Onitsuka Chihiro releases her fifth album, DOROTHY, on Oct. 28, reports Bounce.com. It’s been two years since the release of her previous album, LAS VEGAS, and in the past year, Onitsuka has released a number of singles, all of which will appear on the 11-track album. Onitsuka worked with producers Tokunaga Hideki and Sakamoto Masayuki, whose credits include Hirahara Ayaka’s "Jupiter". A video compilation, HARD RED FANTASIA, is also in the works.
On a random visit to my Rate Your Music profile, I noticed ART-SCHOOL side project KAREN is releasing a second album, titled sunday girl in silence, on Aug. 26. The album has nine tracks and is being released by Daizawa. Here’s the Myspace blog post announcing the release.
ART-SCHOOL is also releasing an album on Aug. 5 titled 14 Souls.
Used to be, the moment I would come across some release news, I’d jump online and post about it here. These days, I’ve been far more distracted, and I’m much more willing to let things slide. Still, I ought to mention a few upcoming releases that may interest long-time readers, although by now it’s pretty much old news:
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some new Cocco news, but V! over at purple SKY does a far better job of breaking it down. Pretty much, Cocco is releasing an EP online to coincide with the publication of a new book.
VOLA & THE ORIENTAL MACHINE is set to release a new album titled SA-KA-NA ELECTRIC DEVICE on July 29, reports Bounce.com. Band leader Ahito Inazawa wrote all lyrics and music for the 10-track album, which is the first-full length release by the band since 2006’s ANDROID ~like a house mannequin~. VOLA is also working on a split single with Italian band Hey Hey Radio titled WEEKEND LOVERS and will appear at a number music festivals this summer.
Bounce.com reports Japanese actress Tomosaka Rie will release a new album, Toridori, on June 24. Also arriving the same day is a reissue of her best album, rie tomosaka best + 3.
In addition to contributions by Shiina Ringo and members of Tokyo Jihen, the eight-track Toridori includes collaborations by Kimura Kaela and Clammbon’s Harada Ikuko and Mito. The best album is the same as her 1999 release, with the addition of the "Shoujo Robot" single written by Shiina and released in 2000.
Tomosaka Rie, Toridori
A while back I mentioned Hatakeyama Miyuki is releasing a solo career retrospective. Well, the track list of the album, titled CHRONICLE 2001-2009, is now available.
Although released on Hatakeyama’s current label, Rhythm Zone, the album contains tracks from her EMI Japan years, as well as various theme songs she’s recorded for a number of films. The collection has 18 tracks total.
Hatakeyama Miyuki, CHRONICLE 2001-2009
A few news items were posted to Bounce.com, and rather than report on them individually, I’m wrapping them up in a single round-up:
Today (May 20) is a pretty big release day. In addition to the aforementioned Onitsuka, new releases by Sasagawa Miwa, detroit7, Fuji Fabric and FLiP hit the stores. Alas, I pre-ordered none of these, thinking I may pick them up later in the year, when I head to Japan for vacation.
I really, really want to hear the new Sasagawa and FLiP albums. FLiP’s Haha kara Umareta Hinekure no Uta has become one of my favorite late discoveries, and I’m glad I caught the band at the Japan Preview party at SXSW this past March. I hope Fuji Fabric’s previous album, TEENAGER, is still around — I never picked it up, even though I like it alot.
Quruli is set to release its eighth album, titled Tamashii no Yukue, on June 10, reports Bounce.com. The duo recorded the album in New York, similar to how the band recorded its previous album, Tanz Walzer, in Vienna. The album is expected to include the singles "Mikatsuki" and "Yukai na Peanuts". A special edition first pressing will also include a bonus track. Quruli embarks on a tour to support the album in June, starting in Hokkaido.
Bounce.com reports Shiina Ringo releases her first new solo album of original material in six years on June 24. Details about the album, titled Sanmon Gossip, were vague, but an upcoming single, "Ariamaru Tori", plus a new song featured on the NHK program Minna no Uta ("Hutaribocchi Jikan") are expected to be included. An e-mail from CD Japan states the album will have 14 tracks.
Bounce also report the coupling track of the "Ariamaru Tori" single, titled "SG ~Superficial Gossip~", features a collaboration with Jazztronic’s Nozaki Ryouta.