Hatakeyama Miyuki and Kojima Daisuke reunite as Port of Notes with a new single titled “Trace of Dream” to be released on June 30. It’s the first new work from the pair in three years. Polaris’ Sakada Kagu appears on the title track, while 54-71 drummer Horikawa Hiroyuki plays on the duo’s cover of Caetano Veloso’s “Mihna Muhler”. Artwork for the single was done by Kojima’s younger brother, Yousuke. Hatakeyama and Kojima both embarked on solo projects in the last two years.
Utada Hikaru is one of many international artists appearing on Unity, an official compilation for the Athens Olympics. Billed only by her family name, the pop singer teams up with Timbaland and Kiley Dean on the track, “By Your Side”. Sixteen artists from 15 countries participate on the album, including Sting, Avril Lavgine, Moby and Brian Eno. Proceeds from the sale of the album benefit UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa. Unity goes on sale in Japan on July 7, with a release date of Aug. 10 for the US.
Indie band Biidoru is set to release its full-length debut, “Hoshi no Hoo kara ~Shoki Biidoru no Kiseki & Shinkyoku Shoki no Kiseki~”, on July 7. Biidoru consists of multi-instrumentalists Aoyagi Takashi, Itoo Michisuke and Satoo Junichi, with drummer Mori Nobuyuki, who left Quruli in 2002, serving as a support musician. The band has so far released three limited edition singles through Tower Records.
Yaida Hitomi will release a singles collection on July 28. The release remasters Yaida’s 12 singles from her indie debut “How?” to 2003’s “Hitori Jenga”. A limited edition box set version also includes a second disc of Yaida’s personal favorites, plus a retrospective DVD.
On June 23, eastern youth releases both a new single and a retrospective DVD. The single, “Kyooseishiroku 0.6”, is the first new work from the band in a year and nine months.
The DVD, titled “Archives 1997-2002”, includes video clips from the band’s tenure on Toy’s Factory Records, plus a clip for “Izukohe” from the early indie album, Koritsu Moen no Hana. The DVD also includes a live performance of “Aosugiru Sora” on SpaceShower TV and a special video of “Donten to Omokage” made for Viewsic.
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant singer Chiba Yusuke and Blankey Jet City bassist Terai Toshiyuki are back together for the first time in two years. In 2002, the pair formed ROSSO and released the album Bird. In April, the pair reunited under a new name, Raven, and released a new album titled Kagirinaku Aka ni Chikai Kuro. Chiba sang on six of the album’s eight songs. With Chiba and Terai making Raven a more active band, the pair have recruited multi-instrumentalist Sato Minoru to fill the line-up. The band plans to release more singles in June and July.
Sony Music reissued four Pizzicato Five albums and released a career retrospective, titled The Band of the Century: Sony Music Years 1986-1990, on April 28. Group leader Yasuharu Konishi chose the track selection for the collection, which covers a period when the band had three members and when Nomiya Maki replaced second singer Sasaki Mimiko. A limited edition pressing of The Band of the Century includes rare material.
On the same day, Sony also reissued four albums Pizzicato Five recorded for the label: Couples, Bellisima, Jyoouheika no Pizzicato Five and Getsumen Nanchakuriku.
brilliant green singer Kawase Tomoko’s third alter ego, Tommy heavenly6, releases a new single on May 26. Titled “Hey my friend”, the song serves as the theme to the movie Shimozuma Monogatari, starring Fukuda Kyooko and Tsuchiya Anna. The movie is scheduled to premiere at the end of May. Tommy heavenly6 debuted last July with the single “Wait till I can dream”.
UA’s next single, “Odoru Tori to Kin no Ame”, will be released as a DVD on May 26. Asano Chuushin (Toori) directs the video clip for the song, taken from UA’s latest album Sun, with script writer Hasei Kouiki also contributing.
Patch from the Violets, Ueno Koji from Thee Michelle Gun Elephant and Kusube Shinya from the Neatbeats have formed Radio Caroline. The three-piece, hard rock band releases a new album, titled Dead Action Groovy, on May 19. The 10-song album clocks in at 35 minutes.