A special guest at a Ryuichi Sakamoto concert summons a host of international possibilities -- David Sylvian or Bowie, perhaps? Instead, the audience at Sakamoto's recent Christmas concert got designer Yohji Yamamoto clutching an acoustic guitar. Yamamoto's foray into music (he has recorded with rootsy avant-gardist Kyon and has recently been gigging at the Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji) is just one of many developments in the gradual convergence of music and fashion.

French fashion company A.P.C. is generally credited as a first to pair music and catwalk fashions. They chose to complement their simple, stylish designs with CD releases of obscure Brazilian bossa nova. Now shops as diverse as the Banana Republic and furniture maker Franc Franc also sell CD compilations intended to represent their sense of style.

Of course, street fashion has always intermingled with music. Tommy Hilfiger's brand seems to morph in sync with the latest rap innovations. Japanese street designer Nobu, the brains behind hipster label Hysteric Glamour, has DJ equipment in his studio to keep his ideas fresh.

A Bathing Ape, the hip street label produced by Nigo, has taken things one step further. The fashion label will also become a record label this spring. Nigo has already put out selections on London's trendy Mo Waxx label and the brand recently finished building a studio in their Harajuku atelier, with Japanese hip-hop pioneer Takagi Kan acting as adviser.

Occasionally a fashion house will patronize one artist. British group Repubblica is practically the house band at Versace. In Tokyo, Little Creatures member Takuji Aoyagi, performing under the name Kama Aina, has released a compilation of his music for Tsumori Chisato's recent collections. Chisato, who may be blamed or credited with first introducing monster platform shoes to Tokyo, has long sponsored up-and-coming designers and musicians.

On "Pearl Diver," Aoyagi showcases quite a different aesthetic than the clean, catchy pop of Little Creatures. Instead, he shapes spacious musical landscapes that seem more informed by musique concrete and trip hop than Elvis Costello.

Also drawn to a palette of abstract electronic sounds is the group Skist, currently recording for design house T. Kunimoto.

Comprising noted musical experimentalist Samm Bennet (a former participant of New York's improvised music scene) and sound producer Haruna Ito, their first release, "Ready Question," runs Goldie's more abstract drum 'n' bass moments through a sieve of mutilated 45s, attenuated screeches and long, languorous sound pastiches, occasional female vocals and off-kilter beats appearing at the least expected moments.

Skist has already provided the soundtrack for several recent Tokyo and Sapporo fashion events, and "Ready Question" is the first in a series of Skist CDs to be sold exclusively at the apparel maker's boutiques throughout Japan.

The possibilities seem endless. Is heavy metal the proper musical complement for leather trousers or maybe rootsy blues? Does cool jazz go with the newest spring trends, or perhaps the latest gangsta rap is more appropriate? Now the mavens of the fashion world not only have the answers to your sartorial needs but your sonic ones as well.

Skist will play at Vitamin's Kitchen at Shibuya Parco Part 3 the second Friday of each month beginning in March. For more information, contact S-inc at (03) 3746-2287.

Keigo Oyamada a.k.a. Cornelius has long been king of cut-and-paste musical inspiration but a supporter of sweet, sticky pop. His latest compilation, "Llama Ranch," is a walk through the sunnyside of his raw material.

With the exception of a cut from New York's moody Cat Power, the compilation walks the line between electro-pop (as in Seattle's Land of Loops) and tight, hummable songwriting. For an update on a scene often obscured by the rawer contributions of garage rock and hip-hop, you couldn't do better.

The compilation (and the name) is a not-so-subtle tribute to the High Llamas, whose album "Hawaii" signaled the full resurrection of Brian Wilson to the pantheon of hipsters.

Like Wilson, Llamas frontman Sean O'Hagen creates more than just lush pop; O'Hagen's thirst for quirky, finessed production makes the Llamas consistent favorites among the rock cognoscenti as well as pop-obsessed teeny boppers. Their latest album, "Snowbug," is no exception. Whether O'Hagen can transform his smooth productions into a compelling live show is another question.

The High Llamas 7 p.m., March 1-2 at Club Quattro in Shibuya. 5,500 yen with one drink. For more information, call Creativeman Productions at (03) 5466-0777.

Weekend picks: Freeform Freakout at Milk tonight with trance psychedelic rockers Sugarplant, Baboo's gnarly garage punk, and Gal's bad girls playing bad-ass rock. On Saturday, catch Skyfisher, Gorgerous and a host of other bands influenced by the buzz and tweet of new wave at Shimokitazawa's Club Que. On Sunday mellow out with Noise on Trash's heady blend of cool beats and beatnik lyrics at Club Quattro.