Source: Bounce.com
Utada Hikaru will release a live DVD of on July 28, the singer’s official web site announced. Titled Utada Hikaru in Budokan 2004 Hikaru no Go, the DVD documents Utada’s February 2004 performance at the popular arena. The total running time of the DVD is 131 minutes, including special features. Limited edition pressings of the disc include a replica of the concert program.
Source: Bounce.com
Correction source: Brad Douglas
Shiina Ringo announced she will no longer record as a solo artist but instead as a member of her most recent touring band, Tokyo Jihen.
The band debuted in Fall 2003 on the singer’s Suguroku Ecstacy tour and includes Hatake Toshiki on drums, Hiizumi Masayuki on keyboards, Mikki on guitar and producer Seiji Kameda on bass. Shiina pulled away from touring since Decmeber 2003, after the release of the live DVD, Electric Mole.
Tokyo Jihen is scheduled to perform at Fuji Rock Festival on July 30. The singer’s official fan club site also lists a July 25 performance at Meet the World Beat 2004.
(Thanks to Brad Douglas for providing a more accurate translation of this news item.)
Source: Bounce.com
RIZE will go on hiatus, according to the band’s official fan club. “RIZE has come to a point to take a [break] for a while until the ‘TIME OUT’ is over,” the fan site writes. During the break, the site will track each member’s activity. Singer Jesse worked with Sphere of Influnce on the side project GICODE in 2003.
Source: Bounce.com
Quruli is set to release a promo clips DVD on July 21. The DVD covers all the band’s videos from its debut single, “Tokyo”, to its most recent single, “Rock ‘n’ Roll”. With the addition of fan favorite “Sukeibei no Onna”, the disc includes 15 clips in all. Quruli has currently embarked on a one-man summer tour, which ends in June with a performance at Budokan.
Source: Bounce.com
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.
Source: Bounce.com, Billboard
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.
Source: Bounce.com
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.
Source: Bounce.com
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.
Source: Bounce.com
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.
Source: Bounce.com
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.