Tententen: Méduse (December 15th, 2013)

Helping us say farewell to the Year of the Snake in this final Tententen of the year are icy fake-Russian synthesists Mir and disco-punk fantasists Jebiotto, with the Tententen team on decks and this month's exhibition by photographer and dedicated documenter of Tokyo backstreets Matt Schley.

Old Year: New Wave!

JEBIOTTO!//DEACON PUNK from STUDIO GLAMOUR on Vimeo.

Date: 15th Dec (Sun)
Place: Koenji Art Bar Ten/天
Time: 8:00pm-1:00am
Cost: ¥500+1 drink
Live:
- Mir
- Jebiotto
DJs:
- Ralouf (Lo-shi)
- Gotal (Lo-shi)
- Ian Martin (Call And Response Records)

NEW RELEASE! Hysteric Picnic: Cult Pops (CAR-78)

Tokyo new wave/postpunk band Hysteric Picnic have a new mini-album available in shops now. Recalling the sounds of Joy Division, The Birthday Party, and The Jesus And Mary Chain, as well as elements of Krautrock, goth and psychedelia, Cult Pop is at once dark, powerful, intense and quite beautiful.

Cult Pops (CAR-78)

1. Cult Pop
2. Shiosai
3. Memai
4. Mirror
5. Obecca Dance

ON SALE NOW!

Bridge

Disk Union

Tower Records

Amazon.co.jp

HMV

Tsutaya

Jet Set Records

N'toko Balkan tour and new album "Mind Business" (CAR-77)

Audiences in Japan will have to wait until March, but Balkan fans can catch N'toko on tour over the next couple of weeks, including several shows with Serbia's ferocious Repetitor and Macedonian newcomers Molokai. Dates are:

November 29th 2013 Novo Mesto, LokalPatriot (with BeatMyth)
November 30th 2013 Ljubljana, Kino Šiška (solo concert with Repetitor and Molokai)
December 7th 2013 Novi Pazar (solo concert, with Repetitor and Molokai)
December 8th 2013 Skopje (solo concert, with Repetitor and Molokai)
December 13th 2013 Belgrade (solo concert, with Repetitor and Molokai)

In addition, Dutch fans will be able to catch him at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen on January 15th and 16th.

These shows will also be the first chance for audiences to get hold of N'toko's excellent new English language album Mind Business before its official Japan release in January. The album includes 13 new tracks, including some of the fruits of experiments he did on his last Japan tour as well as work with Swiss producer Beckoning.

The video for the title track, filmed in the backstreets of Koenji and Asagaya by Matt Schley in Summer 2012 is already up:


In addition, a video for The Baddest, directed by Tomaž Šantl is also now up:


Details on the Japanese release date and tour info will follow.

The last Fashion Crisis of 2013 welcomes back old pal Grant McGaheran who'll be spinning perverse electronic disco oddities, and live friends Loser & Ribbons, as well as slinky electro-new wave newcomer Gloomy. We'll bring the tunes and the Christmas spirit, you bring yourselves.

Date: December 6th (Fri)
Place: Koenji One
Time: 8:00pm-midnight
Cost: FREE!
LIVE:
- Loser & Ribbons
- Gloomy
DJs:
- Grant McGaheran (Abikyokan)
- James Hadfield
- Ian Martin

Tententen: Chimères (November 17th, 2013)

This month's Tententen is a celebration of all things alchemical, hysterical and chimerical. Live music features the menacing loops, rattles and chimes of Lo-shi and the explosive squeals and growls of Fallopian Disco Force, while our guest DJ is Tasmanian disco saint Evil Penguin.

Date: 17th Nov (Sun)
Place: Koenji Art Bar Ten/天
Time: 8:00pm-1:00am
Cost: ¥500+1 drink
Live:
- Fallopian Disco Force
- Lo-shi
DJs:
- Evil Penguin
- Gotal (Lo-shi)
- Ian Martin (Call And Response Records)

Fashion Crisis (November 2013)

November Fashion Crisis goes cosmopolitan with guest DJ Yasuhiro Higuchi from glamorous, exotic Fukuoka (his band Deltas will play at the Koenji Pop Festival on Saturday at Higashi-Koenji 20000V). He will be joined by alt-rock cowboy Carl Freire, who makes a welcome return on the decks.

Date: November 1st (Fri)
Place: Koenji One
Time: 8:00pm-midnight
Cost: FREE!
DJs:
- Carl Freire
- Yasuhiro Higuchi (Deltas, from Fukuoka)
- James Hadfield
- Ian Martin

Tententen: Yonaguni (October 20th, 2013)

October's edition of Tententen welcomes back the psychedelic sounds of Mars & Eye and the kayou-kraut adventures of Fancy Numnum. As usual, we'll be running from 8pm till late: come one, come all...

Date: 20th Oct (Sun)
Place: Koenji Art Bar 天 (Ten)
Time: 8:00pm-1:00am
Cost: ¥500+1 drink
Live:
- Mars & Eye
- Fancy Numnum
DJs:
- craig eee
- Gotal
- Ian Martin
Expo:
- Ada Flores-Vidal