Source: Bounce.com
Dragon Ash’s newest member, Hiroki, is releasing an album with his old band.
Hiroki leads the acid rock band Strobo, who will release a new album titled Zero on Sept. 19. The 14-minute, five-track album reportedly runs the gamut from death rock to acid techno.
The album will also include a DVD with bonus tracks and live performances with well-known VJ Overheads.
For 24 hours, Sony Music Japan Online will preview Hajime Chitose’s second album, as well as broadcast the singer’s videos.
The promotion to commemorate the release of the album, titled Nomad Soul, starts on Sept. 3 at midnight (11 a.m., Eastern).
In addition to the singles “Kono Machi”, “Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru” and “Itsu ka Kaze ni Naru Hi”, the album’s 10 tracks include one written by Matsutoya Yumi (“Uruga no Oka”) and another produced by Yamazaki Masayoshi (“Aurora no Sora kara Mitsumete Iru”).
Nomad Soul hits retail stores on Sept. 3.
Source: Bounce.com
Cocco made an impromptu performance at a rock festival in Kobe on Aug. 31.
During an intermission, Cocco jumped onstage and accompanied herself on two songs. The singer wore a red, one-piece dress and performed in her usual barefoot.
Cocco had already performed at a Honshuu middle school, premiering a new song in English titled “Heaven’s Hell”.
On Sept. 5, News23 will broadcast a feature on Cocco.
Source: Bounce.com
ACO will embark on a tour behind her latest album starting in November. In June, the singer released, irony, her first album of new work in two years. This tour will be noteworthy in how ACO reproduces her electronica sound. Dates on the tour include:
Friday, Nov. 14 — Osaka Big Cat
Saturday, Nov. 15 — Club Quattro
Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Shinjuku Liquid Room
Source: Bounce.com
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant will disband at the end of its current tour, reports the band’s fan club web site.
The band’s final performance will happen on Oct. 11 in Makuhari, on the same day as the release of its final single, “Electric Circus”. A formal announcement on the band’s official site will be posted on Sept. 1.
Source: Bounce.com
Supercar is expected to release a live DVD and new single on Nov. 11.
The DVD, tenatively titled High Booster + Ukawa Naohiro Visual Works, was recorded last year at the band’s “High Booster” event. The DVD will also include videos directed by artist Ukawa Naohiro.
On the same day, Supercar follows up its previous single “Recreation” with a new song produced by Sunahara Yoshinori.
Source: Bounce.com
L’Arc~en~Ciel vocalist hyde will release a new single, “Horizon”, on Nov. 6. The song will be coupled with a cover of the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which hyde sang to open his secret performance at the Rock in Japan Festival this year. Is a new album not far behind?
Source: Bounce.com
For it’s next single, m-flo is colalborating with two new singers.
The R&B duo announced melody and Yamamoto Ryouhei will be its newest guest singers. Earlier this year, Crystal Kay became the first singer to collaborate with m-flo since the departure of the band’s in-house vocalist Lisa.
melody, who debuted in February 2003, has been described as having a “platinum voice”, clear and brimming with emotion. Yamamoto, on the other hand, collaborated with Fantastic Plastic Machine on last year’s Why not?. Described as having an original style, Yamamoto’s June 2003 debut was also highly anticipated.
A coupling track will also feature pop duo Chemistry and will be released on Oct. 22, 2003.
Source: Bounce.com, Mukai Shuutoku official site
Mukai Shuutoku will be performing throughout September and October, according to his official web site.
Dates on the “Mukai Shuutoku Acoustic & Electric” tour include the Shinjuku Liquid Room on Sept. 17 (which is already sold out), 13 Fandango on Oct. 29 and a Sept. 22 show at Osaka Big Cat with his new band, Zazen Boys.
Mukai’s web site also includes a diary in which he shares his set list at the Rising Sun Rock Festival and reports about a new song he wrote about the outbreak of war.
The site also reports Mukai will be taking Zazen Boys into his self-made Matsuri Studio.
Source: Bounce.com
Retired artist Cocco performed for the first time in two years at a
Honshuu middle school. Her 10-minute set included a new song, “Heaven’s
Hell”, which reportedly concludes with a rousing chorus.
Cocco appeared at Naha Middle School’s “GOMI-ZERO Taisaku Ikusa” (“The War
for Zero Trash”), an event to encourage trash pick-up along Honshuu’s
coastal areas. Cocco has previously rallied for efforts to clean up
Honshuu’s beaches.
Although the short set was Cocco’s first official performance in years, it
raises speculation whether the reclusive artist is ready to resume her
career.