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.37) will air at https://lafaceb.live on March 16 from 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: March 17, 2023 from 9:30 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 (EDT).

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. nicely nice "Crescent Moon" (2021)

nicely nice is the solo project of Seiki Satō, the composing member of microstar. Sung by himself, "Crescent Moon" is a cover of TESTPATTERN, originally from their 1982 album "Après-midi" (which was then produced by Haruomi Hosono). nicely nice's cover is included on album "The Adventures of Nicely Nice" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), available on CD and on vinyl (still available at this time at HMV, it includes a download code).

Just recently, Seiki Satō produced a song for Australia-based neo city pop singer-songwriter Jun Parker, titled "Dancing in the Dark". Other recent news include the CD re-issue of microstar's 1st album "microstar album".

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: nicely nice, Madoka Ogino

2. Madoka Ogino "Asagiribashi" (2023)
(Japanese title: 荻野まどか 「朝霧橋」)

Kyoto-born Madoka Ogino (Facebook page) released last month her first mini-album, titled "La japonaise" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song "Asagiribashi" (meaning "Asagiri Bridge"), of which the video can be watched below, was written by Shigeo Naka (The Surf Coasters) and performed by Frankie and the Pool Boys from San Francisco. Two other songs on the mini-album were also written by Shigeo Naka, and a cover of Momoe Yamaguchi's "ii hi tabidachi" is also included.

Madoka aims to be an ambassador telling the world about Japanese culture. She is also a kimono model, and posed on the cover of Shigeo Naka's latest solo album "Nippon Eleki Beat!! Vol.1".

3. The Pen Friend Club "Beyond The Railroad" (2022)

This song by The Pen Friend Club is from their latest 8th album "The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which is available on CD and vinyl.

The Pen Friend Club was just recently joined by a new lead singer named Niina, who is half-British and Japanese, replacing Megumi (who was in the band for approx. 3 years and sang on the latest album). The first show with Niina will be held on April 22 at mona records, in an event also featuring Hideki Kaji, Wack Wack Rhythm Band and Grenfelle (details here).

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: The Pen Friend Club, Super Gentle

4. Super Gentle "Fireworks (SZK mix)" (2023)
(Japanese title: Super Gentle 「花火(SZK mix)」 "hanabi (SZK mix)")

This is a new song by Super Gentle, a rock band fronted by Reiko Watanabe (Twitter) (also of band Tetsuko). "Fireworks (SZK mix)" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) was released digitally in February and will be part of their 2nd album titled "Dancing Baby" coming on March 22 — note that "SZK" is the drummer's name and is read "Suzaku". The music video below was animated by Joe Nakamura. More of Super Gentle's songs can be heard on YouTube.

A release party for the new album will be held on Friday April 14 at Koenji U.F.O. Club, and there will also be a show in Osaka on April 23.

5. CHiLi GiRL "Scrolling Girl" (2023)

CHiLi GiRL is the project of singer-songwriter and shamisen player Shinobu Kawashima. A new song titled "Scrolling Girl" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) has just been released digitally. It's a dreamy dance-pop tune with some shamisen sounds. This release follows single "Make You, Make Me" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which was played in this radio show before. Also check out her album "Mebae" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) released last year.

A release event named "Love Spice Club", celebrating the new song, will be held on Sunday April 16 at Shibuya Home, starting at 18:30. Tickets are available at e+.

6. Monari Wakita "Monari no 8-Beat" (2023)
(Japanese title: 脇田もなり 「もなりの8ビート」)

This is Monari Wakita's latest song, from her brand new 7" single released in January. "Monari no 8-Beat" has music written and produced by Dorian (Twitter) and is described as a "hyper 8-beat track". Only the 7" A-side is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music), while its B-side is an exclusive new remix of her song "ao no yume" (first released on 2nd album "Ahead!") re-arranged by Dorian with a lovers' rock vibe. The 7" comes with a link to download both songs.

This new single follows "La Shangri La" released last year, which was also produced by Dorian. Its title song can also be heard digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music)

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: CHiLi GiRL, Monari Wakita, CTO LAB.

7. CTO LAB. "not(.)but(,)" (2018)

Last of this episode is a song by CTO LAB., the gadget techno-pop unit and supergroup of Tohru Okada (Moonriders), polymoog (Elektel) and Imai Kentaro (The Aprils). On February 14, Tohru Okada passed away at the age of 73. I had the great pleasure of twice writing some lyrics for CTO LAB., and Okada-san even sang some of my words on the song "Nazo No Enban", which made me very happy. The song played this time is one that he wrote, titled "not(.)but(,)" (I think read "not dot but comma"), also from album "Beyond The Box" (Spotify, ).

I already miss Okada-san very much, but I know that there's still a lot of his music that I have yet to find out about, either in the vast collection of Moonriders' releases and also countless collaborations with other artists, so I still expect to be happily surprised whenever I stumble upon his sounds. R.I.P.

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