Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.23

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.23) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on January 13, 2022 from 20:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: January 14, 2022 from 10:00 a.m.

This episode was not archived as-is, but it was replayed at the times below:

EST (Montréal/New York) —: Fri. Jan. 14 at 16h30, Mon. 17 at noon, Tue. 18 at 8h, Wed. 19 at 4h, Thurs. 20 at 0h
Japan time —: Sat. Jan. 15 at 6h30, Tue. 18 at 2h, Tue. 18 at 22h, Wed. 19 at 18h, Thurs. 20 at 14h

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. microstar "Swing In The Life" (2021)
(Japanese title: マイクロスター「日常のSwing」 "nichijō no Swing")

microstar is a duo of producer Seiki Satō and singer Yūko Iizumi (aka P-chan). This song is their brand new single released on 7" for Record Day 2021. The B-side is a self-cover of the song "If I fall in love with you" ("koi o suru nara"), song they had written for Monari Wakita. This year is their 25th anniversary! The 7" is available at disques blue-very, Jet Set, Amazon and HMV.

Tokyo's Coolest Sound recently interviewed Seiki Satō and The Courettes, read it here (in English & Japanese).

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: microstar, Three Berry Icecream

2. Three Berry Icecream "Jour bleu pâle" (2021)

Three Berry Icecream (Facebook page) is the solo unit of Mayumi Ikemizu (a former member of band Bridge). The song "Jour bleu pâle" is from her brand new album "Three Berry Icecream" released in November, the first full-length album by Three Berry Icecream that was recorded over a short span as a band. This song is also the first one that Mayumi has sung in French! I had the great pleasure to help with lyrics translation.

The album is currently only available on LP, and can be ordered at Jet Set and disques blue-very. There's a special page in English about the release. Two songs from it have been released digitally: "Another World" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Rainbow mountain road" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Three Berry Icecream also recently released a split-cassette with Funny Little Dream (from Indonesia) (2021), and also the vinyl LP "The Selection of Three Berry Icecream" (2020).

Since "Jour bleu pâle" can't be heard online, here's a recent live performance from an in-store event at disques blue-very in Koenji.

3. Emiri Kanou "Steppin'" (2021)
(Japanese title: 加納エミリ Kanou Emiri "Steppin'")

Singer-songwriter and arranger Emiri Kanou released in December this brand new single titled "Steppin'" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). This song was produced by Indonesian city pop band ikkubaru (Facebook page).

Aside from digitally, this new song is also available on 7" with for B-side a Japanese version remix of Ikkubaru's "City Hunter" (of which the original remix had appeared on Ikkubaru's "Amusement Park Expanded Edition").

Emiri also released last year a digital single titled "Wasurenaiwa feat. Ryūto Kasahara", and also did the sound production of Shōko Suzuki's single "So Help Me, GOD!".

4. DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi "Merry go ahead" (2021)
(Japanese title: DISCOMPO with 泉茉里「Merry go ahead」)

DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi is the latest project led by Dr.Usui (ex-OTOCOMPO, ex-(M)otocompo). The group also features guitarist (etc.) Junya Junya and VJ Hirohisa Nakama (also member of The Aprils). "Merry go ahead" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is their latest single, released digitally last October.

This one followed singles "Shadow Venus" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Rinkaku" (Music video), both of which were released in April 2021.

There's more to be found on their YouTube channel, where members of the group get together via Zoom every week for a meeting that viewers can participate in. Don't miss checking out their impressive one-cut session from last year.

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Emiri Kanou, DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi, xiangyu

5. xiangyu "LIFE!" (2021)

xiangyu (Twitter, Instagram) just released last month a new song titled "LIFE!" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It's the theme song of the movie "hotobori Meltsounds" which features xiangyu and Keiichi Suzuki (Moonriders). The song was produced by Kenmochi Hidefumi (Wednesday Campanella).

In 2021, xiangyu also released the songs "Milano Sandwich A" (played regularly at Doutor cafés, as the song took inspiration from a popular menu of the chain) and "Manhole".

6. hitomitoi "Frozen Horizon" (2014)
(Japanese title: 一十三十一「Frozen Horizon」)

Here's a city pop winter favorite, "Frozen Horizon" from hitomitoi's album "Snowclub Social Club" (Spotify, (Japan), YouTube Music). This album as well as "Surfbank Social Club" were released on vinyl as double-LPs in 2021.

The big recent news in late 2021 was a new album from Jintana & Emeralds, titled "Emerald City Guide". Jintana & Emeralds is a neo-doo-wop group that features hitomitoi as one of the three singers.

7. HALLCA "Precious Flight" (2021)

HALLCA released in November a brand new 2nd album titled "Paradise Gate" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), of which "Precious Flight" is the opening song. This song was composed by HALLCA and arranged by PellyColo.

A few days before the album release, HALLCA performed all of the album's songs from her home studio on her YouTube weekly program. Tune in every Sunday from 21:00 (JST) to hear a few songs and also chat.

In 2021, HALLCA also formed a new unit called HallKariMaako (Twitter), along with Seira Kariya and AmamiyaMaako. They released the mini-album "Terminal", and more recently a song titled "One day traveller".

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: hitomitoi, HALLCA, MANON

8. MANON "Girlfriend" (2021)

MANON (Instagram, Twitter) has just released last month a new song titled "Girlfriend" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song is produced by DJ Chari (Twitter, Instagram), with music written by ZOT on the WAVE and dubby bunny. Check out the 3DCG music video! There's also another one further down the page of another recent song, "Galchan Mode".