Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.25

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.25) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on March 10, 2022 from 20:30 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: March 11, 2022 from 10:30 a.m.

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

EST/EDT (Montréal/New York) —: Fri. March 11 at 16h30, Mon. 14 at 12h30, Tue. 15 at 8h30, Wed. 16 at 4h30, Thurs. 17 at 0h30
Japan time —: Sat. Feb. 12 at 6h30, Tue. 15 at 1h30, Tue. 15 at 21h30, Wed. 16 at 17h30, Thurs. 17 at 13h30

Listen to the Spotify playlist of the songs played, 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. KOMONO LAKE "Justified" (2021)

KOMONO LAKE is a unit with a theme of "natural style city pop", formed of singer Kanbin (also an illustrator), London-born producer SKYTOPIA (Facebook page) (ex-Kero Kero Bonito), and bassist Kuroji. The song The song "Justified" is the title track of their 2nd EP released digitally in January (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

This followed 1st EP "LAKE" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which was released last year. Check out their YouTube channel which for covers and more, as well as a home session from last October.

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: KOMONO LAKE, MIDORINOMARU

2. MIDORINOMARU "UP!UP!" (2021)

MIDORINOMARU is an instrumental piano & drums duo that was formed in 2010, featuring pianist NiKA and drummer Akihiro Mitsuboshi (both also members of The ZOOT16, band led by Toshimi Watanabe of Tokyo No.1 Soul Set). "UP!UP!" is from their 6th album "Mellow", which was released last year first in physical form (via their official online shop, shipping within Japan) and just recently for digital streaming (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

An LP edition of "Mellow" is planned to be released in May, containing 9 of the album's songs. Pre-orders can already be placed at Jet Set, Amazon, HMV and Tower Records (Tower ships only within Japan).

3. Nakama Sounds "Ai no Kyouhansha feat. Yuki Ijuuin" (2021)
(Japanese title: Nakama Sounds 「愛の共犯者 feat. 伊集院幸希」)

Nakama Sounds (Instagram) is a collaborative music project based in San Francisco, California, by Marty Garrett (also a member of band Ichiban (Bandcamp, Instagram)). "Ai no Kyouhansha" (Bandcamp, , Spotify, YouTube Music) is the first single that was released last year, an original song with lyrics written and sung by Japan-based singer-songwriter Yuki Ijūin (Twitter, YouTube).

Since then, Nakama Sounds has released another song, a cover of Rumi Koyama's "gutto,, gaman shite!!" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) sung by Odoru Mie. Also, Ichiban released a new EP in December titled "Take the Stage" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music).

4. GOOD BYE APRIL "missing summer" (2021)

Good Bye April is a band that takes inspiration from 70s new music, city pop and 80s sound, with their added touch of fresh air. The song "missing summer" appears on their new full-length album "swing in the dark" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) that was just released in January, featuring guest musicians are trumpeter Yūsuke Orita and Junnosuke Fujita (both of TRI4TH), trombonist Kayoko Yuasa and pianist Yūshō Kiyono.

A 7" of album tracks "Sailor fuku to kikanju" (known as the debut song of Hiroko Yakushimaru) and "feel my hush" was released for City Pop on Vinyl 2021.

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Nakama Sounds, GOOD BYE APRIL, COUNTJOKE

5. COUNTJOKE "Trendy Grace" (2021)
(Japanese title: 冗談伯爵 jōdan hakushaku "Trendy Grace")

COUNTJOKE is the unit of Naoki Maezono and Toshiya Arai. The song "Trendy Grace" is from their first official album "ONE" (2021) (Spotify, , YouTube Music, OTOTOY), released on vinyl for Record Store Day 2021.

COUNTJOKE has since released a 7" single titled "Love Step", of which the title song can be heard digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music). They have also recently produced the two first 7" singles of 10-year-old singer Sotaro (Twitter), "Parade" and "Someday, whose first mini-album "Smile" will be released this March.

6. Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys "asa made odorō" (2019)
(Japanese title: サニー久保田とオールドラッキーボーイズ「朝まで踊ろう」)

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys is a band of currently 8 members, led by singer-songwriter Kubota Shingo, once the frontman of '70s band new wave band 8½ and known as being one half of "The Stardust Brothers" (a cult rock musical movie from 1985, which was followed by a sequel some 30 years later). The band also features guitarist Muramatsu Kunio (ex-Sugar Babe), keyboardist Kotaki Mitsuru (ex-Cinema), bassist Yajima Chikara (ex-8 1/2) among others, not to forget "mascot boy" Sasha who was once a roadie for Pizzicato Five and Boredoms. The song "asa made odorō" (translates to "Let's dance until the morning") is taken from their 3rd and latest album "The man who calls bliss." (2019) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys have been playing monthly shows at Harajuku Crocodile, which are also streamed live online. Their next will be on March 20, and details can be found here on Tokyo's Coolest Sound's Live streaming calendar.

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys, Monari Wakita

7. Monari Wakita "CUTi-BiL" (2018)
(Japanese title: 脇田もなり「CUTi-BiL」)

This episode closes with a song from singer Wakita Monari's 2nd album "Ahead!" (2018) (Spotify, , YouTube Music). "CUTi-BiL" is a favorite from that album, with music written by Jun Sasaki (ex-Cosa Nostra) and lyrics by his wife Kaori Hifumi. A few copies of the album's vinyl edition are still available at Amazon Japan.

Monari's latest album is titled "Right Here" (2019) (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and since then she released a 7" titled "Place" of which the title song can be heard digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).