Release news
ALI PROJECT best album “Chi to Mitsu – Anthology of Gothic Lolita & Horror” out on June 21st!
Chi to Mitsu (album cover - Lolita version)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Gothic/lolita rock band ALI PROJECT is releasing a compilation album to commemorate their 25th anniversary this month! Titled Chi to Mitsu – Anthology of Gothic Lolita & Horror, the 3-disc set will include 31 tracks total on 2 discs and a Blu-ray disc with clips. Two of the songs are brand new, titled “Royal Academy of Gothic Lolita” and “Shoujo missou～Le sang et le miel”, representing the “lolita” and “horror” aspects of the collection, respectively. Other notable songs include “Seishoujo ryouiki,” the theme to anime Rozen Maiden Traumend and “Kyoumu densen,” theme of anime show Another. The Blu-ray disc will contain music videos of the two new songs and making-of footage shot in France.
Shimizu Shota new album “FLY” out on June 28th!
FLY (limited edition cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Soul/hip-hop/urban artist SHIMIZU Shota is releasing his new album FLY on June 28th! FLY is Shimizu’s 7th original studio album. It will include two hit singles, “My Boo” and “FIRE” for a total of 12 tracks. The album will be released in a limited edition with a DVD and a regular CD-only edition. The DVD will contain the PV for “Tokyo” and live clips of “Good Conversation”, “Soba ni…”, “My Boo”, “FIRE”, and “Sorezore.”
Miyazaki Nahoko new album “Milestone” out on June 1st!
Milestone (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Nahoko MIYAZAKI is releasing her new independent album Milestone on June 1st! The album will contain 13 tracks total and include the songs “Kaze,” “Ano toki” and “Yasahii ao.” Nahoko is an artist of generally optimistic and emotional words. This album showcases more of her slice-of-life writing, backed by a sweet and elegant voice. Although the album release was originally announced for April 5th, the current release date is now June 1st, to ship several weeks after her Milestone Tour kicked off on May 5th this year.
Hata Motohiro “All Time Best” album release on June 14th!
All Time Best (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter HATA Motohiro is releasing his first compilation album on June 14th! It is somewhat grandly titled All Time Best and includes his works from the past 10 years since his debut in 2006. Notable selections include “Synchro” (debut single), “Himawari no yakusoku”, “Uroko”, “Ai”, up to his most recent single “70-oku no Peace.”
Arai Akino cover album “Smile” out on June 14th!
Smile (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Veteran singer-songwriter Arai Akino is releasing her first cover album on June 14th! Titled Smile, the mini-album contains 6 tracks. Arai has written, collaborated, and performed for many singers over the years and established her distinct, wispy and child-like vocals in her own songs. I am curious about the interpretation that she will bring to the songs in this mini-album, ranging from Disney’s “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” to classic French singer Francois Hardy’s “Le Premier Bonheur du Jour.” Perhaps it is not surprising that Arai is releasing this album on an independent label, which she founded this year.
Hayashibara Megumi releasing tribute album to Okazaki Ritsuko “With You” on May 3!
With You (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Veteran voice actress and singer Megumi HAYASHIBARA is releasing a tribute album on May 3rd. Titled With You, the album is dedicated to Megumi’s late friend, singer-songwriter Ritsuko OKAZAKI, who died in 2004 at the age of 44. Ritsuko was well known for her work on anime songs such as “For Fruitsbasket,” the opening to the animated series Fruitsbasket.
Thirteen tracks on 2 CDs will be included, some originally sung by Megumi and some by Ritsuko. Five new recordings or cover versions will be included. The album is a limited release. Early pre-orders come with a large photograph and a clear folder.
T-SQUARE new album “Rebirth” out on April 26!
REBIRTH (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Japanese Jazz-fusion band T-SQUARE is releasing their new album on April 26th! Titled Rebirth, the album will contain 9 original pop/jazz instrumental pieces and include a DVD containing performances from THE SQUARE Reunion Live event. This release marks the band’s 43rd original album. The first press edition will include a special slip case and application post card.
Tama new album [BITTER] out on April 12!
BITTER (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Solo independent artist Tama is releasing her third (mini) album on April 12th. Titled BITTER, the collection will contain 8 original tracks. Tama has also announced her live tour, titled “SUMMER of BITTER” with two shows announced so far in July.
Tama is best known as the former singer of Hysteric Blue. Since the band split in 2004, Tama has pursued several projects including The Screaming Frogs and Sabao, which she continues to be active with. If her recent work is any indication, BITTER is likely to have upbeat, catchy pop/rock songs containing Tama’s distinct “high tone” vocals.
Hirahara Ayaka new album [Love 2] out on April 26!
Love 2 (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Exactly one year after her previous album, singer Hirahara Ayaka is releasing her new album Love 2 on April 26th. Love 2 is Ayaka’s tenth original album, and the second album in her “love” series (her previous album was titled Love). Not the most original title, nor the most original theme…this album is also centered on devoted love. Ayaka presents 11 new songs on this album, including the bonus track “Wasenedeya.”
Clips of all tracks from the album are available on the Universal Music YouTube channel and can be previewed below.
Otsuka Ai’s 8th original album [Love Honey] out on April 12!
Love Honey (regular edition cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Otsuka Ai is releasing her eighth original album on April 12th! Continuing her tradition of having “Love” in the title of every album, this one will be titled Love Honey. Love Honey will contain a total of 12 tracks, including the single “Watashi”.
And continuing the Avex tradition, the album will be released in several versions: other than the regular CD edition, there will be 3 limited editions–one with a fabric freshening spray, one with a DVD, and one with a Blu-ray disc. The DVD and Blu-ray will contain the same six clips consisting of music videos to “Watashi” and “Sakura harahara” and 4 live songs from her AIO PIANO vol.4 tour on February 14, 2017. A limited number of pre-orders at CD Japan will come with an advert poster. A pre-order version with a poster is also available on Amazon Japan, but differs in price from the non-poster version.
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