Some random notes:

A few new releases of note (track listings from HMV's website, and romaji
translations from animelab):

JAZZTRONIK "Grand Blue" June 27, 2007 release
With this full-length album we've been treated to three Jazztronik and
one Ryota Nozaki (solo piano) releases in the first half of 2007. Stellar
participants include classy veteran j-pop star Miki Imai, Verbal from
m-flo, frequently-heard vocalist Mika Arisaka (Reggae Disco Rockers,
etc.), something Incognito-ish going on with track 15, something
Soil & Pimp-ish going on with track 2, Monday Michiru back again
(if I remember correctly she wrote the lyrics this time, which I prefer
especially after reading the "say whaaat?" lyrics of that other recent
Jazztronik-Monday collabo, which she didn't write), and a few other
guests I'm less familiar with. Track listing:
1 Voyage (Main Mix) Feat. Sonomi Tameoka
2 Heat Feat.Sacho (Soil & " Pimp " Sessions)
3 Sanctuary Feat. Mika Arisaka
4 Mista Swing (Album Mix) Feat. Monday Michiru
5 Jazztronik Had A Party Feat. Robert Gallagher
6 Rising In My Heart Feat. Yurai
7 Amaoto Feat. Taeko Onuki
8 Under The Moonlight Feat. Miki Imai
9 Interlude
10 Bra. Step
11 Soul Hood Feat. Masayoshi Yamazaki
12 Lifesyncopation (Interlude)
13 Wave Rave Feat. Verbal (M-Flo)
14 Love Tribe
15 Beauty - Flow (Incognito Session) Feat. Lorraine Cato
16 Sunshine

BIRD "Batucada" CD-single July 4, 2007 release
Bird usually writes her own material, but she's taking aim at a classic
Marcos Valle Brazilian tune on this upcoming single. Hopefully a fresh
direction for the singer who in 1999 released a Mondo Grosso-produced
debut album that still stuns me regarding how incredible it was.

LISA ONO "Soul & Bossa" July 11, 2007 release
Another year, another concept album by this beautiful voice. I haven't
found a track listing yet, but Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is
supposed to be one of the tunes.

CRYSTAL KAY "All Yours" June 20, 2007 release
Looks like CK is focusing on love songs this time out. She seems to
get better with each successive album, so hopefully that trend will continue.

DOUBLE "Summertime" July 4, 2007 release
I've been keeping up with Double's career for most of the decade, and
this time she's getting help from Verbal (m-flo), who seems to be
everywhere and yet hasn't worn out his welcome. Not the first time
these two have collaborated, with excellent results in the past, and
hopefully this time, too.

MONDAY MICHIRU "My Ever Changing Moods" July 4, 2007 release
Mostly live-in-the-studio, this is Monday's first full-length album of
tunes that she didn't write. Nice varied set of covers, channeling artists
as varied as the Police, Patrice Rushen, SOS Band, & Blondie. Mostly far
from predictable choices, but this looks like it's going to be another
great one. Issued in Japan, not on the domestic Artists Share label.
1 Walking In Your Footsteps
2 True Colors
3 Call Me
4 Vera Cruz
5 Journey To The Light
6 Remind Me
7 I`m Gonna Love You
8 Just Be Good To Me
9 Aldeia De Ogum
10 Mi Vida
11 My Ever Changing Moods

UA "Golden Green" June 20, 2007 release
Another of my all-time favorite progressive Japanese artists has been
nearly as prolific as Monday and Jazztronik lately. This is a new full-
length set that closely follows the recent release of a lead-CD5. I
expect some of these will probably be sung in English, a language
UA has improved greatly with since a decade ago.
1 ougon no midori
2 Melody La La La
3 Paradise Alley/Ginga Cafe
4 toyuri
5 norennoren / haiiro shita saru no yume
6 Love Scene
7 San Andreas Fault
8 Elm
9 Panacea
10 Moor

REGGAE DISCO ROCKERS "Melodies" June 6, 2007 release
First new album in several years by this pleasant -sounding soulful
reggae group. The before-mentioned Mika Arisaka is still the lead
vocalist.
track samples: http://www.rdr.jp/information/index.html

COLDFEET "Feeling Good" possible July 11, 2007 release
I pre-ordered this one along with some of the other items listed
here and it got bounced from my order, yet HMV (not the store I
ordered it from) still has it on for July 11th. Wonder where they're
headed musically this time (last time it was retro-disco, before that
jazz, before that ...)

STUDIO APARTMENT "For Her For Him For You" June 27, 2007 release
I took note of this jazzy/house group several years ago when Monday
Michiru guested on one of their albums. Presumably they're back
with more of the same groove.
1 Found Him feat. Monique Bingham
2 Round The World
3 Something Between Us feat. Deborah Bond
4 Beautiful Sunrise feat. AK
5 Signpost
6 Wonderful Tonight feat. Kimara Lovelace
7 The Rising Sun feat. Blaze
8 Siarre
9 Dimensions
10 Hope
11 Spirit Of Elephant
12 I'm In Love feat. Ron Carroll
13 Fellow
14 Beautiful Sunrise -Sunshine Soul Mix- feat. AK

MONDO GROSSO/SUGAR SOUL/M.I.A./KOOP...
Nothing going on with MG. I wonder if Shin Osawa retired this brand
name, since it's been four years since the last MG release, and prior to
that he was pretty reliable for about an album a year. Also in limbo still
is Sugar Soul, who has been m.i.a for about six years. As for the
artist M.I.A. ("Arular"), her long-awaited second album "Kala" is now
scheduled for release in Japan on August 8, 2007 (presumably the
rest of the world will get it on or about the same date). I found it odd
that Koop's most recent album KOOP ISLANDS (with Yukimi Nagano
back vocalizing on several cuts) never got issued in the USA. I was
hoping for a CD/DVD combo release with the cool video to "Come To Me,"
which can be viewed at their website:
http://www.dieselmusic.se/koop/

ZARD
Although I wasn't a big fan -- I did check out her recent hits
collection last year and liked her voice -- I was still down in the dumps
when I heard that lead singer Izumi Sakai died on May 27th,
2007 after a fall while taking a walk at a hospital where she was
undergoing cancer treatments. Apparently she slipped on a wet stairway.
Utada Hikaru was one of many stars who responded in tribute after hearing
of her death. From what I've read, her health was improving and she was
planning to record and tour later this year.
There's lots of Zard videos on youtube, here's a random pick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ-m1Jbb1pc
and some info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumi_Sakai

Best,
John

NP: Betty Davis "THEY SAY I'M DIFFERENT"