Today we’re excited to premiere the brand new album from Melbourne party jazz collective The Lagerphones, who have gained themselves quite a following in Japan. Off the back of this, and ahead of their fourth tour of the country in as many years (with 15 mostly free shows across 15 days), the group are set to release a new Japan-inspired record ATARA-CD (あたらシーディー).
It’s appropriately the six piece’s fourth record, and features seven new original Lagerphones songs, as well as the classic traditional Jazz number “Royal Garden Blues”. They say the album – which will be released with a free launch party in their hometown on 26th August – is a love dedication to the many great memories and friends the band has made in their second home city of Tokyo.
Be the first to listen to the full album below, and then read on for a full track-by-track of the release, the details of their Melbourne album launch on 26th August, and their Japanese tour dates!
1. 2 Dollars at the Pokies
Track number 1, ‘Two Dollars at the Pokies’. Take a journey into the gaming room and experience the flashing lights, joyful melodies and free tea and coffee. Remember not to lose too much!
2. Yopparai
Benji’s (Ben Harrison, trumpet) ode to drinking. We’ve gotten ‘yopparai’ (drunk) many times in Nippon, here’s something to help us all remember! Melbourne via Tokyo via New Orleans. Also featuring Benji’s first attempt at writing lyrics in Japanese. How did he go?
3. Your Smiling Eyes
A beautiful ballad, one for the lovers out there! Featuring a beautiful horn introduction and solos by our beloved Australian saxophone player Justin Fermino, and banjo boy Louis King switching over to his vintage Gibson Archtop, purchased on our last Japanese tour.
4. Flippin Caps
In Australia, it’s not uncommon to try and flip the cap of your beer at a friend, in a friendly but somewhat dangerous manner. Be careful you don’t take out someone’s eye!
5. Tins
This song was written by our friend Justin Fermino who has joined the band in Australia while Jon-san (Jon Hunt, Clarinet) is living in America. Justin fits into the Lagerphones like a hand in a glove, and this song is another beer drinking Lagerphones classic. Plenty of spirited lyrics here, my favourite being; ‘When we go to the pub, it’s like falling back in love’.
6. Lager Tango
A spicy number composed by Trombone player James-san (James Macaulay). Possibly evoking the drunken stumble home, melancholy with the thoughts of lost love and heartache.
7. Moshi Moshi (Japanese Song)
Moshi Moshi is most importantly about locating the whereabouts of the waiter, so we can drink a mega highball, and drinking together as friends because tomorrow is tomorrow, and can wait.
8. Royal Garden Blues
A classic New Orleans song, given the best treatment we can muster. Count the amount of instrumental choruses at the end! Building from almost nothing right up to a hysterical finale.
MELBOURNE ALBUM LAUNCH
6pm – 8pm – 26th August 2018
Minanoie, 33 Peel St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
Totally Free! – RSVP for the event on Facebook.
2018 JAPAN “Yo Ji Kai Tour” DATES
All shows are free except where marked with *
TOKYO
SEP14 (FRI) CITAN HOSTEL with DJ CHABE (ラーナーズ), BAKUROCHO TOKYO
SEP16 (SUN) DAVIDE COFFEE STOP, IRIYA TOKYO
SEP17 (MON) NOKUTICA, MIZONOKUCHI KANAGAWA
SEP19 (WED) SENKIYA, KAWAGUCHI SAITAMA
SEP20 (THU) LITTLE NAP COFFEE ROASTERS with special guests, YOYOGI-UEHARA TOKYO *
KANSAI DEBUT!
SEP21 (FRI) KINSE RYOKAN INN, TAMBAGUCHI KYOTO
SEP22 (SAT) LEN HOSTEL, KAWARAMACHI KYOTO
SEP23 (SUN) TRUCK FURNITURE, SHIMIZU OSAKA
SEP24 (MON) CHIDORI BUNKA, KITA-KAGAYA OSAKA
SEP25 (TUE) UrBANGUILD with ザッハトルテ and 松井省悟 (空中ループ), SANJO KYOTO *
BACK IN TOKYO
SEP27 (THU) SHAICHIRO AIBA’S BOOK LAUNCH at LIFE SON, SANGUBASHI TOKYO
SEP28 (FRI) COFFEE LAWN, YOTSUYA TOKYO
SEP29 (SAT) TOKYO COFFEE FESTIVAL
SEP30 (SUN) TOKYO COFFEE FESTIVAL
SEP30 (SUN) NUI HOSTEL, KURAMAE TOKYO
For more details about The Lagerphones, head to their Facebook Page.
