Tegomass will be releasing their single “Tanabata Matsuri” (Star Festival) on July 8th. The following week, they will be releasing their debut album “Tegomasu no Uta” (Tegomass’ Song) on July 15th. These releases will accompany their first around-Japan summer tour. Both the album and single have limited editions that contain DVDs.

The single “Tanabata Matsuri” sounds significantly different from Tegomass’ previous works. It’s in a significantly lower range and focuses more on Massu’s vocals than Tegoshi’s. There doesn’t seem to be a focus on harmonizing and instead more on singing the melody. The song itself is a cheerful midtempo with an almost country-western feel to the instrumentation at times. The vocals are spot on as usual, and the song is fun and catchy – perfect for a summer festival mood.

If you’re pining after the amazing ballads Tegomass usually releases though, you’re still in luck, because the coupling B-side to the single “Hanamuke” gives just that: a midtempo ballad with gorgeous harmonizing in their trademark smooth vocals paired with an amazing orchestral and synth instrumentation.

The PV is also refreshing as it puts Tegomass in the middle of what looks to the a temple, playing with kids for what we can assume is Tanabata while still looking very Johnny’s-stylish. The limited edition DVD has the full version of the PV as well as the making-of clip.

As for their debut album, the tracklist is

1. ミソスープ (Miso Soup)
2. キッス～帰り道のラブソング～ (Kiss~ Kaerimichi no Love Song; Kiss~ Going Home Love Song)
3. アイアイ傘 (Ai Ai Gasa)
4. 片思いの小さな恋 (Katamoi no Chisana Koi; Little Love from One Side)
5. たったひとつだけ (Tatta Hitotsu Dake; Just the ONly One)
6. 夏への扉 (Natsu e no Tobira; Summer’s Door)
7. What’s going on?
8. くしゃみ (Kushami; Sneeze)
9. HIGHWAY
10. POWER OF EARTH
11. サヨナラ僕の街 (Sayonara Boku no Machi; Farewell My Town)
12. 四季彩 (Shikisai; Color of Four Seasons)
13. 雨のち晴れ(Ame Nochi Kare; Rain Then Clear) *
14. チキンボーヤ (Chicken Boy) *
15. MISO SOUP *
* Regular Edition only

The limited edition to the album has a DVD with live footage of (according to Johnnys-net) a Ai Ai Gasa Live, with Miso Soup, Moshimo Boku ga Pochi Dattara, Bokura no Uta, Ai Ai Gasa, and Kiss ~Kaerimichi no Love Song~, as well as a documentary of Tegomass in Sweden.

If you’re a fan of Tegomass, let’s be serious: when have they disappointed with their releases? No matter what you think songs like “Chicken Boy” are going to sound like or if you’re unsure if “Tanabata Matsuri” is really your type of song, you can be sure that they’re going to deliver fun and deliciously well sung pop songs.

And as always, support the boys! “Tanabata Matsuri” and “Tegomasu no Uta” will both be showing up at my doorstep come July, let it come to yours too!

Tanabata Matsuri:
CDJapan: Limited // Regular
Yesasia: Limited // Regular
HMV: Limited // Regular

Tegomasu no Uta:
CDJapan: Limited // Regular
Yesasia: Limited // Regular
HMV: Limited // Regular

Johnny’s subgroup Tegomass, of Tegoshi Yuya and Masuda Takahisa from NEWS, will be releasing their third single “AiAiGasa” on June 18. The title song is being used as the ending song for the Neo Angelique Abyss anime.

Tegomass have lovely, pleasant voices – they are currently the two best singers in NEWS and I personally consider Tegoshi one of the best singers in all of Johnny’s. Together, their voices match and harmonize pleasantly – some of their best songs are their ballads.

“AiAiGasa” is one of these amazing ballads. The song, literally translated as “Love Umbrella”, is about finding love on a rainy day, as well as incorporating the Japanese idea of the love umbrella bringing couples together (like the picture on the regular edition single cover). The song, like many of their other songs, has synth backings, but somehow avoids sounding like a 90’s throwback because the focus is on the vocals here. It’s soft, easygoing, and another great release by Tegomass.

In the video, Tegoshi and Massu are rain angels who sit upon ladders wearing frills, using showerheads to rain upon little kindergarteners to get them to love each other. Then they alternate singing among glittery crystal bead curtains and playfully hosing each other down. Sounds cheesy? It is. But it is definitely higher budget than their previous video, so I think they actually pull it off rather cutely.

And on a personal level, Tego is looking so so good even with that horrid hair color, I can almost forgive him for going blond. I – here, take pretty looking Tego shots. (Those cameramen sure know what I want.)

The limited edition contains a DVD, while the regular edition has a bonus track “Boku no Cinderella.”