Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.4

This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada), it brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. If you couldn't tune in at the times below, you can still listen anytime on Mixcloud.

This time is a selection of songs full of playfulness, with songs that use retro 8-bit video game sounds (chiptune from where it came from!), and then ones that use toy musical instruments!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.4) was aired at http://lafaceb.live on April 22, 2020 from 21:00, repeated at 23:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).

* Japan time: April 23, 2020 from 10:00 (a.m.) and 12:00 (noon).

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

This radio show starts with a selection of 8-bit chiptune style music, to later move on to other fun things! Read on while you listen.

1. YMCK "The Secret of the Show" (2019)
(Japanese title: YMCK 「秘密のショータイム」 "himitsu no Showtime")

YMCK is a trio that makes music using Famicom (NES) sounds since around 2003, and turning that into catchy pop songs with often a jazzy feel. This time our opening song is one from their latest and 8th album "Family Circus" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) out at the end of last year. Their albums often having a specific theme, this time they have a whole circus going on. YMCK's visuals are also amazing, watch the "Wild Wild Caravan" video below.

2. The Aprils "Twinkle of the Stars, Little Stars, Shining Stars" (2004)

The Aprils is a future-pop band that uses a lot of synthesizer sounds but also drums and guitar. They have also been qualified as neo-Shibuya-kei. This song is an early one from their first full-length album "Pan·da" ( (Japan)). While the song starts off with 8-bit sounds, for the chorus it moves on to The Aprils' signature sound. Check out their brand new single "Aprilster" out just earlier this month. Also watch the video for song "New Electric" below.

3. Virtualboys "Love Catch" (2017)
(Japanese title: バーチャル・ボーイズ「ラヴ・キャッチ」)

Virtualboys is a duo formed of The Aprils' Imai Kentarō (also a member of CTO LAB.) with Genius' Asahi Taichi, who use just Famicom and retro game sounds. The song "Love Catch" is from their first EP "Virtualboys I+II" that was sold on CD-R only. Virtuaboys have just released a collaboration EP with Fukuoka-based bitpop artist Breezesquad, it's titled "Chico Ficticio" (2020) and can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, etc. Also check out the video of their theme song below.

4. The Lady Spade "Sweetholic" (2014)
(Japanese title: その名はスペィド「Sweetholic」)

The Lady Spade is a group that's known for its impressive stage of fun dancing and also great singing by front girl ATG, not to forget DJ and MC SLF!! who is always present tinkering with something in the dark. Their music goes through a variety of styles, sometimes with dark themes, and then sometimes just plain fun about eating endless desserts. "Sweetholic" is from album "Reverse Shaped Black Heart" (, Spotify), the first that featured current singer ATG.

Since then they have also released "Phenomenon" (2017). Also check out their YouTube channel where can be seen recent new track "Bubblepop Bubblicious" and also a home-made collage video of "New Disco Inferno". There's a live performance of "Sweetholic" that you can watch below.

5. Omodaka "Kusatsu Bushi" (2014)

Omodaka is the solo unit of Soichi Terada, who is also famous for touring the world as a house DJ. However with Omodaka he often uses various chiptune and game sounds, and his music features vocals by Akiko Kanazawa who sings in a traditional Japanese minyō style, making for a unique and mesmerizing result.

The song "Kusatsu Bushi" was featured on album "Bridge Song" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), since which he has also released another titled "Gujoh Bushi" (2019). Check out the video for "Hietsuki Bushi" below.

6. YMCK "Unity" (2015)

Another by YMCK! This one is from album "Family Dancing" (, Spotify), which consisted of all danceable music, among which stands out this slower track towards the end.

To those who want to create music with retro game sounds, YMCK's Yokemura actually develops and distributes software-synthesizer plugin Magical 8bit Plug 2 (of which the latest version was just released in February).

On to the 2nd part of the show, we'll check out some more playful music, some of which uses toy musical instruments, or that simply will put us into a fun mood!

7. Chiroline ver.3 "Napolitan No Uta" (2015)
(Japanese title: 新・チロリン Shin-Chiroline 「ナポリタンのうた」)

Taking its roots from a band called Chiroline that debuted in 1989, produced by Moonriders' Okada Tohru, "Shin-Chiroline" (aka Chiroline ver.2 and later ver.3) appeared in 2012 as a new incarnation of that project, releasing one album and two mini-albums. "Napolitan No Uta" appeared on the latest of these, "Last Pajama Party" (). That mini-album included songs written by all members of CTO LAB., band of Okada Tohru (check out their latest album "Beyond The Box" (2018)). Though "Napolitan no uta" was written by Marika who sings the song. Watch the video for "Napolitan No Uta" below.

8. HNC "Moon Song" (2009)

HNC, the solo unit of Yuppa (Instagram, Twitter), sounds kind of like a breakbeats-powered toy box. Appearing on her latest full-length album "CULT" ( (World), (Japan)), "Moon Song" is an upbeat song with a calypso beat, with some rocking toy piano. In the recent years, Yuppa has been keeping busy producing the music of singer MANON, where a good dose of HNC style can be felt.

9. Lullatone "the very first palm tree of spring break" (2015)

Lullatone is a band based in Nagoya, and formed of Shawn and Yoshimi. Their music is characteristically very quiet and gentle, and also full of fun creativity. This instrumental with a delightful melody is from mini-album "The Sounds of Spring" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), which is part of a series of the four seasons.

Lullatone's latest release is a double-album of piano self-covers, titled "Music for Museum Gift Shops".

10. Akane Hosaka "kachikachi Typewriter" (2012)
(Japanese title: ホサカアカネ　「カチカチタイプライター」)

Akane Hosaka (SoundCloud) is an electronic artist who has for many years used Moog, Stylophone and various other toy instruments and even toys for making her music. Not only that, but her songs often take inspiration from a specific toy or object, such as probably a funny typewriter that you can try to imagine while listening to this one from her 4th album "pikkonoco" which was released on self-made CD-R. It is still available at Tokyo Recohan (check out the sampler clip below too).

Her latest release is an EP titled "Loop Music" (available for free download) for which she has been using a minimal set of a Korg MS-20 Mini and loop pedal. Her SoundCloud is also full of more of those!

11. Kiiiiiii "Dancevador Biber-hill Pop" (2007)

Kiiiiiii is a fun duo of two girls, U.T and Lakin, who did exciting shows with a stage full of various toys and colorful decorations. This track is from their album "AL & BUM" which is full of fun tunes. This album was co-produced by DJ Codomo. Watch them perform song "4 little joeys" below.

12. Love And Hates "Party Trash" (2011)

Also formed of two girls, Yuppa (HNC) and Moe (Milla and The Geeks), Love And Hates mixes indie pop, lo-fi and some hip-hop attitude. "Party Trash" can be found on their toybox of an album titled "L.A.H." (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which featured collaborations with Kaji Hideki (in a cover of "Mahna Mahna"!), human beatbox AFRA (watch the video below) and also talkbox unit Luvraw & BTB.

13. Mint-Lee noka "haenuki yorinuki ongakutai" (2019)
(Japanese title: ミントリノカ　「はえぬきよりぬき音楽隊」)

Mint-Lee noka is a trio formed of Mayutan (ammakasie noka), Okamura Midori (aka Mint-Lee) and toy percussionist Sayu Candy. So far they have released one irresistible 7" picture disc, in which it's the plush toys who are in the spotlight and sing! Watch a teaser clip below.

14. Akane Hosaka "Super Stylus" (2008)
(Japanese title: ホサカアカネ　「Super Stylus」)

Here's another by Akane Hosaka, from her album "Niko Niko Denki Muzic" () that was released on French label Sonore.

15. Lullatone "Pajama Party Pop" (2006)

Here comes one more by Lullatone, this time a vocal song from one of their early albums: "Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous" (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

Also check out their YouTube channel which has plenty of fun ideas for making music sometimes in ways beyond imagination. Watch the video for "Let's Split a Banana Split" below.

16. Les Childish Tones avec Beni Usakura "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (2020)
(Japanese title: Childish Tones feat. 宇佐蔵べに「思い出のロックンロール」 "omoide no Rock'n'Roll")

To close the show, here's a cover of Jane Birkin's "Ex fan des sixties" performed by Childish Tones (Twitter), a rock'n'roll band that uses only toy instruments! This is their latest single which featured singer Beni Usakura (also a DJ and active as an idol in groups Apokalippps and Frun Frin Friends). The song is available on 7", and also as part of label compilation "Silent Running". There's a music video of this song below, and there's also much more to watch on YouTube.

Thanks for tuning in!

Find previous radio shows here.

Below are videos of songs and artists featured in this radio show.

First, some of the songs that you heard in the show above.

The Lady Spade "Sweetholic" (Live)