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
Mukaju Dan "Madoromu"
7 years since blue marble's "full color", the songwriting/production duo formed of Shock Tarō and Ton-chan is back with a first full album as Mukaju Dan. Their sound is self-described as "Hyper Technology Pops", a blend of techno-pop and city...
Posted on August 5, 2020 at 13:17. | Released on August 7, 2020
DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan "Apron Boy no sashisuseso"
DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan has a new mini-album being released! Included is "Apron Boy", the theme song of anime "Emiya-san chi no kyō no gohan". Also there's a curry collaboration song with Negicco! HMV and Tower Records (and apparently...
Posted on July 18, 2018 at 23:43. | Released on July 25, 2018
Sugar's Campaign "mamagoto"
Sugar's Campaign, the super pop unit of producers Avec Avec and Seiho, has a brand new 2nd album out now! This follow-up to the excellent "Friends" (2015) has a general theme of "family". HMV gives away a pink promo spoon...
Posted on August 12, 2016 at 11:22. | Released on August 10, 2016
Various Artists "yaba-kayō Super Nonstop Mix ~Mixed by DJ Fukutake"
DJ Fukutake (aka Fukuta Takeshi) is one of the selectors who brought us the hit "Techno kayō" compilation series under the name "8-bits" in the late 90's. This new mix CD brings various Japanese rare groove from the 60's to...
Posted on February 9, 2014 at 23:19. | Released on February 19, 2014
FQTQ "Hyperactive"
Electro artist FQTQ (SoundCloud, Facebook page) has a new album out now (his 4th I believe). It features vocalists such as aco (spoon+), kuske (KPLECRAFT), Ōtsuki Maki and komaku Shredder. Official release page FQTQ "Hyperactive" 1. Super Hero feat. komaku...
Posted on July 3, 2013 at 22:40. | Released on June 5, 2013
spoon+ "hear"
Indies electro-pop unit spoon+'s 2nd album "hear" has just been released. spoon+ will hold a one-man show at Shimokitazawa MOSAiC on November 24. Reservations can be made here. spoon+ "hear" 1. LIP CRAP 2. delicious & journey 3. me &...
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 00:00. | Released on November 8, 2012
Gig report: Tokyo eleport 006: The Aprils, Candles, Cutie Pai, ExceNtRip
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On April 12 was the 6th event of the "Tokyo eleport" series organized by indies techno-pop unit Candles. It was held at Shibuya Star lounge, a quite nice venue I...
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 17:05.
Gig report: Tokyo Outbound vol.02, with CTO LAB., Open Reel Ensemble, etc.
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Saturday was event "Tokyo Outbound vol.02" at Koenji High, presented by CTO LAB. and Otona no kagaku, a popular magazine that always comes with something that you can build...
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 23:36.
Gig report: The Aprils "Magical Girls E.P." pre-release party
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last night (November 22) at Koenji High was the pre-release party for The Aprils' new CD, "Magical Girls" EP going on sale on January 11, 2012. The event was even...
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 22:37.
spoon+ "birth"
Fun indies techno-pop/electro-pop unit spoon+ (MySpace) has a first album coming next week. They have been quite active performing many shows, in which singer-songwriter aco dances and sings in front of a large screen of synchronized video. Before this album...
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 22:29. | Released on June 21, 2011
Original Love "Red Curtain ~Original Love early days~"
Before Original Love, there was The Red Curtain, which released an album titled "Original Love" in 1986. Here all 8 songs are re-issued for the first time, together with 9 songs from a live show of the same year, plus...
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 21:52. | Released on March 2, 2011
Gig report: CTO LAB., Candles, Hi-5, spoon+
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Monday (December 27) was my first occasion to see CTO LAB., a side-unit of Imai Kentarō (The Aprils), polymoog (Elektel) and Okada Tōru (Moonriders), which I had been wanting...
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 17:46.
Various Artists "for winter music lovers ~ Technopop Xmas"
This new compilation of both recent and classic Christmas-themed techno-pop songs features Nomiya Maki (with a song from her first 1980 album), Aira Mitsuki, Denki Groove, Hosono Haruomi, Takahashi Yukihiro, Logic System, and much more. Various Artists "for winter music...
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 23:52. | Released on November 11, 2009
Cibo Matto "Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto"
Cibo Matto has a greatest hits album coming up on Rhino in the U.S. It's all remastered and will include two previously unreleased tracks. Cibo Matto "Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto" 1. Sugar Water 2. Spoon 3. Sci-Fi Wasabi...
Posted on February 17, 2007 at 01:35. | Released on March 20, 2007