Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Rapper valknee has released a first full-length album digitally, titled "Ordinary". This includes previously released songs "WHITE DOWN JKT" and "BREEEEZE", and a whole lot of new tracks! Featured producers are NUU, hirihiri, Pianootoko, SEKITOVA, Bailefunk Kakeko and KUROMARU.

valknee will organize and be part of alternative rap event "Crash Summer" to be held on July 7 at Shibuya WWW X / WWW / WWW β. Details and ticket information can be found here.

valknee "Ordinary" (Download)

1. OG
2. LOOSE
3. SWAAAG ONLY
4. Load My Game
5. Even If
6. Over Sea
7. Not For Me
8. BREEEEZE
9. Watch me!
10. WHITE DOWN JKT

valknee
Out now (4/10)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"BREEEEZE"

Penny Arcade (Instagram, 𝕏), a guitar pop band formed in the mid-80s and originally active until 1989, has become active again since 2017 and now here comes a single of new music! The single is now available on 7", and also digitally via the label's Bandcamp where more information can be found.

The two songs are also available on download/streaming platforms separately: "Land of Glacier" (, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY), "Norma Jean" (, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY).

Penny Arcade can be seen live on May 19 at mona records in Shimokitazawa. Find event details here.

Penny Arcade "Land of Glacier" (7"/Download)

A. Land of Glacier
B. Norma Jean

KiliKiliVilla KKV-168VL
Out now (4/18), ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

A second song by Cocopuff Club, the solo project of COCO (lead singer and guitarist of THE LET'S GO's), has been released on Bandcamp. Titled "Suki Na Yume", this one is sung in Japanese, and features additional drummer tae (of ORESKABAND). This follows the song "My First Tattoo" released in March.

This Friday, May the 3rd, 2024 is Bandcamp Friday!

THE LET'S GO's can be seen in Tokyo on May 3 at Nishi-Eifuku Jam, part of "Jam Fes 2024", and then on May 6 at Shibasaki Rathole. Find details and their full schedule here.

Cocopuff Club "SUKI NA YUME" (Download)

Out now (4/30)
Sample/buy: Bandcamp

VIOLAVIE (YouTube, 𝕏, Instagram) is a new idol group that is produced by Emiri Kanou, and is formed of Konoha, Mitsuki, Marin, Mioha, Nico and Saaya. Their first two songs, "Answer" and "Birthday", were recently released digitally. Emiri wrote and arranged both, with the help of Hyoe Yasuhara (co-arranger of "Answer") and asobi virus (who co-wrote the music and co-arranged "Birthday"). Check out the sampler clip below, and find the full songs on your favorite download/streaming platform.

A CD edition is also available exclusively at shows and at Blute Company's official online shop (shipping within Japan). The CD contains bonus instrumental versions.

Dance practice and introduction videos can be viewed on the group's official YouTube channel.

VIOLAVIE "Answer / Birthday" (Download)

1. Answer
2. BIRTHDAY

Blute Company
Out now (4/24)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Sampler clip

The Pen Friend Club has released a new album titled "Back In The Pen Friend Club", the first featuring their new vocalist Niina (UK-born British-Japanese). This album consists of all covers, with the exception of a self-cover of original song "Tell Me (Do You Really Love Me?)". All are recorded with the current personnel, with the spotlight on Niina's singing. Check out the sampler clip below!

This follows 7" "Darlin' / doyōbi no koibito" which also featured Niina. In terms of albums this is the follow-up to "The Pen Friend Club" (also on vinyl) which consisted solely of original songs and was sung by previous previous singer Megumi. A split 7" of a song from that album was also released for Record Store Day 2024.

A lunchtime show celebrating the new album will be held on May 5 at Ochanomizu Kakado. The show can be viewed online from anywhere via Twitcasting, archived until May 19. Find upcoming schedule and ticket details here.

The Pen Friend Club "Back In The Pen Friend Club"

1. Got To Get You Into My Life (The Beatles)
2. Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees)
3. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
4. For Once In My Life (Stevie Wonder)
5. Reach Out I'll Be There (Four Tops)
6. Let It Shine (Brian Wilson)
7. The Girl From Greenwich Village (The Trade Winds)
8. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli)
9. Hey There Lonely Boy (Eddie Holman)
10. Do You Believe In Magic? (The Lovin' Spoonful)
11. Alfie (Cilla Black)
12. Tell Me (Do You Really Love Me?) (The Pen Friend Club)

Penpal Records PPRD0006
Out now (5/1), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

Just one day after the release of Denki Groove's 32nd and 34th anniversary songs, here finally comes a more timely anthem: "Denki Groove's 35th Anniversary Song"! This third song was mixed by Tetsuya Kaneshige, and again features guitar by Satoshi Yoshida. Check out the official audio clip below created with AI tool Kaiber.

Denki Groove "Denki Groove's 35th Anniversary Song" (Download)
電気グルーヴ 「電気グルーヴ35周年の歌」
(Japanese title: "Denki Groove 35shūnen no uta")

macht
Out now (5/2)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has recently released a new song titled "OEDOEDO". It's a theme song for anime series Ninjala, and follows "Isshin Doutai" which was also used as a theme song for the series. As always, the song was written and produced by Nakata Yasutaka (CAPSULE).

Kyary recently announced that she is pregnant, following the news last year that she got married with actor Shōno Hayama. Congratulations!

Kyary will be appearing at "Gobu Gobu Festival 2024" on May 12 in Osaka.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Oedoedo" (Download)
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「OEDOEDO」

1. OEDOEDO
2. OEDOEDO (Instrumental)
3. OEDOEDO (TV edit)

KRK LAB COKM-44897
Out now (4/12)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Singer-songwriter Machi Akari has released a new mini-album of 4 songs with a theme of disco, always with her special touch of Japanese vibes and humor! The songs were arranged by Yumi Okada who had also participated to previous album "Colorful! Exciting! Pop Music!".

The album is available on CD in regular and limited editions (the latter including a DVD with the music videos and extras), and also digitally.

Machi Akari has been touring Japan for the new release, and will be stopping by Space emo in Ikebukuro (Tokyo) on May 26. Find details of the tour and other shows on her official site.

Also check out streaming platforms for several songs that Machi Akari has been releasing steadily, singing bits of Japanese culture in English. The latest is "Omakase As You Like" (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

Machi Akari "Chikyu Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo ~ Disco Akari"
町あかり 「地球出禁にしていいよ ～ディスコあかり～」

1. Chikyū Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo
2. Jōban Disco Minatomachi
3. Kuroobi Fever
4. Rakuen Nagashi No Kei
5. Chikyū Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo (Karaoke)
6. Jōban Disco Minatomachi (Karaoke)
7. Kuroobi Fever (Karaoke)
8. Rakuen Nagashi No Kei (Karaoke)

DVD (Limited edition only)
1. Chikyū Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo (Music video)
2. Jōban Disco Minatomachi (Music video)
3. Machi Akari 20mon 20tō Part.1
4. Machi Akari 20mon 20tō Part.2
5. Chikyū Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo Making Clip

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Hotwax Trax HOTWAXCD-2005
Out 4/3, ¥2700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Hotwax Trax HOTWAXCD-2004
Out 4/3, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Chikyū Dekin Ni Shite Iiyo"

"Jōban Disco Minatomachi"

Denki Groove has just released two brand new songs, said to have been made for their 35th anniversary, although their titles may seem to say otherwise. "Denki Groove's 32nd Anniversary Song" was mixed by Naoya Tokunou, while "Denki Groove's 34th Anniversary Song" was mixed by Takashi Watanabe. Both tracks feature guitar by Satoshi Yoshida. Check out the official audio clips below created with AI tool Kaiber.

These songs follow "Homebase" released in August last year.

Denki Groove "Denki Groove's 32nd Anniversary Song" (Download)
電気グルーヴ 「電気グルーヴ32周年の歌」
(Japanese title: "Denki Groove 32shūnen no uta")

macht
Out now (5/1)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

Denki Groove "Denki Groove's 34th Anniversary Song" (Download)
電気グルーヴ 「電気グルーヴ34周年の歌」
(Japanese title: "Denki Groove 34shūnen no uta")

macht
Out now (5/1)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

"Denki Groove's 32nd Anniversary Song"

"Denki Groove's 34th Anniversary Song"

Girl artists & creators crew bala (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube, TikTok) has just released a first EP! Included are the songs releaseed over the last year — "barla", "Heavenly", and "Tokyo Survivor" — as well as the lead song "Like That" out last month in advance, plus two more brand new songs: "Freedom" and "Galaxy In Your Eyes" (Japanese title "kimi ga mitsuketa kono hoshi"). Check out the latest music video for "Like That" below, shot by bala and edited by member MANON.

bala is currently formed of MANON, SUNNY ONLY1 and KANO. Music and lyrics contributors include Shinichi Osawa (Mondo Grosso, RHYME SO), Kenmochi Hidefumi (Wednesday Campanella), Bodysync (Ryan Hemsworth & Giraffage), Yuppa (HNC), YHEL, Lil' Leise But Gold, and LLLL, among others.

There's also word that there may be new solo songs of MANON and SUNNY ONLY1 on the way.

bala "bala-llel world" (Download)

1. Heavenly
2. barla
3. Freedom
4. Galaxy In Your Eyes
5. LIKE THAT
6. Tokyo Survivor

ASOBIMUSIC bala008
Out now (4/19)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"LIKE THAT"

"Tokyo Survivor"

"Heavenly"

"barla"