Goldfrapp Are Back!

Popjustice has just revelead that they got a sneak peek of Goldfrapp's lastest, an album titlted Head First, out March 22. They describe the first single, Rocket, as a carefree disco tune about a "love-gone-awry number which appears to be about firing an unsuitable chap off into space". It also includes rocket sounds, which our SAWA is so very fond of.. :P

It's all so exciting..

















Goldfrapp is quite a unique band that have inspired many artists, including the J-pop world (Immi's クラクション is basically an Ooh La La 2! MEG's video for FREAK as well is FOR SURE inspired by it..) and if you've not listenened to them, DO IT! ...NOW! :D

Also today, Mizca has revealed info as well as samples of her debut electro single キラキラ☆, which is released this January. Cutesy covers, and the music sounds pretty good although heavily vocodered.. (Seems like everyone is tired of the vocoder!) It's actually quite trippy in sound though, as far as the b-sides Truly Lovely + United To The Sky! The a-side キラキラ☆ sounds very much like a Nakata-style track with Saori vocals. Keep an eye out for her, we'll find out soon enough if this is a serious attempt!

Updates an' Info

New episode of Sa-World Radio is up, check it out when you get a chance!

Second episode in a row to have Kentaro Takizawa as a guest.

A video from the last episode has surfaced (the one from her birthday), which is now posted up on PlanetSAWA's brand new youtube account, yay! Rewak has set that, and a new email account as well, for any news, videos, an' all that from you fellow fans.

YouTube Account
Google Mail Account

More from The Big Room.... SAWA was at the release party, performing and drinkin' it up with fellow members and fans. Here's a pic of her with Mika Sawabe.


















A live vid from that has surfaced as well (using that cringe-worthy Keep Love Together), and she shows up a few times.

SAWA's also been busy doing interviews apparentely. Her + Taku Takahashi will appear in an interview in the next issue of MARQUEE, as well as a couple other 'zines. She's also done some online interviews which you can check out here and here.

There's some sort of World Wide Tea Party-themed promo project she's planning on her mixi account, but I don't have one so I'm not really sure on the details (probably best I don't know anyway.. :P)

So there's some shtuff for you to check out as you enjoy her latest mini-album. :)

It's Out, Go Get It SAWAitians!

It's funny, there was so much negative feedback about Swimming Dancing in the beginning: it only had 2 songs, it shouldn't be called a mini-album, SAWA shout-sings.. Now that it's out however, it seems like everyone's really pleased!

Epic PV and artwork, remixes that aren't crap, and of course wonderful music.. I'm really glad that quite the little SAWA community has been created. Let's all hope for new music soon!

If you haven't got it yet, dooooo iiiit:

Swimming Dancing @ YESASIA
Swimming Dancing @ CDJapan
Swimming Dancing @ PlayAsia
Swimming Dancing @ Amazon.co.jp















..........................

In other electro-news, d-topia's Saori@destiny is finally releasing new music! She's releasing two limited (unfortunately!) singles in the new year, one exclusively through Tower Records and another through HMV (similar to Aira's Valentine Step and Darling Wondering Staring.)

The first release, out 20 Jan, is titled 『エスニック・プラネット・サバイバル』 (Ethnic Planet Survival) is being released through TOWER. Saori's lyrics are always awesome and with a title like that... sounds like it's gonna be good! :P













The second release, out on 17 Feb, is currently untitled and will be through HMV.

TOWER RECORDS・HMV 2ヶ月連続シングルリリース決定！ ネオ・サブカルチャー・ガールをコンセプトに 新たにバックキーボードを加え「cooljapan」を世界へ発信!!! 2010年1月20日（水）リリース タワーレコード限定シングル 『エスニック・プラネット・サバイバル』 DTJR-10012 LABEL：D-topia 2010年2月17日（水）リリース HMV限定シングル 『タイトル未定』 DTJR-10021 LABEL：D-topia

So, for me anyway, there's something to look forward to in between whatever SAWA's got up ahead for us. :P Aira's got something new up ahead as well, a song being used in an Ario CM titled HEAT MY LOVE. Whether it gets a single release, we'll find out soon I hope!

Have a happy Thanksgiving all US-SAWAitians! :D

Space, Aeronautics + Wonder Administration

Mmmmm.. HD!!! Special thanks to rewak. ;)

Kentaro Tracks

Previews from Kentaro Takizawa's new album are up on Youtube.

I got it wrong about SAWA's input. It seems that on the track Another Landscape, she's mostly just speaking (in English). She doesn't really sing, but there's some vocalizing stuff going on in the background, sounds nice enough.

The other track she was featured on wasn't the intro, but instead the last track Keep Love Together, under The BIG ROOM Family (which consists of Mika Arisaka, Ryohei, SAWA and Mika Sawabe.) From what I heard it sounds embarssingly bad. xP SAWA's part isn't heard however.

EDIT: She is on the intro as well, just speaking "Welcome To The Big Room" ovah and ovah. It's up on iTunes now, as well as a not-so-good remix of Another Landscape. The original Another Landscape, though, is kinda nice. :)

Ah well, everyone seems to love Swimming Dancing! :) I hope she continues with this pattern, Go SAWA!

Swimming Dancing PV

SAWA - Swimming Dancing PV
by rewak1




P.S. Happy belated Birthday SAWA!

There Will Be a PV

I know Swimming Dancing isn't even out yet ...

..but I'm ready for some new stuff. :P~

Maybe 'cause it's just the two tracks, but I dunno, I kinda hope she keeps at it.

Anyway, she's been working on the PV for Swimming Dancing, apparently it's up in the mountains.. seems like in a field? Here's a pic from the set:















The director is the same from Manycolors, Shiina Ringo's last PV (which was brilliant), and I ~think~ Namie Amuro's latest Vidal Sassoon CM's. SAWA says it has kind of a foreign feel to it.. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

New episode of Sa-world Radio tomorrow..

Support Asobi Seksu!

Asobi's goin' to the UK!



















However, they're low on funds, and aren't really getting paid during their shows there, so if you're a fan (or if you're not, check them out!) help them out!

On The Road Again: Asobi Seksu Goes On Tour

There's a cute li'l video from Yuki + James explaining the project, and also rewards! They also mention doing an acoustic tour in the US, which I'm super psyched fer.. I've seen them twice this year and I'd love to see them a third time.

Maybe they'll finally play Breathe Into Glass! I love that song.

Anyway.. spread the word! ..and if you can, back the project.. I'm sure they'd appreciate any any amount!

Bigger Pic

Fresh From Sa-world

Source

SAWA
4th Mini Album
Swimming Dancing
2009.11.25 release
BONUS TRACK入り初回生産限定盤：ESCL-3346　¥1,680(tax in)
通常盤：ESCL-3347　¥1,575(tax in)
1. Swimming Dancing　　
2. World-Wide Tea Party (Sample)
3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-
4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-
5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-
6. Stars -Jazzin'park 31 good night Remix-

【BONUS TRACKS】　※初回生産限定盤のみ
7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix-
8. Stars -Jazzin'park 31 good morning Remix-

Limited Edition:

Arranged Version

From CDJapan on the limited release of Swimming Dancing:

Fourth mini-album release from SAWA. Produced by TAKU TAKAHASHI (m-flo).
Features alternate jacket. Bonus Track: bonus track "Swimming Dancing
(Arranged Ver.)"

A strings version or something, maybe?

SwimSwimSwim

On today's episode of Sa-world Radio, two things!~:

1.) She played a sample of Swimming Dancing!

2.) She answered one of my questions!! She said my name, haha. :P~

YAY. I'm ready for my favorite song!

Another Landscape, Another New Song

Here we are again!

SAWA's done vocal on a new track for Kentaro Takizawa called Another Landscape. His upcoming album (released the same day as Swimming Dancing) is titled Big Room and features a wide range of vocal artists, including our lovely SAWA!























Kentaro Takizawa and SAWA (who I suspect might be a couple, but that's not our business!!) have collaborated a couple times before: on TIME&SPACE's Space Travel, and on SAWA's upcoming Swimming Dancing mini-album for a remix of World-Wide Tea Party.

Looking forward to current and future collaborations!!

Swimming Dancing

OH MY GOD! She wastes no time!
*ahem* Source, Official Website

SAWA 4th Mini Album
Swimming Dancing
2009.11.25 release
BONUS TRACK入り初回盤：ESCL-3346 ¥1,680(tax in)
通常盤：ESCL-3347　　 ¥1,575(tax in)
M1. Swimming Dancing ...Produced by ☆Taku Takahashi
M2. World-Wide Tea Party ...Produced by ☆Taku Takahashi
他、RYUKYUDISKO、瀧澤賢太郎、Jazzin'ParkらによるRemix４曲を収録。
※初回盤・通常盤はジャケ違い／初回盤にはBONUS TRACK収録

So, 2 new tracks, 4 remixes, and a currently unknown bonus track (let's hope it's a new track and not a remix :P)!

She's apparently already performed Swimming Dancing live at LIQUIDROOM. Exciiiiitement...

LongTimeNoSee

SPLASH★!

Wonder what SAWA's up to? She's had some sporadic live dates (there's an upcoming date for MARQUEE magazine on halloween that sounds soooo goood, I wanna go!) but, still, relatively quiet.

She got to meet immi, which is cool, haha.






























I've finally given immi a shot, and I love her music now. :P Not really feeling WONDER EP, I do like the a-side, but other than the Cosmic Pink remix, the other tracks are blah. All her other stuff is all yessss though. She's got an upcoming EP as well, Alice, that sounds like it's gonna be excellent. It's got a cover of Whitestripes Fell In Love With a Girl (which I love) as well.

ERrr.. so that's all for now. Keep checkin in for the Gundam track that might show it's face on here at a later date!

More Slight Off Topics!

Sooooo...!

This past week I've bought quite a few albums.

First up, is Asobi Seksu's Transparence EP on a seeeexy transparent 10" vinyl!!
Asobi Seksu is a band from here in the states. They're spectacular, and quite unique in sound ranging from dream pop, shoegaze to even some slight Shibuya-kei sound.

I saw them live back in February (and I've got tickets to see them again next month!!!!!!!) and they will melt your face, it's an awesome performance with ear splitting guitars from James, and Yuki wailing on synths, bells, tamborines, even drums, whatever she can get her hands on!

Anyway, another sweet aspect of the band is their packaging! Normally they work with a graphic artist named Sean McCabe, who's brilliant. This time around though, I think they've done it themselves! Transparence is beautifully packaged, and like I said.. the vinyl is clear, which I know is kind of simple in theory, but I still keep finding myself looking at it and twirling it about haphazardly..

The best track from the EP is Urusai Tori, which I think translates to "Noisy Bird". It's a weird song, and I think a first for Asobi in that it has beats. They did an acoustic version earlier in the summer before they even realeased the original.

Moving on.... to something slightly SAWA oriented..

I got Seaside Town!

The SAWA track, Samba De Mar, is quite weird but very pretty. Musically it's kinda spacey and does sound quite nautical... The vocals are kind of different for SAWA as well. It's got this kind of 1960's psychedelic vibe to it that I always appreciate. :P

Samba De Mar definetely isn't the best track though! There's two tracks in particular that I've been playing over and over all day today, both sung by Wada Junko (of The Decorations and BE THE VOICE.) The RIDE ON TIME cover, produced by DORIAN (dunno who he is, but he did a wondeful job!) is just awesome, it flows along so nicely with bouncy kind of synths.

The other I really like, titled 波よせて (The Wave Vaudeville), is a Small Circle of Friends cover produced by Cherryboy Function (who did SAWA's Raspberry Dream cover on Juicy Fruits). It's got this sort of music boxey sounding synth going on in the background, and is sort of a breezy little hip-hop thing.. It sounds quite similiar to the original song, actually, but Junko's vocals are so freakin' smooth, which is kinda what the original lacked, I think.

The cinnabom track, Sweet sea side is pretty cool too. The credits don't include AYA (of Stoned Green Apples), but the opening guitar and riffs throughout the song sound like her work. Sweet sea side is more organic sounding than the rest of the compilation, but still has that kind of chill psychedelic vibe with the rest of the tracks.

The last album I got was Stoned Green Apple's Will You Marry Me EP. I haven't listened to it as much as the other stuff yet, but it sounds pretty cool. It's got two covers, one of Akon's I Wanna Fuck You, and The Zombie's Time of the Season. So.. yeah, can't go wrong!

So there you go! Long rambly post today about me bragging about some CDs I bought basically. :P At least I've got a couple previews up there though, right? I hope whoever reads this blog enjoys the tracks I posted, and have a nice one!

Tell me what you think!

Waiting

So... things are kind of quiet at the moment. SAWA does have some live dates coming up, and I think a new episode of Sa-world Radio is at the end of the week.. but ehhh.

Has anyone come across SPLASH★, or the Gundam track? It seems near impossible to buy the digi download, and the actual RYUKYUDISKO album isn't out until September. I'm thinking about buying the Gundam album.. but it'll be a while before I can!

I am waiting on Seaside Town, it should be here this week or next. Ahh well, the waiting~!

Old Sk0oL SAWA?

Listen!

Sounds quite R'n'B, but still very much what we know and love, right? The piano style sounds very much like the tracks on COLORS, don't you think?

Wonder if we'll hear anything more of Kochi?

Check out the website.

SAWAtelevision

SAWA's made it on TV! :P She gives a little run-down about I Can Fly, and wears a tiny hat!


Thanks to axcelform0105 for uploading this!

Spring Sky

Something to tide those over who are still waiting on albums to arrive .. An Aira bonus track, Spring Sky!



It's a brilliant track, very synthy. It actually reminds me of I Can Fly in certain parts! I wonder if the rest of the album will be this good?

It's Out!

I Can Fly! Go get it!

SAWA's Got Competition

So not only does I Can Fly come out in two days, but two other big artists are releasing something on the same day.

Immi's WONDER EP, and Aira Mitsuki's PLASTIC are being released on 22/7!

I've never listened to Immi, so I can't say much about her. Aira however, I love and I'm getting her newest album along with I Can Fly.

I haven't heard the new previews from PLASTIC, or Plastic Doll yet.. but it already has a lot of tracks I love, BARBiE BARBiE, ROBOT HONEY, knee-high girl, サヨナラ TECHNOPOLiS.. I'm just really excited. I've heard lots of good things from Plastic Doll.. so I'm hoping the rest of the album tracks will be just as good.

Pics of Aira overseeing her album being pressed:

Heyyyyy Heyyy Hey?

Soooooooo...

Slightly off-topic today.

You know the Seaside Town compilation I keep gushing about? There's one track called Sweet sea side that's been arranged by ZECKY of DISCOSSESSION.. Originally the vocal for that track was AYA of Stoned Green Apples.

I did some research on AYA and her band (because I'm a geek) and I was immediately psyched by their music, and for Seaside even more so! Now, however, I just found on cinnabom's blog (who's also very talented too, her band sugar plant, and her solo stuff) that she's on the vocal of the track now.

Some sites still say AYA, some are saying cinnabom. Dunno who it is, either way I'm excited.

I just wish one ore the other isn't excluded.. maybe it's a duo, haha! I'd like to hear electro AYA though..

Anyway, you should check out the Stoned Green Apples if you get a chance.. they've got two EP's, the first titled *deep breath* :

A red strange fruit was crushed with a little plosive sound, then it left me a green one. I bite it once in a while when it rains.

1. Sugar-K

2. Peter Pan

3. Do Ya?

4. Oh So Blue!

5. Broccoli Salad

6. 梅雨時の話

and the second

Will You Marry Me?

1.Girls Don't Marry　

2.CAI　

3.Time of The Season (二人のシーズン）　

4.I Wanna Fuck You (2009 Mix)　

5.Lipstick　

6.Sugar K (Yura Yura Teikoku Remix)　

7.Peter Pan (Luger E-Go Remix Short Edit)

SAWARajo

Today was the first episode of Sa-world Radio! She previewed I Can Fly, and the Japanese version of Sing It Back. Also played was an instrumental Sing It Back, RADIO and I Love You Always Forever playing in the background.

The next one will be in two weeks.

Sing It Back (Japanese Ver.) sample

Shesaido

The cover of the Seaside Town compilation is out.














It has the same style as the artwork for Juicy Fruits! I hope it's just as good.

Lady's lookin' super skinny though.. :P

The full tracklist is up as well. All the same artists as Juicy Fruits except for two.. and it mostly has the same producers too! (No cinnabom or YUPPA this time though :( )

This time SAWA is paired up with trak boys!

Tracklist

01. Samba De Mar（大貫妙子）
　Produce / Arrange : Traks Boys
　Vocal : SAWA
02. Sweet sea side（藤井フミヤ）
　Produce / Arrange : ZECKY(DISCOSSESSION)
　Vocal : AYA(Stoned Green Apples)
03. RIDE ON TIME（山下達郎）
　Produce / Arrange : DORIAN
　Vocal : 和田純子(The Decorations)
04. 青い珊瑚礁（松田聖子）
　Produce / Arrange : BETA PANAMA(MP2)
　Vocal : 和田純子(The Decorations)
05. 渚・モデラート（高中正義）
　Produce / Arrange : ラスベガス(Harley & Quin)
　Vocal : カコイミク
06. 渚（スピッツ）
　Produce / Arrange : peechboy
　Vocal : 和田純子(The Decorations)
07. 波よせて（Small Circle of Friends）
　Produce / Arrange : CHERRYBOY FUNCTION
　Vocal : 和田純子(The Decorations)
08. 忘れられたBig Wave（サザンオールスターズ）
　Produce / Arrange : LUVRAW & BTB/Kashif
　Talk Box : LUVRAW & BTB
09. サザエさん一家（宇野ゆう子）
　Produce / Arrange : 大森琢磨(Harley & Quin)
　Vocal : レモン

SAWA in Marquee

I got a back issue (Vol. 70) of the awesome MARQUEE magazine, which has a huge SAWA feature in it back during the TIME&SPACE era.






















It's a really good issue! I wanted to get it when it originally came out 'cause it featured Tommy heavenly6 on the cover and interviewed her about PAPERMOON. I didn't even know it featured SAWA at the time!

Anyway, I've got scans:

Part1
Part2

Special thanks to Rush51 of JPS for the translation, and to rewak as well.

She's in a newer version of MARQUEE as well, which I ordered with I Can Fly.

Sa-world Radio Update

Sa-world Radio starts up on July 17.

Also, a week until I Can Fly!

Can't Stop The SAWA

I Can Fly, NightDesert, and Sing It Back samples have gone up on SAWA's myspace player! Veddy veddy goo!

I dunno if I'm gonna listen to anything more than samples from I Can Fly. I think should full tracks become available, I'll just avoid them 'til the release.

WEll, except for I Can Fly itself.. We've already heard that in full. :P

SAWA is NON-STOP

RYUKYUDISKO's Official Site

Featured artist on ANOTHER track, this time with RYUKYUDISKO.

8月05日～「SPLASH★ feat. SAWA」

Sa-world Radio

SAWA is going to start hosting her own radio show mid-July!!!

Bahhh I hope I'm able to hear it!

Source.

Busy Bee

Seriously, Sound Around's new single, the yet to be released Gundam track.. a new ALBUM and now yet another compilation track! Lady doesn't rest apparently! A track called Samba De Mar for a compilation called SEASIDE TOWN.

1. Ｓａｍｂａ　Ｄｅ　Ｍａｒ（ＳＡＷＡ）
2. 渚（和田純子（ＢＥ　ＴＨＥ　ＶＯＩＣＥ））
3. 忘れられたＢｉｇ　Ｗａｖｅ（未定）
4. 青い珊瑚礁（和田純子）
5. ＲＩＤＥ　ＯＮ　ＴＩＭＥ（和田純子）
6. 波よせて（Ｓｍａｌｌ　Ｃｉｒｃｌｅ　Ｏｆ　Ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ）（和田純子）
7. ＳＷＥＥＴ　ＳＥＡ　ＳＩＤＥ（未定）
8. 渚・モデラート（未定）
9. サザエさん一家（未定）

I'm pretty excited about this, it's pathetic. :P Along with SAWA, a number of tracks are done by Wada Junko (of BE THE VOICE) who (along with SAWA) did tracks on a compilation called Juicy Fruits which is excelleeeent.

If they call back some more of the artists from Juicy Fruits with this, I'd go nuts. :P

New World

SAWA's PV for I Can Fly is up on youtube, thanks to the ultralovely rewak!

SAWA - I Can Fly PV
Uploaded by rewak1. - See the latest featured music videos.

I Can See

SAWA's PV for I Can Fly seems to have been shown a couple times already, but I haven't seen it yet!

However, there is a clip playing on SAWA's official site.

Golf, a giraffe caddy, confetti shapes and mirrorball knickers!! :P

Every time with youuu...

Sound Around's newest single was released on iTunes on Monday. :)

Every With You (Feat. SAWA) Preview

It sounds quite pretty! SAWA used quite a different vocal technique than usual.

Welcome SAWA Fans!

This is a blog dedicated to Japanese Electro (Pop, Shibuya-kei, Disco, R+B, Samba...etc....) artist SAWA! I've been planning this blog for a while now, but let's face it, I'm a bit Greeeeen at this type thing. Just bear with me and I'll have more posts to follow soon!

SAWA
Myspace
Official Site

Releases:

COLORS [Mini-album] : Released 18 June 2008






















1. Manycolors
2. Blue
3. Yellow
4. PINK
5. Green
*iTunes Bonus Track* Manycolors (Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix)



TIME&SPACE [Mini-album] : Released 10 Dec. 2008






















1. Stars
2. Discovery
3. メトロポリタン美術館
4. Are You Ready For Love?
5. Space Travel
*iTunes Bonus Track* Are You Ready For Love? -Full ver.-



I Can Fly [Mini-album] : Released 22 July 2009










































1. I Can Fly
2. Sing It Back
3. NightDesert
4. I Love You Always Forever
5. My Sunny Days
*Limited Edition Bonus Tracks*
Sing It Back -Extended Club Mix- Japanese Ver.
Sing It Back -Extended Club Mix- English Ver.
Sing It Back -Extended Club Mix Instrumental-


Swimming Dancing [Mini-album] : Released 2009, November 25










































1. Swimming Dancing
2. World-Wide Tea Party
3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-
4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-
5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-
6. Stars -Jazzin'park 31 good night Remix-
7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix- (Bonus Track)
8. Stars -Jazzin'park 31 good morning Remix- (Bonus Track)


あいにいくよ [Mini-album]: Released 2010, April 7










































1. あいにいくよ
2. JetCoaster
3. サイダー
4. SuperLooper
5. Samba de Mar -NAKATSUKATAKESHI Remix- (Bonus Track)


Welcome To Sa-World [FULL ALBUM]: Released 2010, July 7










































1. Opening Ceremony ～Sa-Worldへようこそ～
2. MerryGoRound
3. Stars
4. NightBus
5. Chocolate Zone ～野生のSAWA～
6. ManyColors
7. I'm a president
8. Throw him away!
9. Danger Zone ～逃げろ！危うしSa-World！～
10. Swimming Dancing
11. Planet-T
12. Friday Night
13. Eat It All ～Live in Sa-World～
14. I Can Fly
15. あいにいくよ
16. Dream about...
17. Thank you for visiting ～My name is...～


Other Releases:

WIRED CAFE Music Recommendation: Precious
8. Lovefool
Juicy Fruits Compilation
2. Raspberry Dream
Seaside Town Compilation
2. Samba de Mar


Featured Artist On:

Yukihiro Fukutomi's Discovery (sa-world ver.)
Suneohair's 歪んだ二人
Gekkan Probowler's Summer Of Love
FreeTEMPO's RADIO
Sound Around's Every With You
Yukihiro Fukutomi's いまはおやすみ
RYUKYUDISKO's SPLASH★
Kentaro Takizawa's Welcome To The Big Room, Another Landscape, and Keep Love Together
Anan Ryoko's Dreaming -English Version- and Dreaming -Japanese Version-

Other:
ToMeCard CM
坂道 [Demo] (Before COLORS)