Sotaro "Daisuki" (7"+Download code)
Sotaro (Twitter), the 11-year-old son of the couple who form chorus group Smooth Ace, has just released a new 7" single! Included is a cover of Okamura Yasuyuki's "Daisuki", which had appeared on mini-album "Smile", and also a new...
Posted on September 6, 2022 at 00:47. | Released on August 24, 2022
Sotaro "Smile"
Following the release of two 7" singles ("Parade" and "Someday"), here comes a first CD mini-album by Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple who form chorus group Smooth Ace. Included are all 4 songs from the two singles...
Posted on March 13, 2022 at 22:54. | Released on March 16, 2022
Sotaro "Someday" (7"+Download code)
Here's already a 2nd single by Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace who debuted last month with "Parade". This times he covers Tatsurō Yamashita's "itsuka (Someday)" and Jackson 5's "I Wanna be...
Posted on January 19, 2022 at 00:12. | Released on January 19, 2022
Sotaro "Parade" (7"+Download code)
Happy New Year 2022! Still doing a little bit of catching up on late 2021 releases that shouldn't be missed. Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace, has released his debut single on...
Posted on January 2, 2022 at 23:38. | Released on December 15, 2021
COUNTJOKE "ZERO" (Download)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), has just released digitally a compilation of previous 7" singles including rare track "city line" that was only released on CD-R. All songs were newly remastered or...
Posted on August 19, 2020 at 21:14. | Released on August 19, 2020
Hoshino Michiru "Moonlight Confessions (tsuki ga kirei desune)"
Hoshino Michiru, who this year started her own label and released 4-song EP "gyakkō", is now back with a new full-length album! It's also her first album in her singer-songwriter style, which puts the focus on gentle and beautiful melodies....
Posted on October 13, 2019 at 13:16. | Released on October 23, 2019
Takahashi Yukihiro "Yukihiro Takahashi Live 2018 Saravah Saravah!" (CD+DVD, 2x12")
This is a live album of Takahashi Yukihiro, of a show that followed the release of album "Saravah Saravah!" (the 40th anniversary remake of debut album "Saravah!"). The show, which was held on November 24, 2018 at Tokyo International Forum...
Posted on August 18, 2019 at 15:32. | Released on August 21, 2019
Wakita Monari "I am ONLY" (12")
Wakita Monari's excellent 1st album "I am ONLY" (2017) is finally being released on vinyl! Included are songs written by Hase Hajimu, Microstar, Fukutomi Yukihiro, Yafune Tetsurō, Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Count Joke, Hase Yasuhiro (Yume to Cosme), ikkubaru (from...
Posted on April 23, 2019 at 21:28. | Released on April 24, 2019
Hoshino Michiru "gyakkou"
Hoshino Michiru, who just started her very own label "yoi Record gaisha" (translates to "Good Record Company") at the end of last year, has a brand new EP being released! Included are three songs of which she wrote the music...
Posted on February 20, 2019 at 22:38. | Released on March 6, 2019
Nomiya Maki "Shibuya-kei Songbook" (2 CDs), "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji c/w Happy Sad" (7")
This new album by Nomiya Maki comes with 2 discs. The first is a collection of songs from her recent albums of the "Shibuya-kei Standards" series (released from 2014 through 2017), and the 2nd is of a previously unreleased entire...
Posted on October 20, 2018 at 21:26. | Released on October 31, 2018
Various Artists "Brilliant Ideas Works Of Yasuharu Konishi 1986-2018" (5CD)
Here comes a massive boxed set compilation of works by Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato One, ex-Pizzicato Five) spanning his whole career from 1986 to now! Included are many of the hits and wonderful songs he wrote music or lyrics for, produced,...
Posted on June 3, 2018 at 23:09. | Released on June 6, 2018
Wakita Monari "Take It Lucky!!!!" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari's latest song "Take It Lucky!!!!", released digitally last month, is being released on 7" with a previously unreleased B-side! Both songs have music written and produced by Arai Toshiya (Count Joke). The A-side has lyrics by singer UKO,...
Posted on April 20, 2018 at 22:01. | Released on April 25, 2018
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Holiday Shibuya-kei o utau." (2x7")
4 songs from Nomiya Maki's recent winter song cover album are being released on vinyl in the form of a set of two 7"'s. The exclusive artwork was designed and photographed by Shindō Mitsuo in Shibuya's Nonbei Yokochō. Valentine's Day-themed...
Posted on December 24, 2017 at 10:48. | Released on December 27, 2017
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Holiday Shibuya-kei o utau."
Nomiya Maki's new album is coming this month, and this time she sings Shibuya-kei standards that share a winter theme. Included are duets with Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), Watanabe Marina, Takano Hiroshi and Suzuki Masayuki, with also chorus by...
Posted on October 8, 2017 at 21:11. | Released on October 18, 2017
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Vacances Shibuya-kei o utau." (7"x2)
From the album of the same name released in May, here's a set of two 7"'s containing four summer-themed Shibuya-kei related covers sung by Nomiya Maki. The two records come packaged in a gatefold jacket, designed and photographed by art...
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 09:37. | Released on August 30, 2017
Wakita Monari "I am ONLY"
After three great singles, here comes Wakita Monari (ex-Especia)'s 1st solo album! All songs are said to be worth single cuts. Included are songs written by Hase Hajimu, Microstar, Fukutomi Yukihiro, Yafune Tetsurō, Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Count Joke, Hase...
Posted on July 22, 2017 at 23:38. | Released on July 26, 2017
Wakita Monari "I'm with you" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari (ex-Especia) has a 3rd single being released this week, ahead of a 1st solo album to come later on July 26! The new single's title song is a house tune written and produced by Fukutomi Yukihiro! Mellow jazz...
Posted on June 17, 2017 at 10:57. | Released on June 21, 2017
Smooth Ace "Sing Like Talking Complete"
First released in 2014, this 6th album by chorus group Smooth Ace had become rare. This time it is reissued on a major label, remastered and with two newly recorded songs added! Including the new songs, a total of 5...
Posted on May 8, 2017 at 21:34. | Released on May 10, 2017
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Vacances Shibuya-kei o utau. ~Wonderful Summer~"
Of her "Shibuya-kei standards" series, Nomiya Maki brings us a new album of summer & vacation-themed covers of Shibuya-kei songs, or ones that inspired the scene's artists. Included are songs originally by Watanabe Marina (written by Ozawa Kenji & Oyamada...
Posted on April 20, 2017 at 21:46. | Released on May 3, 2017
Smooth Ace "Sing Like Children"
Chorus group Smooth Ace have a new album out now, with 4 tracks arranged by Arai Toshiya, with some guest vocals by Maezono Naoki (both of jōdan hakushaku). All songs can be sampled at CDJapan. Smooth Ace "Sing Like Children"...
Posted on November 2, 2014 at 20:30. | Released on October 8, 2014
Posted on September 17, 2020 at 13:19. | Event held on Sunday September 20, 2020 at 12:00 (JST)
COUNTJOKE "A.D. 2200" (Download)
COUNTJOKE (Facebook page), the unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya (SoundCloud, Mixcloud), is back with a brand new song! It had been 4½ years since their previous single, although they had since contributed many songs and arrangements to...
Posted on June 29, 2020 at 20:37. | Released on June 29, 2020
The Beatniks "Exitentialist A Xie Xie"
The Beatniks, the unit of Takahashi Yukihiro (YMO, Metafive) and Suzuki Keiichi (The Moonriders), is about to release a 5th album! "Exitentialist A Xie Xie" is the follow-up to "Last Train To Exitown". Included are 10 songs with sounds that...
Posted on April 30, 2018 at 20:37. | Released on May 9, 2018
Wakita Monari "Wingscape / LED" (CD+7")
Wakita Monari has a new single out this week! Her new funky jazz tune "Wingscape" was written and produced by COUNTJOKE (aka jōdan hakushaku, unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya) (Facebook page) and features Smooth Ace on chorus! The...
Posted on November 20, 2017 at 23:15. | Released on November 22, 2017
Gig report: "Shibuya no Radio no Shibuya-kei Festival"
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday October 21, 2017 was held a very special music event for Shibuya-kei music fans. Shibuya ward organizes annually a music festival called "Shibuya ongakusai" (or "Shibu-on", official site) and for...
Posted on October 28, 2017 at 11:43.
Count Joke "itsuka dokoka de c/w yūrei no Ballad" (7"+CD)
This release completes Count Joke's "Air-Replay Series" trilogy of 7" singles. These two songs were being released on CD last December. This packaging includes both 7" and CD (with instrumentals). "itsuka dokokade" features Smooth Ace, and was written in memory...
Posted on March 21, 2015 at 20:19. | Released on March 25, 2015
jōdan hakushaku "yūrei no Ballad / itsuka dokokade"
jōdan hakushaku (Maezono Naoki & Arai Toshiya) (Facebook page) have a new single out now! "yūrei no Ballad" features accordionist Tanooka Saburō and a kids chorus group. B-side "itsuka dokokade" features Smooth Ace, and was written in memory of...
Posted on December 7, 2014 at 14:14. | Released on December 2, 2014
Various Artists "uta to Guitar. Piano. kotoba."
This new compilation from columbia*readymade is to be a sort of collection of "demo tapes", meaning simple arrangements with just guitar or piano maybe. "Music that people over 30 will truly enjoy", claims producer Konishi Yasuharu. About half of the...
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 17:30. | Released on April 23, 2008
Various Artists "Bossa Nova 1991 Shibuya Scene Retrospective"
Well the title says it all, or almost! This 2-CD compilation of Shibuya-kei is selected by none other than Pizzicato Five's Konishi Yasuharu! A surely difficult (let's hear the "where's this?" and "what's that?") but thoughtful selection and salute to...
Posted on April 27, 2007 at 11:21. | Released on August 8, 2007
