Blog - June 2014 Archives

June 2014 Archives

Index

.28 Weekly revue: 2014 week #26 (June 21 to 27)
.21 Weekly revue: 2014 week #25 (June 14 to 20)
.14 Weekly revue: 2014 week #24 (June 7 to 13)
.08 Weekly revue: 2014 week #23 (May 31 to June 6)

June 28, 2014

Weekly revue: 2014 week #26 (June 21 to 27)

Food: - Fun coffee break time and pineapple & coconut cake at Sunday Bake Shop, Hatsudai
- New York style pizza slice at... Pizza Slice, Shibuya

Music event: - Went to Batica in Ebisu for "Delica LAB", an event organized by Nakatsuka Takeshi's Delicatessen Recordings. The event featured Izumi Ookawara (Qypthone), who is about to release new song "Polka dot on the paper" on iTunes (July 2), Somethiing new, an instrumental duo of ukulele/trumpet and piano, Shu Music Sax Quartet, saxophonist Shu Ishikawa-led funky quartet of just saxes, and Nakatsuka Takeshi who played a non-stop set backed by Suzuki Kaoru (RF)'s skillful drumming.

- When passing Tower Records in Shibuya last weekend, there was a promotion where I got a free copy of Funassyi's "air CD" (a CD package but with just a sticker inside, and a jacket that includes lyrics). The accompanying song produced by Konishi Yasuharu is only released on YouTube.

Music release news: Bakubaku Dokin, The Nanbatatin, Satoru Wono, Children Coup d'État

Playlist: Bakubaku Dokin, COR!S, Especia, Chromeo, Cibo Matto, Bakubaku Dokin, Nakatsuka Takeshi, Tarte Tatin

This week's videos:

Bakubaku Dokin "kaizō ningen"

Negicco "Sunshine Nihonkai" (written & produced by Tajima Takao (Original Love))

June 21, 2014

Weekly revue: 2014 week #25 (June 14 to 20)

Music events: - On Tuesday was a free release event for Vanilla Beans' new single "kitto ii basho (fuchi)", a tie-up with toy Cup no Fuchico. The event was held on the roof of department store Marui Jam in Shibuya, a place usually not open to the public. There was a small stage where the girls performed 5 songs. And on the 1st floor of Marui Jam, there's a time-limited shop (until tomorrow, Sunday June 22) that has lots of Vanilla Beans goods usually sold at their concerts. I got a K*SS-inspired T-shirt from their "rock" series, which I had been wanting for a while.

Set list: (Intro: Vanilla Beans) / koi no Sniper 007 / Please Me Darling / kitto ii basho (fuchi) / watashi... fukō guse / Summer Vacation

- And on Friday evening was a DJ event with Elektel (polymoog & Ueken), held at Koenji Connection. There was some DJing but also a Ustream 30-minute live streaming, and a recording for radio.

Music release news: Scarlatti Goes Electro, Vanilla Beans, (M)otocompo, Hoshino Michiru, P.O.P, Urbangarde

Playlist: COR!S, Especia, hitomitoi, Jintana & Emeralds, Vanilla Beans

This week's video: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu movie trailer!? "Cinema JOHN" to start on July 12.

June 14, 2014

Weekly revue: 2014 week #24 (June 7 to 13)

Cats: Went to cat café "Temari no ouchi" in Kichijoji! It was my first time at a cat café so I can't compare with other cat cafés, but the interior was rather large and had a kind of nature theme with much attention to detail, and there were about a dozen cats. Most cats were rather playful and friendly, each having their own attitude and traits. That was fun! I put up many more photos on Flickr.

Food: - Indian vegetarian restaurant Veg Kitchen, Okachimachi. I could even order Gobi 65 that wasn't on the menu. :)
- Mille-feuilles at A.K Labo, Kichijōji
- Wine bar Fujimaru in Asakusabashi

Exhibitions: - Went to see "Balthus: A Retrospective", a large exhibition held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. It's the largest exhibition ever about French painter Balthus (1908-2001, Wikipedia), also featuring a reconstruction of his Rossinière atelier with many objects borrowed from it. It also teaches a lot about his ties with Japan, him having been married with a Japanese who cooperated for this exhibition. This ends on June 22.

- Dropped by friend painter Picaro Taro (aka Manabe Taro)'s exhibition at Bunkamura in Shibuya. While his recent exhibitions focused on dogs, this time it's all cats! Titled "Cats' Love", it's on until Sunday June 15.

Music events: - On June 8 was Dorian's release party for album "midori", actually released last November. Dorian had a big change of styles with this album, moving away from the 80's-inspired topical disco that had been his trademark, and instead going for sampling. His shows used to always feature a Roland MC-909, which he had been a real maestro at playing, and at this show I could verify that it's been replaced by an Ableton Push (which also seems to be a wonderful machine, so this isn't a bad thing). His show still had a lot of live keyboards which was great. Also he featured special guests Kashif (guitar), MC.sirafu (steel drum) and Videotapemusic (pianica & VJ). Dorian is one of my favorite electronic artists of the last few years and I highly recommend him!

DJ's at this event included Sunahara Yoshinori and Yakenohara, and the other bands were Pepe California and utsukusiki hikari (a project of MC.sirafu with a pianist).

- And on June 13 was a welcome party for Sylvain aka Gangpol (of French unit Gangpol & Mit), who was passing by Tokyo after a trip to Okinawa. Like last time in February last year, this was held at RRR in Ryōgoku. I could watch was some DJing by Sylvain and Kishino You-ichi. There was also a fun show of Nukeme Band, that involved a slime-controlled instrument, and Ningen Dog's light-activated dog toys. There were also "Taiwan game machines" built by Kishino-san and friends, recreating a game they played in Taiwan.

There I also bought Scarlatti Goes Electro's new album being released on Kishino-san's Out One Disc label. It includes remixes by Gangpol & Mit and Matsumae Kimitaka, and the whole was mixed by Yoshida Tetsuto.

Music release news: "World Standard.09 -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-", Sheena Ringo, Old Monk, xxx of Wonder, Le Grand Escroc, mishmash*Miki Orihara

Playlist: Especia, Jintana & Emeralds, Concert, Riow Arai, Denki Groove

This week's videos:

Funassyi "Funassyi no kaimono wasshoi!" (Produced by Konishi Yasuharu)

(M)otcompo "OK SKA"

June 8, 2014

Weekly revue: 2014 week #23 (May 31 to June 6)

Food: - Ice cream cookie sandwich and mint cream chocolate cookie sandwich, at Hudson Market Bakers, Azabu-Juban.

- On May 31 we went to the last night of 246common, a time-limited outdoor market-like area where were many small shops and restaurants, including Shozo Coffee Store where our friend worked.

Art: We went to small apparel shop Blue Workerz in Shibuya to check out a wall painted by street artist ESSU. While resembling his various stickers, the whole was painted directly on the wall by the artist. This was displayed until Sunday June 1st, after which the work remains but the shop's shelves are placed back on it.

We also hit the streets to look for more traces left by Invader during his recent visit. Unfortunately many of the space invaders have already been taken down.

Music release news: Hoshino Michiru, Charisma.com, Budo Grape, T-Palette mix CD, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Playlist: Jintana & Emeralds, Justice, Vanilla Beans, (((sssurrounddd))), De De Mouse, Hasebe Novko, Isoda Osamu, Chromeo

Also I've had this song "Lelemon Theme" on repeat a lot! The music was written by Hasebe Novko, and arranged by her husband Isoda Osamu (both ex-Modern Choki Chokies). While a children-oriented song, it's a delightful over-5-minute synth piece with cute & heartwarming lyrics too. Love it! It can be downloaded with and without vocals at the bottom of this page.

This week's video:

xxx of WONDER "meisekimu Madonna"
(New project of Nanba Shiho, Dr.USUI, Frenesi, Julie Watai, and Kishida Mel. Video directed by Nakama Hirohisa (The Aprils), with choregraphy by Asahi Taichi (Genius).)

« May 2014 | Back to main page | July 2014 »