Pitchfork

Photo by Hideki Otsuka

Japanese pop tinkerer Shugo Tokumaru's lovely, labyrinthine Exit was released in his homeland last fall on p-vine records, but a U.S. release has eluded the disc in the months since then. Not for long: Almost Gold will release Exit in the States September 2. The label's a good fit, seeing as they put out Peter Bjorn and John, whose "Young Folks" Tokumaru has covered.

Tokumaru's got a summer U.S. tour in the works. But not before taking care of a couple gigs this week with the likes of Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof, and the Tenniscoats.

Exit:

01 Parachute
02 Green Rain
03 Clocca
04 Future Umbrella
05 Button
06 Sanganichi
07 D.P.O.
08 Hidamari
09 La La Radio
10 Wedding

Shugo:

06-16 Nagoya, Japan - Upset *^!
06-17 Tokyo, Japan - O-West *!
07-20 Kanagawa, Japan - Yokohama-Arena %

* with Xiu Xiu
^ with Deerhoof
! with Tenniscoats
% with Ash, Phantom Planet, Stereophonics