Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.7

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, or to listen once more, you can still listen anytime on Mixcloud.

The theme this time is "summer"! All songs were selected for having to do with summer or having somewhat a summer-y feeling. Let's bring a bit of sunlight in the living room!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.7) was aired at http://lafaceb.live on July 22, 2020 from 22:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: July 23, 2020 from 11:00 (a.m.).

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

1. Michiru Hoshino "natsu nandashi" (2015)
(Japanese title: 星野みちる「夏なんだし」)

The show starts with this song of singer Hoshino Michiru, which was written and produced by Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five, now Pizzicato One). First released as a single (a set of 7" & CD), the song appeared shortly after on album "You Love Me ~you love me more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow~" (CDJapan, YesAsia). The song features a short appearance by storyteller Inagawa Junji, who is known for being mainly active during summer and telling spooky tales.

Michiru's latest album is "Moonlight Confessions" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), released late 2019. By the way Konishi Yasuharu has just released a live album as Pizzicato One, titled "zenya Pizzicato One In Person" (Spotify, ), in which he sings his own compositions (including several Pizzicato Five self-covers).

2. NUBACK "Walk Out To Summer" (2017)

NUBACK is the solo project of Nakamura Dai (BANK, Vacation Three, ex-Arch). This song was released as a single in 2017 (Bandcamp, Spotify, ), but it was also included on a split cassette tape of BANK and NUBACK (which includes a CD-R), which can be ordered via label Too Young Records (see their "For foreign customers" page).

NUBACK released last year a digital EP titled "I'm not in DUB" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ). Check out Too Young Records' Bandcamp for a large variety of like-minded releases, and watch the music video for "Summer in your eyes" below (another great summer song).

3. HALLCA "Twisted Rainbow" (2020)

This song is from singer-songwriter HALLCA's latest digital single, "Twisted Rainbow / Pink Medicine" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Since her first album "Villa" (2019) (Spotify, ), HALLCA has been active releasing new songs, including collaborations with AmamiyaMaako ("Floating Trip") and kiarayui ("Strawberry Moon").

HALLCA performs live on YouTube every Sunday at 21:00 (Japan time). Her latest archived show was a special in two parts celebrating her 50th edition (here and here). Subscribe to her channel to stay tuned every week.

4. Kenzō Saeki feat. polymoog "Sunshine in your eyes" (2018)
(Japanese title: サエキけんぞう feat. polymoog 「太陽は瞼の中に Sunshine in your eyes」 "taiyō wa mabuta no naka ni")

Kenzō Saeki is a prolific artist of Japan's new wave scene since around 1979, having been a member of Halmens and Pearl Brothers, and now being active with his band Jollits. "Sunshine in your eyes" is one of his recent solo songs with a city pop taste, which was produced by polymoog (of Elektel). Check out the Vaporwave version in the music video below.

Saeki's most recent release is an album as Pearl Brothers TWO, as a duo with guitarist Kubota Haruo. It's titled "Delay". As for Jollits, their first album "Enter Jollits" was released in 2017 and it's available on CD and digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Jollits will have a show with The Lady Spade on July 31, which will be streamed live online. Watch their Twitter account for details.

5. Cubismo Grafico "Jamaica Song" (2000)

Here's a cover of "Jamaica Song" by Cubismo Grafico, featuring singer Kushibiki Sayaka. Kaji Hideki also plays bass on this song, which was first released on mini-album "St. Nicholas" (2000), and later appears on "Cubismo Grafico Carribean Ensemble" (2006).

Lately, Chabe (Cubismo Grafico) is mainly active as the leader of band Learners, who have just released a 3rd album titled "Hello Stranger" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music), also available on CD and vinyl.

Learners will perform a show streamed live online on Monday July 27 from 21:00 JST. Tickets can be bought here. (There will be no archives, so the show must be watched in real-time.)

6. MANON "WAVY PINEAPPLE DAYS" (2017)

This one is by singer/model MANON, from her first album "Teenage Diary" (Spotify, ). Check out the smartphone-sized music video for "Wavy Pineapple Days" on YouTube.

MANON has just released a brand new song, "World's End feat. dodo" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which came along with a remix by Hiroshi Fujiwara (Spotify, , YouTube Music)! Check out the song's cool animated music video below!

7. Elektel "Premium do Brasil" (2005)

Elektel is the first unit that comes to mind when thinking of futuristic lounge music. "Premium do Brasil" is a song about traveling that features vocals of Tomoko (from Jellyfish) and Rie Brasileira. It's taken from Elektel's 2nd album "Bit Stream Lounge" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

For Elektel's latest, be sure to check out compilation "Casiotunes!"

8. hitomitoi "Summer Breeze '86" (2012)
(Japanese title: 一十三十一「サマーブリーズ '86」)

Inevitable when talking of city pop of the recent years, here's a song by hitomitoi, from her excellent album "City Dive" (Spotify, (Japan)) released in 2012. This song was sung in duet with guitarist Kashif. "City Dive" was just reissued recently as a 2LP.

hitomitoi's latest album is "Ecstasy", since which she has also taken part in Jintana & Emeralds' latest single "Summer Begins" (Spotify, ), and done collaborations with STUTS and YonYon.

9. Wakita Monari "passing by" (2019)
(Japanese title: 脇田もなり「passing by」)

Then here's a song from singer Wakita Monari's latest album "Right Here" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song "passing by" was written and produced by duo COUNTJOKE, who themselves just released new song "A.D. 2200" last month (with another new one coming in a few days).

"passing by" will be released on 7" on August 8 part of the "City Pop on Vinyl 2020" campaign! It will have for B-side a cover of Original Love's hit song "seppun -Kiss-", of which you can see the music video below (a remote style session with producer Arai Toshiya, of COUNTJOKE). Stay tuned for in-depth details about "City Pop on Vinyl 2020" on this site very soon.

10. Blue Peppers "hachigatsu no kagebōshi" (2017)
(Japanese title: ブルー・ペパーズ「八月の影法師」)

Blue Peppers is a duo of male songwriters who make songs with a city pop feel. "hachigatsu no kagebōshi" (meaning "August silhouette") is the opening song from their first album "Retroactive" (Spotify, (Japan), YouTube Music).

More recently they have released an EP of two songs, titled "Believe in Love" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) on vinyl and digitally.

11. SOLEIL "Late Summer Silhouette" (2018)
(Japanese title: SOLEIL 「夏の終わりのシルエット」 "natsu no owari no Silhouette")

There's no summer without SOLEIL! :) This trio led by bassist Sally Kubota and fronted by singer Soleil was active until the end of last year. "Late Summer Silhouette" is a song that appeared on their 2nd album "SOLEIL is Alright" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album was later also released on vinyl (Jet Set, Amazon).

While all of the band's recordings were done in mono, with respect to 60's standards the band took their inspiration from, the song also appears on special stereo mix album "SOLEIL in STEREO" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which playfully remixed the songs using techniques that remind of early stereo days.

12. Hideki Kaji "Cecil Cut (of the Summer End)" (2018)
(Japanese title: カジヒデキ「夏の終わりのセシルカット」 "natsu no owari no Cecil Cut")

Hideki Kaji has been a very active as a singer-songwriter and performer ever since the Shibuya-kei days. The song "Cecil Cut (of the Summer End)" first appeared on EP "Autumn Olive" (2018) (Spotify, ) and then on latest album "Goth Romance" (2019) (Spotify, ). The title refers to a haircut (also called "Pixie cut") that gained popularity in Japan from character Cécile (played by Jean Seberg) as seen in movie "Bonjour Tristesse" (1958).

Hideki Kaji animates a weekly live radio program on the Shibuya No Radio community station, along with co-host Maki Nomiya. The show can be heard live on Monday from 5 to 7pm anywhere within Japan using the official app. The talk parts are later archived on this page.

13. Qypthone "Once Upon A Summertime" (2000)

To end the show is a song by Qypthone, club-lounge pop unit led by Takeshi Nakatsuka and featuring singer Izumi Ookawara. "Once Upon A Summertime" is from their 3rd album "Modernica In The House" (Discogs, Amazon). The song can also be found on their compilation "Episode I (Qypthone Early Complete)" (2005) (Spotify, ).

A collaboration of Qypthone with New York producer Ursula 1000 can be found on his latest album "Esoterique" (2019). Also Takeshi just did a cool collaboration with game Pac-Man (celebrating its 40th anniversary), check it out here.

Thanks for tuning in!

Find previous radio shows here.

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

Hoshino Michiru "natsu nandashi"