Caps Lock (album)

CAPS LOCK
Studio album by Capsule
Released October 23, 2013 (Japan)
Recorded 2013
Genre
Length 35:42
Label
Producer Yasutaka Nakata
Capsule chronology

Rewind Best
(2013)		 CAPS LOCK
(2013)		 WAVE RUNNER
(2015)
Singles from Caps Lock
  1. "Control"
    Released: October 16, 2013 (digital download)

Caps Lock (stylized as CAPS LOCK) is the fourteenth studio album by the Japanese electronica duo Capsule, released on October 23, 2013, by Warner Music Japan's sublabel Unborde as their first album release under the label. It was released digitally by iTunes on October 16, 2013. Caps Lock debuted at number seven and thirteen of the Oricon Daily and Weekly Albums Chart, respectively, with 11,805 copies sold in its first week of release.[1]

Background, production and promotion

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Pitchfork Media (6.1/10)[2]

In early 2013, the duo left Yamaha Music Communications, effectively shutting down the Contemode sublabel by releasing the best-of albums Rewind Best 1 & 2 in March as their last release from the label. On July 31, 2013, AsobiSystem (the duo's new management agency) and Warner Music Japan sublabel Unborde joined forces by releasing a compilation album AsobiTunes, which had new and old songs from different Asobisystem and Unborde artists. Yasutaka Nakata had contributed four tracks to the compilation: a new song entitled "Rainbow", a remix of Rip Slyme's "Nettaiya", an extended mix of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's "PonPonPon" and Meg's "Secret Adventure". On August 3, 2013, the duo announced that they had officially signed with Unborde.[3] A new album was announced, with details disclosed on August 29, 2013, with a promotional photo, album title and release date.[4][5] On September 10, 2013, the covers and tracklist for the album were revealed.[6]

In an interview with Japan Times, the songwriter-producer Yasutaka Nakata said that he wanted to do something new with the group on their transfer from Yamaha to Warner. He also said that the extreme editing that he had done on Toshiko Koshijima's vocals indicated that he did not want to perform the songs live, as he always just wanted to make music rather than presenting what he had finished by performance in front of people. None of the songs in the album were used as tie-ups for products and services, giving the album almost zero promotion.[7] Meanwhile, Koshijima did not participate in any interviews about the album.

The album was released digitally worldwide on October 16, 2013, a week before its Japanese release date, by iTunes and managed to reach number onet in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan and number two in both France and the United States.

Track listing

All songs written and produced by Yasutaka Nakata. All tracks with * have vocals from Toshiko Koshijima.

Regular edition

CD
No. Title Length
1. "Home"   2:17
2. "Control" (*) 4:36
3. "Delete"   6:31
4. "12345678" (*) 6:08
5. "Shift" (*) 3:50
6. "ESC"   2:18
7. "Space" (*) 4:42
8. "Return"   5:16

Limited edition bonus disc

No. Title Length
1. "Control" (extended mix) 6:18
2. "Delete" (extended mix) 8:56
3. "ESC" (extended mix) 3:39

iTunes-only bonus track

No. Title Length
1. "12345678" (extended mix) 7:43

Charts and certifications

Japanese charts

Chart Peak
position
Oricon Daily Albums 7
Oricon Weekly Albums 13[8]
Oricon Monthly Albums 32[9]

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon sales 16,279[10]

Release history

Country Date Format(s) Label Edition(s)
Worldwide October 15, 2013 Digital download Warner Music
Japan October 23, 2013 CD, Digital download CD, 2CD
Taiwan November 15, 2013

References

  1. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2013-11-04/more/3/
  2. ↑ St. Michel, Patrick (December 3, 2013). "CAPS LOCK— CAPSULE". Pitchfork Media.
  3. ↑ "Capsule Official Web Site". Capsule-official.com. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Capsule Official Web Site". Capsule-official.com. August 29, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ "CAPSULE 1年振りのニューアルバム「CAPS LOCK」10月23日（水）発売". Asobisystem. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Capsule Official Web Site". Capsule-official.com. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/10/22/music/capsules-yasutaka-nakata-reworks-signature-sound-on-caps-lock/#.Umcu0hDO2Sr
  8. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2013-11-04/more/3/
  9. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2013-10/more/5/
  10. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2013-11-11/more/5/

External links