be held this Saturday April 18! On that day, people go to record shops to buy vinyl records available exclusively in shops on that day. No pre-orders or even online sales, at least...
Posted on April 15, 2015 at 23:37. | Released on April 18, 2015
Kushibiki Sayaka "koi suru unmei"
Follow-up to cover album "Day & Midnight", here's a new original album by singer-songwriter Kushibiki Sayaka, backed by arrangers such as Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico), Koncos, The Keys, and more artists from the Niw! Records family. A 7" cut...
Posted on September 15, 2014 at 22:47. | Released on September 24, 2014
Kaji Hideki "Ice Cream Man"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new album coming this week! "Ice Cream Man" takes inspiration of Jonathan Richman's song of the same name. All songs are originals, and feature guest vocalists such as Nomiya Maki, Kojima Mayumi, Sakamoto Miu, Shoko,...
Posted on August 3, 2014 at 14:22. | Released on August 6, 2014
Record Store Day 2014 in Japan
Record Store Day in Japan has been getting bigger every year. This year there are dozens of exclusive vinyl releases to be found on the shelves of these record shops on Saturday April 19. Below is a selection of releases...
Posted on April 13, 2014 at 13:46. | Released on April 19, 2014
Idiot Pop "Universe"
Idiot Pop, whose previous album "EXWORLD" featured Frenesi and PandaBoY, is now back with new album "Universe". Guests include Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji, among others. Free mixes by the artist can be downloaded on the official site. Idiot Pop. ăUNIVERSEă 1....
Posted on March 30, 2014 at 13:17. | Released on March 25, 2014
Various Artists "Snow Monkey Beer Live!"
"Snow Monkey Beer Live!" is a music and beer festival that's been held every year since 2012. This genre-less compilation CD contains tracks by related artists including Kaji Hideki, Kushibiki Sayaka Trio (feat. Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji and Furukawa Taichi), Predawn,...
Posted on March 9, 2014 at 01:04. | Released on March 5, 2014
Various Artists "Sauna Cool 1"
New label Sauna Cool starts things off with this 51-track compilation, with a rule of "no more than 30 seconds per track". Featured are mainly artists from the Tokyo indies scene, including Chabe, HNC, Miila and the Geeks, VIDEOTAPEMUSIC, Mitsume,...
Posted on January 3, 2014 at 23:24. | Released on December 25, 2013
Kushibiki Sayaka Trio "Day & Midnight"
Kushibiki Sayaka Trio, featuring Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) and Furukawa Taichi (aka TA-1, ex-Riddim Saunter), has a first album out now. This mainly consists of covers of Japanese songs (and some covers of Japanese covers of foreign songs). Both...
Posted on December 23, 2012 at 23:46. | Released on December 19, 2012
TGMX "I Can't Sing It"
TGMX (Frontier Backyard, Cubismo Grafico Five, Scafull King) has a 2nd solo album out now on Niw! Records. This new album has many guests from bands such as Cubismo GRafico Five, Your Song Is Good and many more. For the...
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 23:23. | Released on November 23, 2012
Kushibiki Sayaka Trio "Lover's Concert" (7")
Kushibiki Sayaka Trio features Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) and Furukawa Taichi (aka TA-1, ex-Riddim Saunter), and this 7" is a first release under this name. The single includes covers of Sarah Vaughan's "Lover's Concert" (original on YouTube) and Suzuki...
Posted on October 30, 2012 at 22:48. | Released on October 9, 2012
Polysics "15th P"
Polysics have a new album coming next week, celebrating their 15th anniversary! The album features many guests, including Kojima Mayumi, Yuu (ex-GO!GO!7188, chirinuruwowaka), and even Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo). A special tracks featuring "tomodachi" (friends) has 67 people contributing to the...
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 23:42. | Released on February 29, 2012
Gig report: Charity event: KAJI Hideki, Chabe, Harvard, Love and Hates
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Wednesday was held a charity event organized by Kaji Hideki, with the help of Harajuku Astro Hall where he has been doing regular events for a long time. The...
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 23:25.
Chabe "Me."
Cubismo Grafico aka Matsuda Gakuji is back with a new album, his first under his popular nickname, Chabe. This includes songs from last December's now sold out debut 10" EP that marked the opening of his KIT Gallery, and contains...
Posted on March 7, 2011 at 21:24. | Released on March 16, 2011
Chabe "6 Songs For Kit Gallery" (10")
Chabe (aka Cubismo Grafico), has a first release going by his nickname. This is his first solo release since "Nuit" (2007). This is a 10" including 3 brand new songs, and on the B-side 3 cover songs featuring various female...
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 22:28. | Released on December 15, 2010
Magic, Drums & Love "KE OLA JIVE" (7")
Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love is releasing a brand new single! The title track "Ke Ola Jive" is a brand new song with doo-wap-like layered vocals, with a Hawaiian touch of ukulele and steel guitar. It is...
Posted on September 3, 2024 at 00:00. | Released on September 4, 2024
Hazy Sour Cherry "It's Only The End Of The World" (7")
Hazy Sour Cherry (Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp) is releasing a brand new 7" single of two new songs. This is their first release with the band's latest line-up, with new drummer Super Nagai. The title song has been released in...
Posted on November 9, 2023 at 23:02. | Released on November 10, 2023
usabeni "textures!"
Self-produced idol Beni Usakura recently changed her solo artist name to usabeni (until then her nickname), with the digital release of new song "trip", and here comes a first mini-album under her new name, titled "textures!". Included is latest...
Posted on October 25, 2023 at 22:11. | Released on October 25, 2023
City Pop on Vinyl 2022
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei. It takes place again in 2022, for the 3rd tme. Below is a selection of some titles not to be missed by readers of this...
Posted on August 6, 2022 at 00:55. | Released on August 6, 2022
°C-want you! "Don't Poy Me!" (Download)
â-want you! (also a member of Magic, Drums & Love) has released at the beginning of the month a brand new song titled "Don't Poy Me!". "poy" (or "poi") is a word meaning "throw away carelessly" (often used for...
Posted on July 17, 2022 at 22:04. | Released on July 1, 2022
Hazy Sour Cherry "Strange World"
Here comes a brand new album by Hazy Sour Cherry (Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp), a cool and catchy band from Tokyo formed in 2018. "Strange World", the follow-up to 1st album "Tour De Tokyo" (2019), is now available digitally and pre-orders...
Posted on June 15, 2022 at 21:55. | Released on June 15, 2022
Naoâ "gift songs" (12")
The latest mini-album by Naoâ (Negicco), "gift songs" (, Spotify), is being released on vinyl this week! Included are songs written by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Learners, Neil and Iraiza), Chocolat & Akito, the band apart, and Lee HwangDae, and...
Posted on December 14, 2020 at 20:58. | Released on December 15, 2020
Learners "Learners High"
Chabe's rockabilly band Learners is back with a brand new mini album! This includes two new original songs, "Cassis Oolong" and "Take a Trip", as well as covers of The Bangles, Brigitte Bardot, The Looking Glass (in a cover featuring...
Posted on September 11, 2018 at 21:31. | Released on September 12, 2018
Learners "Learners Christmas EP" (7")
LEARNERS, the rockabilly band led by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji and fronted by singer Sara Mary, has a new Christmas 7" out this week! The A-side is a cover of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", previously performed by Jackson...
Posted on November 29, 2016 at 22:38. | Released on November 30, 2016
Record Day 2016
Record Day (not the same as "Record Store Day") has been set to coincide with Japan's "Culture Day" public holiday on November 3 since 1957. Since last year, Japan's only record press TĆyĆ Kasei takes the lead inviting Japanese artists...
Posted on November 6, 2016 at 23:02. | Released on November 3, 2016
Learners "Absolute Learners" (Photo book+Download code)
Learners is the rockabilly band led by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji, and featuring singer Sara Mary, guitarist Chie, with bassist Masamichi Hamada (Quattro) and drummer TA-1 (Koncos). Here comes a 116-page photo book that covers their first year since their first...
Posted on June 12, 2016 at 23:55. | Released on June 15, 2016
Horie Hirohisa "At Grand Gallery"
This is a first solo album by Horie Hirohisa (SoundCloud), better known as half of band Neil & Iraiza (together with Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji aka cubismo grafico) and as keyboardist for The Cornelius Group and pupa (band of Takahashi Yukihiro...
Posted on October 24, 2013 at 04:28. | Released on October 30, 2013
Gig report: Beat Communist vol.10: Nakatsuka Takeshi, Kaji Hideki, akiko, P.O.P ORCHeSTRA
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday May 26 was the 10th edition of the "Beat Communist" event presented by Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone), which is regularly held every 3 months at jazz club JZ Brat....
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 23:20.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "On the remix"
Here's an interesting remix album from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. The all-star remixers are Nakata Yasutaka (capsule), Cubismo Grafico, Sunaga t experience, Ishino Takkyƫ (Denki Groove), Shinco (Scha Dara Parr), De De Mouse, and Dub Master X. 4 of the...
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 22:37. | Released on February 8, 2012
Magic Party "2 tai 5"
Boy-girl unit Magic Party has a new mini-album with a concept of inviting 5 different artists to produce each track, hence the title that translates to "2 vs 5". Those producers are Konishi Yasuharu, Kaji Hideki, Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo...
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 23:27. | Released on August 17, 2011
Cubismo Grafico Five "Half Dozen"
Shortly following leader Chabe's first solo album "Me." (out on March 16), and last year album "Double Dozen", this is a new mini-album from Cubismo Grafico Five. A tour of Tokyo/Ozaka/Nagoya will follow the release, stopping on May 28 at...
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 00:04. | Released on April 13, 2011
Gig report: HNC Release Party "Cult Club"
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Friday April 30 was the overdue release party for HNC's album "Cult" released last December. HNC used to be known as Hazel Nuts Chocolate, the solo project of a girl...
Posted on May 2, 2010 at 14:50.
akiko "Hit Parade -London Nite Tribute-"
Jazz singer akiko has a rocking new album coming up, paying tribute to Japan's first rock DJ event "London Nite". Featured producers include Konishi Yasuharu, Sunaga Tatsuo (sunaga t experience), Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) and more. Konishi Yasuharu's tracks...
Posted on June 11, 2009 at 23:51. | Released on June 24, 2009
Fujisawa Shiho "Funky Girl"
Girl DJ/trackmaker Fujisawa Shiho is already back with a 2nd album! Features vocalists Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico), hiro:n, ShĆno Juri, Okada KyĆko, and more. Mixed and mastered by Yoshida Tetsuto. Jet Set offers a bonus promo only 7" while...
Posted on January 22, 2009 at 22:59. | Released on January 28, 2009
Tokyo Mood Punks "Jamie"
A new band fronted by Lily Franky, named Tokyo Mood Punks, and featuring Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico) on percussion and keyboards, has a first single out now. The other members are Tomizawa Taku a.k.a chikoku (Group Tamashii) on guitar,...
Posted on April 23, 2008 at 16:33. | Released on April 16, 2008
Various Artists "Niagara Autumn & Winter ~Niagara Cover Special~"
Speaking of Cubismo Grafico, he appears on a recent cover album of legendary label Niagara Records founded in 1975 by Ćtaki Eiichi ("Niagara" is a word game on his family name which means "big waterfall"). It's worth noting that it's...
Posted on March 28, 2007 at 14:14. | Released on March 2, 2007
Halcali "2 Higher Clap 007" (Download)
Following Christmas song "Slalom '06", Halcali continue their seasonal monthly campaign counting down into 2007 with a new song produced by Cubismo Grafico! Words and music are by Katayama YĆ«go (Miniflex, Yukari Fresh) with Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico). Next...
Posted on December 1, 2006 at 13:34. | Released on January 1, 2007
Oto 11th Anniversary Party
Shinjuku Oto will be host of one hell of a line-up for its 11th anniversary at the end of the month! With a live by Nomoto Karia and a bunch of the best DJs around, the place is sure to...
Posted on September 9, 2006 at 12:24. | Released on September 29, 2006
Cubismo Grafico Five "Pop Pollution"
Chabe seems to be busier with his gang of five than with his solo project lately. This summer will see the release of Cubismo Grafico Five's 3rd album! Cubismo Grafico Five "Pop Pollution" 1. Third Adventure 2. Percy Percy Me...
Posted on July 7, 2006 at 10:17. | Released on August 25, 2006
Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble "What A Wonderful World" (12")
It's not a secret that Cubismo Grafico Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji loves steel drums, but who would have expected the Cubismo Grafico Caribbean Ensemble! This will include a self-remix plus two Cubismo long-time favorites. The record will be released in a...
Posted on May 11, 2006 at 17:15. | Released in July 2006
Cubismo Grafico Five "Seedy"
Cubismo Grafico Five, the punk-ish side-project of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico, seems like he actually spells his nickname "Chiave" lately(?)) will be releasing its second album, which will include a cover of Vanessa Paradis' "Sunday Mondays". Furukawa Yutaka (Doping...
Posted on October 6, 2004 at 23:31. | Released on December 10, 2004
Various Artists "We Are Escalator Records vol.3 mixed by Yukari Fresh"
After two volumes selected and mixed by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico), it's now Yukari Fresh's turn to take the commands. Yukari picks and mixes her favorite Escalator tracks for our pleasure. Various Artists "We Are Escalator Records vol.3 mixed...
Posted on September 1, 2004 at 18:17. | Released on October 31, 2004
"Ciclismo" compilation
There will be a new cycling-themed compilation out on Escalator in July, called "Ciclismo" (Italian for bicycle race) and featuring nothing but new songs by Cubismo Grafico, Foga, Yukari Rotten, Clear, Miniflex, and more. Track list 1. Giosista "Grand Depart"...
Posted on June 11, 2004 at 15:09. | Released on July 3, 2004
