Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.13

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.

To get some energy to start this new year, I did a selection of some fun and rocking tunes!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.13) aired at http://lafaceb.live on January 27, 2021 from 22:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: January 28, 2021 from noon.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

Intro. "haru no umi"

For intro BGM, I used the typical Japanese new year song! Written by Miyagi Michio in 1929, I played a free version found on Niconicommons and performed by Shimashima (aka Shimashima P) & Kotonee.

Throughout the show you'll hear the same intro used as BGM, but played by me on a Roland JUNO-6 synth. :)

1. Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "omoi togeta otoko" (2017)
(Japanese title: サニー久保田とオールド・ラッキー・ボーイズ「想い遂げた男」)

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys is a large band led by singer-songwriter Kubota Shingo, once the frontman of '70s band new wave band 8½ and known as being one of the "Stardust Brothers" (a cult rock musical movie from 1985). The song "omoi togeta otoko" is from their 2nd album, "One from Sunny's Heart" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song can also be heard in the movie "The Brand New Legend of the Stardust Brothers", and its soundtrack (while the DVD is still only available in Japan).

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys' 3rd and latest album is "The man who calls bliss." (2019) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

2. Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Everyday Shuffle" (2020)

Wack Wack Rhythm Band is a party band with a brass section active since the early 90's. The instrumental "Everyday Shuffle" is the opening track of their brand new album "The 'Now' Sounds" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album's released was shortly followed by a 7" and also an "official bootleg tape" that's a lot of fun!

The band just started an online radio show, titled "wack wack rhythm R-A-D-I-O", that they've been posting weekly on their web site. It features some talk and always several songs.

3. Magic, Drums & Love "MOMONA" (2019)

Magic, Drums & Love is a funky band with no particular genre but always full of cool tricks, with several of the members taking turns singing. The song "Momona" is from their 2nd album "Hurricane Upsetter" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which was produced by Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (LEARNERS). Last year the band released a brand new single (available on 7" and digitally) titled "Amazon Night / Eyes, Hands, Height & Hair" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

A recent show of Magic, Drums & Love can be watched online part of "Qumomee Collection", a set of 40 shows by different bands viewable for just ¥1100 (until February 28 (JST)). There's also a solo show by member ℃-want you! there, backed by band Meet the Hopes.

4. Sloppy Joe "Over The Candle Holder" (2020)

Indie pop band Sloppy Joe (Facebook page) has released its 2nd album just a few months ago, titled "For The Night Begins" (2020) (, Spotify, YouTube Music). "Over The Candle Holder" is a brand new song from that album. This band also features trumpeter Tomoko Kunimi from Wack Wack Rhythm Band.

You can find also the album via the band's Bandcamp on CD and LP (only few LP copies remaining at this time). Also check out a recent bilingual interview found here.

5. Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "God Bless the Girls" (2020)
(Japanese title: Childish Tones feat. 宇佐蔵べに「God Bless the Girls」)

Childish Tones (Twitter) is a band that plays rock'n'roll using only toy instruments! After the release of several 7" singles of covers featuring singer Beni Usakura (also a DJ and active as an idol in groups Apokalippps and Frun Frin Friends), a brand new album titled "God Bless the Girls" was released just a few months ago. This title song is an original. Check out video of a recent studio live performance below!

The album is available on CD (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV) and also on cassette tape (HMV).

6. MANON "BEAT THE BAD LUCK" (2017)

When thinking of rocking songs, this one by singer/model MANON quickly comes to mind! This is from her first album "Teenage Diary" (Spotify, ), since which she has already gone a long way releasing several collaboration tracks (find all of them here), and also her latest solo single "18" (Spotify, ). Watch the music video for it below, which she directed herself.

7. The Shaolin Brothers "Tokyo Lady" (2020)
(Japanese title: 少林兄弟「東京レディ」 Shaolin kyōdai "Tokyo Lady")

The Shaolin Brothers (known in Japanese as Shaolin kyōdai) is a rocking band with often a cool kung-fu kind of twist! They have just released at the end of 2020 a full-length album titled "Hyo-tan Rhapsody" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV), and "Tokyo Lady" is one of my favorite songs from it.

Their album also features an appearance by Maki Nomiya (ex-Pizzicato Five)! Actually the band has also backed Maki for a new version of Pizzicato Five's "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji (the night is still young)", which was released on her album "Shibuya-kei Songbook" (2018).

8. Salome no Kuchibiru "namida no naka no jiyū" (2020)
(Japanese title: サロメの唇　「涙の中の自由」)

Salome no Kuchibiru (aka Salome Lips) was a unique band that mixes rock and unique singing that often reminded of Japanese minyō chants. They disbanded towards the end of 2020 after some 17 years of activity, but they did released a brand new last album titled "Religion" (Spotify, ). Check out the mesmerizing music video for title song "Religion" below.

9. The Highmarts "It's All Over Now" (2020)
(Japanese title: ザ・ハイマーツ「恋はもう............ (It's All Over Now)」 "koi wa mō............ (It's All Over Now)"

The Highmarts (Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter) is a rock band formed of three girls, taking inspiration from 60's Group Sounds. "It's All Over Now" is their 3rd single, released just recently on vinyl only. The band takes direct orders from international fans, check out this post on Facebook. You can find the first two singles on Bandcamp.

The Highmarts will play a show on February 21 which can be viewed streaming online (with archive viewable until March 7 (JST)). Find details here.

10. Learners "tsukikake" (2020)
(Japanese title: LEARNERS 「つきかけ」)

Learners is the rock band of Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (cubismo grafico, Neil and Iraiza), also featuring singer/model Sara Mary, super guitarist Horiguchi Chie (also of Chie & The Wolf Baits), with bassist Masamichi Hamada (of Quattro) and drummer TA-1 (of Koncos). "tsukikake" is from their latest and 3rd album "Hello Stranger" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Learners just played a show streamed live online, and it can still be viewed until January 31 (JST). Find details here.

11. Bambino "atasha Rock 'n'!" (2012, 2015)
(Japanese title: Bambino 「あたしゃロックン!」)

Bambino is the band of Kyoto rock'n'roller Ban Hiroshi (Twitter). This song appeared on album "With Pop" (2015) (CDJapan, Jet Set, HMV), and previously on "Bambino EP" (2012) (CDJapan, HMV, Amazon).

Since then Bambino has also released an album titled "Ozashiki Rock" (2018) (CDJapan, Jet Set, HMV). Ban Hiroshi also supervised a compilation of rocking kayō songs, titled "Ban Hiroshi presents Columbia Rockin' Kayo Collection" (2019) (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV).

12. La veuve moustachue "Rock o odoru mibōjin" (2018)
(Japanese tittle: ヒゲの未亡人「ロックを踊る未亡人」 hige no mibojin "Rock o odoru mibōjin")

La veuve moustachue (Twitter, Facebook) is a unique act similar to a one-person musical, featuring its protagonist, the mustached widow (acted by Yūichi Kishino). The other members are pianist/composer Gary Ashiya and VJ ALi. In their shows the widow becomes a character who interacts with a large video projection, in an amusing and charming result. La veuve moustachue has often performed abroad, such as in France and Taiwan.

This song is the B-side of 7" single "Zettai Renai! COUNT DOWN!!" (2018) (Jet Set, Amazon, HMV) is their latest single (released on 7"). Their album "Les Vacances de la Veuve Moustachue" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is also a must! Also, just last year, a cover by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Lin Yiloh of La veuve moustachue's "otomodachi de imashō yo" was released on vinyl (details).

13. Michiru Hoshino "Rock'n'Roll Apple Pie" (2019)
(Japanese title: 星野みちる「ロックンロール・アップルパイ」)

"Rock'n'Roll Apple Pie" first appeared on Michiru Hoshino's "gyakkō" mini-album, the first release on her own label. It then appeared again on her full-length album that followed, "Moonlight Confessions" (Japanese title: "tsuki ga kirei desune") (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Michiru's 4th solo album "12 signs of the zodiac" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV) was just re-issued on vinyl for Record Day 2020 on November 3.

14. Natsu Amano "Open My Eyes" (2020)
(Japanese title: 天野なつ「Open My Eyes」)

Natsu Amano previously debuted as a member of idol group LinQ, but left in 2018 to follow her career as a solo singer. Her first album "Across The Great Divide" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV) was just released in 2020, and also as a LP (Jet Set, HMV).

Her song "Koi shite Baby!", of which you can see the music video below, was featured on the recent compilation "Magical Connection 2020" selected by Sally Kubota.

15. The Orangers "Dislocation Dance Rock" (2000)
(Japanese title: オレンジャーズ「Dislocation Dance Rock」)

And to end the show with some rocking dancefloor action, here's a track by a unit of Tetsuto Yoshida from 2000. I remember seeing The Orangers DJ at Pizzicato Five's last show in March 2001, and even caught a flying 7" (but just the jacket) that was frisbee'd from the stage!

Be sure to check out Tetsuto Yoshida's latest single "hitomeguri" (previously heard on this radio show series) and still available at HMV. His most recent works include Sputrip's "Breeze in the Sun", watch the video below!

Thank you 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. Use them to preview or review, and get to know the artists you liked a bit better!

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "kinben de doryokuka to fuichō suru Peten-shi"