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. Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live. Happy listening!
"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.22) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on December 9, 2021 from 20:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: December 10, 2021 from 10:00 a.m.
This episode was not archived as-is, but it was replayed at the times below:
Listen to the Spotify playlist of most of the songs (some replaced according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.
Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts that you can listen to.
1. CHILDISH TONES feat. Beni Usakura "GIRLS WANNA SEE NO CRY" (2021)
Childish Tones (Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram) is releasing a new 7" single this month, an original song titled "Girls Wanna See No Cry" (Bandcamp, Spotify,, YouTube). Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) is a unique band that uses only toy musical instruments to play rock'n'roll, and I play a mini drum set in it! Like the previous album "God Bless the Girls" it features Beni Usakura who is also active as an idol (as a member of Apokalippps, and previously in Frun Frin Friends and Avandoned) and runs her own fashion brand Naruheson;s.
The new single will be released on vinyl on December 24, and the title song plus bonus tracks will be released digitally a week early on December 17. Meanwhile, enjoy the music video below.
Along with this new original song, this episode will introduce artists and bands that are close to Childish Tones. Enjoy!
🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: CHILDISH TONES feat. Beni Usakura, BLUEVALLEY
2. BLUEVALLEY "Society" (2021)
BLUEVALLEY is the Nagoya-based lo-fi project of Kikumi Minatani who wrote the lyrics of Childish Tones' "Girls Wanna See No Cry". BLUEVALLEY's latest single "Society / Good bye" is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and also on 7" via their online shop.
An alternate version of "Girls Wanna See No Cry" featuring BLUEVALLEY, and sung by Kikumi Minatani, will be released digitally on December 17.
3. Chie Horiguchi "Watch Your Back" (2021)
Chie Horiguchi is known as the guitarist of band Learners. This year she has released her first solo album titled "Outsider" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Chie did the styling for the music video and jacket of Childish Tones' new single.
The album "Outsider" is available on CD and LP, and there's also a 7" single of the song "Watch Your Back" (with a non-album track for B-side).
🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Chie Horiguchi, The Bohemians
4. The Bohemians "the ultra golden brave busters" (2021)
The Bohemians is a rock band formed of five guys. They have just released this year their 10th album, titled "essential fanfare" (Spotify, (Japan)), from which the song "the ultra golden brave busters" is taken.
Many of Childish Tones' recordings feature The Bohemians' pianist Honma Domino (on toy piano and organ, of course), and he's been also accompanying the band along with their guitarist Beat Ryo in recent shows.
5. Magic, Drums & Love "DANCEHALL! SUPREME! SHOOTING!" (2021)
Magic, Drums & Love is a rock'n'roll band in Tokyo, and this is their latest single "Dancehall! Supreme! Shooting!" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). This and other recent releases were produced by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (of Learners, Neil and Iraiza, Cubismo Grafico). Magic, Drums & Love's Yurina Da Gold Digger, who plays drums and sings, has contributed several lyrics to Childish Tones (including those of a new unreleased song played in recent shows!). Magic, Drums & Love have also been seen a few times on the same bill as Childish Tones at a few shows this year.
Don't miss checking out their latest album "Hurricane Upsetter" (2019) (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and also previous single "Amazon Night / Eyes, Hands, Height & Hair" (2020) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).
🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Magic, Drums & Love, Hideki Kaji
6. Hideki Kaji "Claire's Knees and Christmas" (2021)
(Japanese title: カジヒデキ 「クレールの膝」)
This new song by Hideki Kaji was just released at the end of November digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music)! This song was co-produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil & Iraiza) and features Konkos as the back-band. Check out the music video! Another new song was just released this week digitally, titled "The Winter Fields" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).
Hideki Kaji's DJ unit Blue Boys Club, together with designer Hitoshi "KINK" Suzuki, did a re-edit of "Girls Wanna See No Cry". Provided part of a download code that comes with the 7" single, it will also be released digitally on December 17.
7. Hazy Sour Cherry "Midnight Mittomonaito!" (2019)
(Japanese title: 「みっどないと みっともないと!」)
Hazy Sour Cherry (Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp) is a band that was formed in 2018, and features singer Tsuzumi (also of OCHA∞ME), guitarist Jun (also of HATEMAN), drummer Karin, and they were just recently joined by bassist Chiba after having been their support bassist for some time. Singer Tsuzumi used to play drums (and also sing) in Childish Tones, so she's my senpai! I love her singing!
This song, "Midnight Mittomonaito!" is from their 1st album "Tour De Tokyo" (2019) (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album can be found on colored LP via Bandcamp.
Hazy Sour Cherry has just released a new Christmas EP digitally on Bandcamp, including new original "Bell of the beginning" and a cover of The Pixies Three's "Cold, cold winter". There will be a Christmas-themed Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on December 18 (from noon in Montreal/New York, or for those in Japan at night from 26:00), and Hazy Sour Cherry's "Bell of the beginning" will be played! Be sure to tune in too!
🎙 Listen to Narration IV
Presenting: Hazy Sour Cherry, LEARNERS
8. LEARNERS "Chambre Love" (2020)
(Japanese title: 「シャンブルの恋」 "Chambre no koi")
Learners is the rockabilly-style band led by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (also of Neil & Iraiza, aka Cubismo Grafico), featuring on vocals Sara Mary, and on guitar Chie Horiguchi (heard earlier in this episode), on bass Masamitsu Hamada, and on drums Taichi Furukawa (Konkos). Learners are label-mates on KiliKiliVilla. Also it's been a great pleasure to have Chabe DJing a few of our shows this year! Chabe also appeared in an early music video of Childish Tones.
The song "Chambre Love" is from Learners' latest album "Hello Stranger" (2020) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).
I hope this episode helped you locate Childish Tones and these friendly neighborhood artists on Japan's indie rock map!
Thank you for tuning in! There are also replays within one week listed at the top of the page.
Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some previous shows on Mixcloud.
Here are more music videos by the artists featured in this episode.
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "God Bless the Girls"
BLUEVALLEY "Seaside Story"
Chie Horiguchi with Kōsuke Miyashita (Phono Tones) "akuma no shiwaza" live performance
The Bohemians "the legacy"
Magic, Drums & Love "MOMONA"
Hideki Kaji "Dreams Never End"
Hazy Sour Cherry "Tour De Tokyo"
LEARNERS "Strong Enough"
Gig report: Rocketman Summer Fes 2010 - thank you for the music!!
"Hello! I am currently trying to find two [...]" -jens
Konishi Yasuharu "Love, Lost And Found"
"I will always love Konishi-san, but God, [...]" -Damian
"I love the album. Konishi made a great selection [...]" -Jorge Cano
The Pen Friend Club "The Pen Friend Club"
"I LOVE your music!! Thank you all so [...]" -James Walden
"Oops! So sorry and I'm very embarrassed. [...]" -James Walden
Miki Hirayama & Maki Nomiya "Artist / Hot na chikyuu yo"
"I love the HEY GIRL track!! any idea of who [...]" -Damian
The Pen Friend Club "Back In The Pen Friend Club"
"Keep awaiting word for the vinyl release [...]" -Patrick
Ogura Yūko "onna no ko otoko no ko"
"en asturiano [...]" -pelayu
"I like Yuko because Yuko is a lovely..... [...]" -"O"
Various Artists "Tribute to yes, mama ok?"
"oh this is great. i'm a huge yes, mama ok? [...]" -oliver
"best track is either shoplifting blues, sun [...]" -aviston
The Highmarts "World Tour: Greatest Hits + Dodgy Demos" (12")
"Please come to Vienna/Europe aswell! [...]" -Eric Unbekannt
Interview: Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi
"can i translate this into chinese?it [...]" -percy
"This was such a great interview, thank you [...]" -Blutsvater3
Wakita Monari "Take It Lucky!!!!" (Download)
"Rajamtaim please [...]" -Daison
Modern Choki Chokies "Kinkan" (Download)
"Wow! What a wonderful come back!! [...]" -Damian
Cornelius "Dream In Dream"
"will there be a vinyl release? [...]" -howard