Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.8

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.

This time the theme seems to revolve around guitar sounds! Soothing, exciting and amazing, there's no specific genre around to limit where this magical instrument will take us. Enjoy the show!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.8) was aired at http://lafaceb.live on August 26, 2020 from 22:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: August 27, 2020 from 11:00 (a.m.).

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

1. Saigenji "Dance of Nomad" (2018)

Saigenji is a singer and guitarist who debuted in 2002 on Happiness Records. Even when performing with just his guitar he captivates the audience with his rhythmical playing and distinctive singing style. The song "Dance of Nomad" is from his latest original album "Compass" (Spotify, ). Saigenji's most recent release is a 2CD live album titled "Live 'Compass' for the Future" (Spotify, ).

Also in recent news, Saigenji's 2006 album "Music Eater" has been made available on download/streaming platforms starting last week, with 3 bonus tracks (Spotify, ).

2. The Pen Friend Club "hohoende" (2020)
(Japanese title: 「微笑んで」)

The Pen Friend Club has a first-ever live album coming in September, titled "In Concert" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV), and it's a pleasure to have the chance to give you a special preview! The album will contain 17 songs from two recent shows that featured previous singer Fujimoto Yuka.

While very popular for its covers and arrangements, The Pen Friend Club also has many great original songs such as "hohoende". This one was first featured on album "Wonderful World Of The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, ).

Stay tuned for one more preview from "In Concert" later in the show!

3. Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "Sunday morning" (2019)

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys is a band of currently 8 members, led by singer-songwriter Kubota Shingo, once the frontman of '70s band new wave band 8½ and known as being one half of "The Stardust Brothers" (a cult rock musical movie from 1985, which was followed by a sequel some 30 years later). The band also features guitarist Muramatsu Kunio (ex-Sugar Babe), keyboardist Kotaki Mitsuru (ex-Cinema), bassist Yajima Chikara (ex-8 1/2) among others, not to forget "mascot boy" Sasha who was once a roadie for Pizzicato Five and Boredoms. The song "Sunday morning" is taken from their 3rd and latest album "The man who calls bliss." (2019) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

A recent show by Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys can be seen in full here on YouTube, as it was streamed live online earlier this month. Their next will be on September 9 from 19:00, and details will be posted shortly on Tokyo's Coolest Sound's Live streaming calendar.

4. KASHIF "B G M" (2017)

Kashif is a guitarist and songwriter of the Pan Pacific Playa collective. He's well known for contributing songs for many artists, and also for being a member of neo-doo-wap group Jintana & Emeralds. He also often accompanies artists such as hitomitoi, Scha Dara Parr and (((sssurrounddd))), to name a few.

Aside from that, he has also released a great solo album as a singer-songwriter titled "BlueSongs" (Spotify, (Japan)) from which the song "B G M" is taken. Kashif has also recently started a project called Sota & Kashif, a duo with keyboardist Takagi Sōta, which so far released a cover of Santana's "Europa" on 7".

5. NUBACK "I Don't Know Why" (2020)

NUBACK, the solo project of Nakamura Dai (BANK, Vacation Three, ex-Arch), has just released a new digital EP titled "Still Life" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ) from which this new song is taken. The EP is said to consist of daily life sketches from the recent months. NUBACK takes some inspiration from new wave and also the waves of Japan's east coast just a bit south of Tokyo.

6. Ryōmei Shirai "Tonpikurenkko" (2017)
(Japanese title: 白井良明「トンピクレンッ子」)

Ryōmei Shirai is the lead guitarist of Japan's 1975-founded band Moonriders. "Tonpikurenkko" is a song he wrote with Moonriders (released in 1982 on album "aozora hyakkei"), but this version is taken from his solo album "For Instance" (2017) (CDJapan, Amazon) which celebrated his 45th anniversary of becoming a pro musician, and the 40th anniversary of him joining Moonriders. Unlike the upbeat rocking original, this one is instrumental with a fusion vibe, with "Yahoo!" and "Wasshoi!" shouts by Tentenko.

7. playtime rock "motto zutto (unplugged ver.)" (2013)
(Japanese title: プレイタイム・ロック「もっとずっと (unplugged ver.)」)

Playtime Rock is the unit of Takanami K-taro (ex-Pizzicato Five) with singer and flutist Ichiba Mina. "motto zutto" first appeared as a fun techno-pop track on album "Evening Primrose" (2012) (Amazon, HMV ), to later surface in this charming unplugged take on album "Play Time" (2013) (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV).

K-taro's latest solo release is a single (CD+7") in collaboration with singer Hoshino Michiru, titled "Memorandum" (CDJapan, Jet Set).

8. Reina Nosa "Jealousy Overheat" (2020)
(Japanese title: 野左怜奈「ジェラシーオーバーヒート」)

"Jealousy Overheat" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is the latest song by singer Reina Nosa. Having released four songs digitally since the end of 2019, Reina has been working on an upcoming new album to be titled "Sports and Distractions" (Japanese title "Sports to kibarashi"). Also check out those other latest songs: "Eccentric Western Exercise" (music video below), "City Blue Carnival", and "Pink Delusional Aquarium".

Otherwise, she's been regularly posting great ukulele covers on Instagram and Twitter. Also check out her cover album "Endless Party" (2018).

9. Sloppy Joe "Once And For All" (2013, 2020)

Indie pop band Sloppy Joe (Facebook page) has just recently released a 2nd album, "For The Night Begins" (2020) (, Spotify, YouTube Music). The song "Once And For All" can be found on this album, although it was first released on 7" back in 2013 but it had went rare since.

The album is available directly from the band via Bandcamp on CD and LP. There's a recent bilingual interview with the band that can be read here.

10. Salome no Kuchibiru "Memento mori" (2020)
(Japanese title: サロメの唇「メメント・モリ」)

Salome no Kuchibiru (aka Salome Lips) is a band that's been active for 17 years, but they will be disbanding by the end of 2020. Nevertheless, they have just released a brand new album titled "Religion" (Spotify, ). Salome no Kuchibiru's sound takes inspiration from late-'60s-inspired rock, uniquely mixing singing that's reminding of Japanese minyō chants.

11. Tokyo Killer "Meiji 150th" (2019)
(Japanese title: トーキョーキラー　「明治百五十年」)

Tokyo Killer is a surf garage rock band led by skillful guitarist Keme, also seen playing in Kinoco Hotel (as Isabel Keme-Kamogawa), but also in her other band Piggy Banks, and also in her folk-rock solo project as Keme.

The song "Meiji 150th", an original piece written by keyboardist Ookubo Kei (of Urbangarde), is from Tokyo Killer's 2nd album "Boom Go!!" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

12. The Pen Friend Club "Wichita Lineman" (2020)

Here's one more from The Pen Friend Club's upcoming live album "In Concert" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV). "Wichita Lineman" is a cover of a song first performed by Glen Campbell in 1968.

If you enjoyed The Pen Friend Club's live sounds, they will also be doing a show on September 12, their first with new singer Megumi, and it can be viewed live online. Find details here. While there, be sure to also bookmark Tokyo's Coolest Sound's new Live streaming calendar which collects details of shows from Japan that can be viewed online from anywhere in the world.

13. SOLEIL "Summer of 2019" (2019)
(Japanese title: 「なつやすみ」 "natsuyasumi")

This is the last song of SOLEIL's the 3rd and last album, "Lollipop Sixteen" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), written by guitarist Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville). On this instrumental, singer Soleil plays drums and percussions such as glockenspiel, marimba and guiro!

The album's vinyl edition seems to still be available at this time.

Thanks for tuning in!

Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen directly and follow on Mixcloud.

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

Saigenji "Dance of Nomad" (Live performance at Motion Blue Yokohama)