Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.12

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 episode focuses on seasonal songs with winter or Christmas themes, or some arrangements that would just blend in. Happy Holidays to all, and enjoy!

In addition to the usual Wednesday slot, the show will also be broadcasted during La Face B's day-long "Nowell" feature on the 24th and 25th! Also check out last year's Christmas special which featured all different songs.

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.12) (aka "Noël Nippon" édition 2020) will air at http://lafaceb.live on December 23, 2020 from 22:00 (EST = Montréal/New York), and on December 25, 2020 from 10:00.
* Japan times: December 24, 2020 from noon and December 25 at night from 24:00.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

1. Negicco "hikari no Spur" (2015)
(Japanese title: Negicco 「光のシュプール」)

Negicco is an idol trio based in Niigata prefecture that's been active since 2003. This winter song titled "hikari no Spur" is from album "Rice&Snow" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) released in 2015. Check out the music video for "hikari no Spur" below.

Negicco and its individual members have kept busy in 2020. They released a new single in a collaboration with PARKGOLF and hitomitoi, titled "gozen 0ji no Sympathy" (Spotify, ), Kaede released a solo album on New Year's Day ("ima no watashi wa kawaritsuzukete ano koro no watashi de irareteru."), and then recently another mini-album ("Stardust in Blue"), leader Nao⭐︎ also released a single ("Best☆Friend") followed by a mini-album ("gift songs"). There's more, Megu got married earlier this year, and Kaede also just announced this week that she will get married in January 2021! Congratulations!

Negicco also performed several shows online this year, viewable from anywhere in the world. Their latest, titled "We Wish You A Neggy Christmas! 2020" can still be seen archived (but only until December 25 (JST)).

2. hitomitoi "Winter Rouge Mellow" (2014)
(Japanese title: 一十三十一「Winter Rouge Mellow」)

Singer hitomitoi should be already well known to this site's readers and city pop fans around the world. The song "Winter Rouge Mellow" is from winter-themed album "Snowclub Social Club" (Spotify, (Japan)), which had followed shortly summer album "Surfbank Social Club" (Spotify, (Japan)). This song was written and produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei). Both albums will be released on double-LP in March 2021, in white and blue colored vinyl. Pre-orders can already be placed at Jet Set ("Snowbank Social Club", "Surfbank Social Club") and HMV ("Snowbank Social Club", "Surfbank Social Club").

This year saw hitomitoi participate in several collaborations, the latest being a city pop-inspired soundtrack as Ryusenkei / hitomitoi for NHK TV drama "Talio" (Spotify, ). She was also featured in recent songs by the oto factory (album "paraíso"), Bronze (album "Aquarius"), and ZEUS (the new solo project of Nona Reeves' Okuda Kensuke) (song "sore wa, Wednesday"). hitomitoi's latest show that was held at Billboard Live Tokyo will be rebroadcasted on the Streaming+ platform from December 31 to January 4 (info & tickets, although the site is in Japanese only).

3. Kaseki Cider "fuyu e to hashiridasō" (2012)
(Japanese title: かせきさいだぁ「冬へと走りだそう」)

Kaseki Cider is a rapper always close to the Shibuya-kei scene, who has been active since the mid-90's. This version of "fuyu e to hashiridasou" is from album "Mr. City Pop" (2012, (World), (Japan)).

Kaseki Cider's latest album is "Onigiri University" (2017, Spotify, (World), (Japan)). One of his most recent appearances was on Scha Dara Parr's latest album "shin Scha Dara daisakusen" (2019, Spotify, ).

4. Monari Wakita "Cloudless Night" (2017)
(Japanese title: 脇田もなり「Cloudless Night」)

Monari Wakita (ex-Especia)'s "Cloudless Night" is one of my favorite songs. The song was written by Indonesian city pop band ikkubaru. The song appeared on her first solo album "I am ONLY" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album was also released on vinyl. A version of "Cloudless Night" by ikkubaru featuring Monari is available on the Japanese edition of their latest album "Chords Melodies" (2020).

Monari just performed an online Christmas show accompanied by keyboardists Dorian and KAYO-CHAAAN. The show is still viewable archived until December 26 (JST) althought tickets are only available on Japanese platform Streaming+ (details can be found here). Watch a teaser clip and also footage from a recent show linked below in the music videos section.

5. The Caraway "A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS" (2020)

The Caraway is a band led by Osamu Shimada (Twitter), who is also the guitarist of Swinging Popsicle. This new song was released this month part of Christmas EP "The Caraway's Holiday EP" (released on CD-R and available directly only), and it was also included on Indonesian label Shiny Happy Records' Christmas compilation "Comfort and Joy" available for free on Bandcamp.

The Caraway, which was formed in 2003, and has recently released a vinyl LP titled "the select of the Caraway" which includes songs from their first album and other releases. Other CD-R's and a split cassette can be found at Disques Blue-Very.

6. Three Berry Icecream "Come Away To Winter" (2018)

This winter song by Three Berry Icecream (Twitter) —the solo unit of Mayumi Ikemizu (an ex-member of Bridge)— was first released on greatest hits album "Sunshine On My Mind 1998-2018" (available on CD at Disques Blue-Very), from which a selection can be heard on digital platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The Caraway's leader can be heard singing chorus on this one too.

Three Berry Icecream's new vinyl LP "The Selection of Three Berry Icecream" is still available via Disques Blue-Very, Jet Set and HMV. By the way, another Christmas song was included on Blue Very Label's compilation "CHRISTMAS PAVILION ~ Natale ai mirtilli" released last year, two songs from which can be heard on last year's Christmas radio show.

7. Hideki Kaji "Winter's Sky" (2013)
(Japanese title: カジヒデキ「Winter's Sky」)

The song "Winter's Sky" is from Hideki Kaji's winter-themed album "Sweet Swedish Winter" ( (World), (Japan)). I love how this song is so groovy despite the absence of drums. Hideki's latest album is "Goth Romance" (Spotify, ) released last year.

Hideki Kaji will hold a show on December 28 which will be viewable online. It will be backed by an all-star band, with Hirohisa Horie (Neil & Iraiza), Nari (Scafull King) and Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (Learners), and also feature special guest Maki Nomiya with who Kaji hosts a weekly radio show on community station Shibuya no Radio. Tickets are only available on Japanese platform Streaming+ (find all details here).

8. Her Serves & Receive "nakimushi Raindrops" (2020)
(Japanese title: 彼女のサーブ＆レシーブ kanojo no Serve & Receive 「泣き虫レインドロップす」)

Idol duo Her Serves & Receive has just suddenly released a brand new album titled "Kanosare" this month. Since previous album "Service Ace" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), they had seemed to constantly add songs to their live repertory, so the new album was came as a long awaited surprise. Once again it is full of fun and catchy songs.

Watch the two's Twitter accounts (Aogi and Eri) for sometimes a chance to peek at their live performances, like the one from June that can be seen below.

9. Avec Avec "Rendezvous" (2020)

Avec Avec (aka Takuma Hosokawa, one half of Sugar's Campaign) released this year a new EP titled "Rendezvous" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) from which this is the title song. He debuted as Avec Avec in 2011, releasing EPs on Mush Records (LA) and Maltine Records, and has since been delivering always fresh tracks in many remixes and production works.

10. Bakubaku Dokin "Swingin'" (2015)
(Japanese title: バクバクドキン「Swingin'」)

Bakubaku Dokin, the unit of girls Yui and Naoko, delivered in 2015 this great winter track titled "Swingin'" () which quickly became one of my favorites of the season. Check out the chill music video below.

Just a few months ago, the duo released a brand new track titled "Hotter Than Havana" (Spotify, ).

11. MIKKO "Happy Xmas With You" (2020)

Having debuted in 2009, singer-songwriter MIKKO has just released a Christmas-themed EP titled "Christmas 2020" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song "Happy Xmas With You" is a collaboration with band TWEEDEES! Check out the animated music video below. The EP also includes a cover of "Wonderful Christmas Time" featuring RYUTist.

MIKKO just recently appeared on new generation Shibuya-kei compilation "Magical Connection 2020" selected by Sally Kubota. Her latest album "12" (2019) is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

12. P.O.P "Endless Christmas feat. Taisei Iwasaki" (2014)
(Japanese title: P.O.P 「エンドレス・クリスマス feat. 岩崎太整」)

This is groovy unit P.O.P that's fronted by twin rappers. The song "Endless Christmas", a collaboration with singer Taisei Iwasaki, was first released on winter-themed EP "fuyuzora to utagoe was kirei no hō ga ii" (Spotify, (Japan)), and later appeared on album "okaasan ni kiite minai to wakaranai" (2015, Spotify, (Japan)).

P.O.P's latest album is "itsumo Street" (2019, YouTube Music). Rapper Hakushu is also part of Beastie Boys cover band BeastieBoyz, which this year released an EP "BeastieBoyz1" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

13. The Pen Friend Club "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (2018)

The Pen Friend Club released in 2018 a Christmas album titled "Merry Christmas from The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, ) in which they rearranged many well known Christmas songs in their very own way. Their original song "Christmas Delights" was featured in last year's "Noël Nippon" radio show. The album was also released on vinyl for Record Day 2019.

This year The Pen Friend Club were joined by a new singer named Megumi, and so far released 7" single "ippon no ongaku" (watch the music video below). The band will hold a Christmas show on December 26, viewable online (find details here). The show will be archived until January 9, 2021.

14. Toshiyuki Yasuda & Tarō Sukegawa & The Firefly Clan & Satoru Wono & Seigen Tokuzawa "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (2011)
(Japanese title: 安田寿之 & 助川太郎 & The Firefly Clan & Satoru Wono & 徳澤青弦「Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas」)

Already 10 years ago, in December 2010, I had the great pleasure to be at this event organized by Toshiyuki Yasuda and held in an old and comfortable house. For the show's encore, all of the musicians part of the event performed this cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Find a report of the event with photos, even one taken during this song, here.

A year later, songs from the event series were released digitally as album "We 'hub' music Vol. 01-04" (2011, ).

Thanks for tuning in to my radio shows this year! I'll be back next year with more new and favorite music. Until then keep your eyes on the site during the holidays as I'll be likely to catch up with the latest news of 2020.

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.

Negicco "hikari no Spur"