Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.14

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 is a selection of tracks with a sort of electro connection, while exploring several different directions. Enjoy!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.14) aired at http://lafaceb.live on February 24, 2021 from 22:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: February 25, 2021 from noon.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

1. Kenmochi Hidefumi "Lolipop" (2020)
(Japanese title: ケンモチヒデフミ「Lolipop」)

The opening track is one from Kenmochi Hidefumi's latest album "Town Work" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Kenmochi is known for being the sound producer of Wednesday Campanella, and more recently xiangyu (who will be heard a few songs later!). That new album followed "Footwork" (2019), of which I had went to the release party where I remember thinking how fresh were the sounds!

2. Omodaka "Tankai Bushi" (2019)

Omodaka (Facebook), the solo unit of Soichi Terada, in which he often uses various chiptune and game sounds, while featuring vocals by Akiko Kanazawa who sings in a traditional Japanese minyō style. Like for "Tankai Bushi", which is a traditional song from Saga prefecture that has roots from about a century ago, Omodaka give those songs a brand new face to be appreciated again by new audiences. This song is from his latest album "Gujoh Bushi" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Omodaka recently did a "Synthetic Nature Live" online performance which can be watched on YouTube. The 3D stunt got him a "Best Music Video" award from India at the Cineville Calcutta Global Cinefest.

3. xiangyu "Y△M△" (2020)

"Y△M△" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is the latest song by xiangyu (Twitter, Instagram). "Yama" is the Japanese word for "mountain", and the lyrics are about climbing a mountain. xiangyu's music is sound produced by Kenmochi Hidefumi (heard at the beginning of the show), who takes inspiration from African dance music genres such as Gqom. Also check out her latest EP "Kiki" (2020).

xiangyu just recently did an online performance in collaboration with stage visuals company mplusplus. It can be watched on YouTube. (The first 30 minutes are a mix by Kenmochi Hidefumi.)

4. Elektel "Space Cookin Renderd" (2005)

This song is from Elektel's 2nd album, "Bit Stream Lounge" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). "Space Cookin Renderd" takes inspiration from astronaut food, maybe even from a time when that food will be 3D-printed on demand?! Like Elektel, let your imagination flow while having fun finding some sampling of kitchen sounds!

Elektel released a new track last year, "The smallest and best keyboard in the world", part of compilation "Casiotunes!" (2020).

5. DJ Codomo "Walking with the Echoes" (2020)

Aside from his own solo works, you might remember DJ Codomo from his Cornelius remix (on album "PM") or his producing of Kiiiiiii's album "AL & BUM" (of which a song was featured on this radio show last year). In 2017 he started his own label on which he released "Paper House EP" (2018, Bandcamp) as well as other songs such as "Walking with the Echoes" (Bandcamp).

In recent news, his 2010 album "Play" has just become available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

6. Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa "Zaaab" (2017)

Here's one of my favorites from the latest of this duo, "Are Euphoria" (Spotify, (World), (Japan)). Dustin Wong (ex-Ponytail) (Twitter) and Takako Minekawa (Twitter) joined forces in 2013 and have released three full albums together.

Takako Minekawa is contributing an instrumental song to compilation "New Phantom Lake -LAKE OF ILLUSIONS Vol.3-" to be released on CD and cassette on March 12, and Dustin Wong released in December an album titled "Dedicated to Kevin O'meara: explorer, naturalist, elf" in memory of his friend.

7. XTAL "Aburelu" (2020)

Trackmaker XTAL (read Crystal), who is also active in bands Jintana & Emeralds and (((sssurrounddd))), has released last year a 2nd solo album titled "Aburelu" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) from which this song is taken. Different from any of his other works, the album consists of short songs not much longer than 3 minutes, and which were made without using any rhythmical instruments. The album was also promptly released on 10" vinyl on a new label named 813 Records.

Jintana & Emeralds released just last month a new song titled "Oh! Southern Wind".

8. Tentenko "Mizu-Iro" (2021)

Tentenko has been active as an electronic artist for several years already. "Mizu-Iro" is a brand new track that's about to be released in early March on vinyl part of an EP titled "An Antworten EP" on German label TAL, which had also released split album "Super Mild" (2019, Spotify, , YouTube Music). Along the way she has also released a large amount of self-made CD-R EPs (56 so far and counting!), most of which are available on Bandcamp. For CDs and other goods check out her online shop Tenten Shōten.

A recent live set presented by Boiler Room Tokyo and S/U/P/E/R DOMMUNE can be watched archived on YouTube.

9. HNC "Night Thoughts" (2011)

HNC is the solo unit of Yuppa (Instagram, Twitter), who has in the recent years produced most of the music of singer MANON. The song "Night Thoughts" comes from HNC's "Witches' Party EP" (2011) which seems to be long gone. However I can direct you to checking out the song "I Dream I Dead" from this same EP, which was recently released digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music). There's also a music video of it that you can watch below!

10. Coastlines "Drifting Ice" (2019)

Coastlines is the instrumental unit of DJ/producer Masanori Ikeda (previously known as Mansfield) and keyboardist Kaneko Takumi (of cro-magnon). The song "Drifting Ice" is from their first album "Coastlines" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Coastlines' latest release is a 7" single titled "East Coast / West Coast". The album "Coastlines" has also been released as a double-LP on UK label Be With Records.

11. Ryoma Maeda "POOLSIDE" (2020)

Ryoma Maeda, previously known as milch of source, has been keeping busy in the last few years partially with the production of imaginary (Vocaloid) idol Ema Grace. The song "POOLSIDE" is just one track of album "Tropicalize" (Bandcamp), which soundtracks a day spent at a resort hotel.

Be sure to also check out his latest release, an EP of solo project milky-chu titled "Chu Chu Train" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ). To catch up with Ryoma Maeda, drop by his official site, Bandcamp and YouTube channel.

12. NUBACK "When The Party Is Over" (2013)

NUBACK (pronounced Noo-back) is a solo project of Dai Nakamura (also active in bands BANK and Vacation Three). First released in 2013 part of digital EP "Good bye Summer, Again" (2013) (Bandcamp, Spotify), the song "When The Party Is Over" was also just released last month on 7" vinyl on German label Growing Bin Records.

Dai Nakamura has just started a brand new solo project called BLANK MUSIC. The first EP "My Name is Blank" is available on Bandcamp (with iTunes and Spotify to follow shortly).

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 a bit better the artists you liked!

Kenmochi Hidefumi "Lolipop"