Innovator and electronic musician extraordinaire DE DE MOUSE trades in his table-top synths for a key(board)blade.

DE DE MOUSE’s new album, A journey to freedom comes out simultaneously in 23 countries via iTunes on April 7th. The album’s cover art and DE DE MOUSE’s portrait are illustrated by SQUARE ENIX artist Yoshida Akihiko (吉田明彦), main character designer for Final Fantasy XII, art director for Final Fantasy XIV, and many more timeless hits.

The Final Fantasy connection isn’t surprising since some of DE DE MOUSE’s songs sound straight out of an RPG quest.

In case one full, fresh new album isn’t enough, remixes by PLAID, CEEPHAX, Hudson Mohawke, GOLD PANDA, Dorian, and KALAVNIK will apparently come out the same day. A journey to freedom preorders start March 31st.

DE DE MOUSE doesn’t stop his journey with an international release or remixes by UK artists. He heads to London to perform on April 17th.

DE DE MOUSE’s official site and MySpace page hold more info and awesome music. Track samples here.

I originally posted this on my personal blog, Galaxico’s (shhhhh! this is only between you and me) only to later realize that it’s pure and awesome SparkPlugged-worthy material.

via Natalie.mu

After almost 3 years, long-standing Japanese indie/punk icons bloodthirsty butchers make a triumphant return to both the limelight and major label King Records with the recent release of their new album titled “NO ALBUM 無題”. Coinciding with a re-release of their highly revered album “kocorono完全盤”, the new album deftly demonstrates the group’s continued effort in creating the same heavy, angular punk-rock sound that you have come to expect from bloodthirsty butchers. The stop-motion puppet show featured in the video for “ocean” sums up the album fairly well as it feels like something of a mixture of a nostalgic return to the the fervent past and yet also includes something that has never been associated with bloodthirsty butchers: just a bit of polish. However, this is without a doubt a bloodthirsty butchers album, albeit a little lighter than usual.

You can find more info on this prolific band at their official website and MySpace.

1) Can I drive my car to it?

2) Can I study or do work while listening to it?

Deepsea Drive Machine meets both these criteria, I am happy to say.  With these elegant sounds, my faith in techno is once again restored.

Deepsea Drive Machine are letting you test drive their new album Wayless. Go visit DDM’s MySpace page and give it a listen. The new album may be less bass-heavy than previous songs but quite structured and definitely exciting. By the time you get through the first five tracks that make up the Wayless mini-disc, I’m betting you just might hit the replay button.

As I type this post, the music isn’t distracting, it is allowing me to focus and nod my head at the same time! Even a more upbeat song like “Aquila” gives me initiative and motivation. Excellent stuff.

Wayless is set to come out on April 7th, 2010. You can preorder it from Amazon.jp now. Learn more about the band at their website and Wayless promotion page. Don’t forget to check out their daily adventures on their official blog.

There is something simple, yet still very punk about Quick and their first single “Sacrificed Things”.  I have to say this hits me hard, because this kinda reminds me of my favorite punk rock band of all time Face to Face.

Quick are catchy enough to garner pop play, probably because their sound isn’t “F*You” punk but more “listen to me! I’m here” punk. That and their “whoas!” are quite harmonious, and the song switches tempo about three times to keep things interesting.  I’m really digging this.

You can hear a couple other songs at Quick’s myspace page,. “No Matter” and “Have a Nice Day” are both on their first EP  Have a Nice Day which is out March 17th, 2010. Preorder it at Amazon of Japan. You can read more about Quick at their label’s website 3P3B Ltd.

I think that Ovall really care about letting you know how awesome their new album “Don’t Care Who Knows that” really is…

Their twitter has been blowing up with updates.. the greatest being the release of the video for “Supalover” featuring 20syl and David Le Deunff of Hocus Pocus (see the video above).  This is a smooth R&B jam; an alternative and extremely hip number that oozes funk and incorporates the mightly clap beat.

You can hear samples from the whole CD over at their myspace page. Everything I hear off this album is extremely smooth. Listen to the full song of Take U Somewhere and be prepared to take a lady friend with you or a significant other. This is serious baby-makin’ music right here!

It’s hard to find good love-makin’ albums, but I’m predicting Don’t Care Who Knows that might be one of the BEST of 2010. (I know that Sade just released her album this year too) Anyway, I think this is a record you just gottsta buy at yesasia.com. Ovall drops their new album March 10th.

Tell me what is Punk these days, and then I’ll SHOW you what is fucking punk these days. Razors Edge is classic teenage punk. These headbangers have a band name roster that consists of Kenji Razors, Taka Beef, Missile and Krash.

Razors Edge single “Train Train Train” is a brilliant stab at establishment, a constant metaphorical profane train ride, and possibly a sexual euphemism, if you think about what it means to “ride a train.”

Do I dare repeat their chorus for fear of the twitter nazis? “Ride on Fucking Train Train Train!” I’ll have this song in my head all day. You should get it in your head too.

While you are at it, check out their new album Sonic! Fast! Life! dropping next week on March 10th 2010. This new CD from Pizza of Death records has 20 tracks! Preorder it from yesasia.com and amazon.jp.

Let’s Punk out and bang our heads with Razors Edge at their official website and myspace page.

It’s been a long time since Spangle call Lilli line has decided to release a single. The only other SCLL single “echo” was put out almost 7 years ago. So, when this incredible band decides to release another one, it’s important to take notice. As one might expect from the Japanese masters of low-key trip-hop, the stripped-down “dreamer” takes you to a wondrous place with the absolutely siren-like vocals of Kana Otsubo. The band really shows its full understanding of being able to pull listeners in with the minimal emphasis on overbearing instrumentation.

This year is apparently the year of SCLL as well with the upcoming releases of mini-albums “VIEW” and “forest at the head of a river” along with this single. I, for one, am in eager anticipation for everything they are willing to give us. You can find more material from SCLL on their MySpace and their official website.

Watch the youtube video above. If that makes any sense to you, you must be on drugs. Bergamot Velmail Sole have a solemn sound in their music, like they took the depressants instead of the uppers. But that is ok. BVS have a really unique sound. Kinda like the Doors meets Mazzy Star.

Bergamot Velmail Sole  sound less than happy in their debut single “Post Psychedelic Cinema”, but I gotta say this haunting song gets into your soul. Imagine slowing down “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve and adding more organs a’la the Doors, and you kinda understand where these guys are coming from. In fact the more I listen to the tracks on their myspace page, I think I love this band.

The first single Post Psychedelic Cinema will contain 3 tracks and comes out on March 5th through WhirlPool Records. That is rather soonish, so be on the lookout for it. Buy it from yesasia.com or CDJapan. Don’t forget to check out their official website, too.

–about me, Neaux (I’m new to sparkplugged.net, Shay asked me if I wanted to contribute, and of course I said yes. I run Neaux clicked on it where most of the site is about many things I like on the internet, mostly asian music, rock, hip hop, pop, and more. I hope I don’t bore you with my diversions.)

The latest from MONICA URANGLASS from their second EP, (CASE STUDY)CORELESS,BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!, which came out in February.

I love it! Like all their previous work, “CORELESS,BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!” is extremely danceable but at the same time it’s not nearly as face-punchingly intense as its predecessors. It’s fluid and lively in a way that’s fresh for the band.

Hooray for obligatory links to official sites and MySpace pages!

As we get our first grainy view into THE NOVEMBERS’ upcoming album “Misstopia”, the PV for the title track gives a much cleaner and crisper look than we might have been expecting. In comparison to past signature works such as “she lab luck” and “dnim”, “Misstopia” offers a floating world, complete with airy melodic guitar riffs and light vocals filled with reflective emotion. The reoccurring heavily-distorted phrase that begins at the start of the song is the single grounding element that keeps us from going headlong into the wondrous dream that THE NOVEMBERS presents. This is certainly one of the prettier videos I’ve come across so far this year.

You can find more information on THE NOVEMBERS at their official website and their MySpace.