Tokyo's Coolest Sound

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.

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.34) will air at https://lafaceb.live on December 15 from 20:30 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: December 16, 2022 from 10:30 a.m.

This episode was not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks, between Thursday noon and Friday noon (EST) though exact times are not available at the moment.

Listen to the Spotify playlist of some of the songs played (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. Sally Kubota Group feat. Natsumi Kiyoura "Just What I Always Wanted" (2022)
(Japanese title: サリー久保田グループ feat. 清浦夏実 Sally Kubota Group feat. Kiyoura Natsumi 「マリのピンクのラヴソング」 "Mari no Pink na Love Song")

Sally Kubota Group is the latest project of bassist and producer Sally Kubota (The Scooters, ex-SOLEIL, The Phantom Gift, Les 5-4-3-2-1). He recently started a series of cover EPs featuring female singers, and the 2nd one, titled "Just What I Always Wanted" released in November features Natsumi Kiyoura (singer of the band Tweedees). Here is the title song, a cover of Mari Wilson's "Just What I Always Wanted".

Also check out the previous EP, which featured Emiri Kanou, "Video Killed The Radio Star".

The EP's songs aren't available digitally (rather on CD only), but a teaser clip can be seen on Twitter.

Tweedees have just released last week a brand new album titled "World Record" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), so I added a song from this one to this episode's Spotify playlist, actually it's a cover of the song "Le Coeur Qui Fuzz" which they had contributed to SOLEIL, Sally Kubota's previous band.

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Sally Kubota Group feat. Natsumi Kiyoura, nature airliner

2. nature airliner "Temps de fête" (2012)

nature airliner is a Tokyo-based duo formed of Canadian Laurent Tiernan and his Japanese wife Eiko. In 2022, they have released their first album "Cardinal" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). I have chosen to present the song "Temps de fête" which is a duet sung in French by the two, a song which was first released as a digital single in 2012.

Also check out the unit's latest music video, of the song "Letting Go". Tiernan also recently released a new solo song, "End It (With Me)", which has a great animated video directed by Canadian Marc Carpentier also based in Tokyo.

3. CHiLi GiRL "Make You, Make Me" (2022)

Just released digitally in December, this Shibuya-kei-sounding track is the latest song by CHiLi GiRL, the solo project of singer-songwriter and shamisen player Shinobu Kawashima.

This follows her first full-length album as CHiLi GiRL, "Mebae" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) released earlier this year. Aside from being a singer-songwriter, the artist also plays the traditional Japanese stringed instrument named shamisen.

4. Toshiyuki Yasuda "Winter Song (Shoko with Robo*Brazileira)" (2005)

Here's a song by Toshiyuki Yasuda from his album "WITH ROBO*BRAZILEIRA" (2005) (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Last year, the artist played all songs from his debut album "ROBO*BRAZILEIRA" (that one released in 2000) on a felt piano with a soft and soothing sound. The resulting album is "Once a Robot Sings (Piano Solos of Robo*Brazileira)" which was released digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and also sold as a download card that can be ordered at the artist's official online shop.

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: CHiLi GiRL, Toshiyuki Yasuda, Sloppy Joe

5. Sloppy Joe "Winter Song" (2011)

Next is another "Winter Song", this one by indie pop band Sloppy Joe (Facebook page). It is from their 1st album "With Kisses Four". That album was remastered in 2020 and released digitally (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) as well as on vinyl, the latter of which a few copies can still be found at the band's Bandcamp.

Sloppy Joe's 2nd and latest album is "Waiting For The Night Begins" (2020) (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). This one is also available on CD & vinyl via Bandcamp.

6. Vacation Three "Sweet Magic" (2018)

This song is from the first album of Vacation Three, titled "One" (2018) (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). Vacation Three is a trio formed of singer/guitarist (aka NUBACK, also of BANK, ex-Arch), saxophonist Kōichirō Nakamoto and percussionist Okyon.

Dai Nakamura just recently released a 2-song digital EP, "About Hunger / Color Field" (2022) (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music).

7. Amane TRiLL "Fortune Town feat. Woddyfunk" (2021)
(Japanese title: アマネトリル 「FORTUNE TOWN feat. WODDYFUNK」)

Amane TRiLL is a city pop male duo, and "Fortune Town" is a recent Christmas song of theirs which features Japan's "Queen of Talkbox" WODDYFUNK. The song was released last year digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and a 7" of was released for Record Day 2022 on December 2.

Amane TRiLL released this year a new album tiitled "SUSTAiN" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Vacation Three, Amane Trill, The Pen Friend Club

8. The Pen Friend Club "Little Saint Nick" (2018)

The last song is a Christmas song cover by The Pen Friend Club, from their 2018 album "Merry Christmas from The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

The Pen Friend Club released this year a brand new album with current vocalist Megumi, titled "The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). A vinyl edition is planned to be released this month!

It has been announced though that singer Megumi will be leaving the group in March 2023. Meanwhile, there are a few shows with her remaining, including a free one at the Iwashita New Ginger Museum on Saturday, December 17 from 15:30 (a free reservation is required, see the details). There will also be a show at Shimokitazawa Club Que on Sunday, January 20, along with Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura and Grenfelle. Find schedule details at The Pen Friend Club's website.

Thank you for tuning in! Information about replays can be found at the top of the page.

Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some older ones on Mixcloud.