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.48) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on April 18 from 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: April 19, 2024 from 9:30 a.m.

This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks.

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 which you can listen to.

1. Tetsuko "Holy girl Tetsuko" (2024)
(Japanese title: Tetsuko 「聖少女☆テツコ」)

Sweet punk trio Tetsuko (Instagram, 𝕏), a band formed in 1999, released in March a brand new album titled "Curl", on which appears the song "Holy girl Tetsuko" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album takes some inspiration from their favorite bands such as The Beatles and The Hi-Lows, with touches of 70s music, 80s new wave, 90s Brit Pop and recent mild psychedelic bands from the UK, US and Australia, all turned into their signature Tetsuko sound. Check out the music video below!

Tetsuko has an upcoming show on May 5 at Akihabara Club Goodman. Find details here.

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Tetsuko, Cocopuff Club

2. Cocopuff Club "My First Tattoo" (2024)

Cocopuff Club (Bandcamp) is the new solo project of COCO (𝕏, Instagram), guitarist and lead singer of THE LET'S GO's, has released a song under the name Cocopuff Club, her new solo project! The first song, released last month, is "My First Tattoo" (Bandcamp). COCO sings in English about her thoughts of getting a tattoo. The lyrics mention Nicky Corvette with who she toured Japan last year as a member of Nicky and the Tokyo Corvettes. There's word that Cocopuff Club aims at releasing a new song every month.

THE LET'S GO's can next be seen in Tokyo on May 3 at Nishi-Eifuku Jam, part of "Jam Fes 2024", and then on May 6 at Shibasaki Rathole. Find details and their full schedule on the official site.

3. Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods "Living Dead of Akatsuki" (2024)
(Japanese title: 中村ジョー＆イーストウッズ 「暁のリビングデッド」 "Akatsuki no Living Dead")

Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods is a band that was formed in 2014, and has a concept of "garage soul meets city pop". They have just released their first album titled "Hello City Lights" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Check out the music video of the song "Living Dead of Akatsuki" below, a zombie feature directed and illustrated by Joe Nakamura himself.

The album is available as a limited LP, as well as digitally. It was mixed and mastered by Keiichi Sokabe (Sunny Day Service).

Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods can be seen live on May 17 at Shimokitazawa Live Haus. Find details here.

4. CHiLi GiRL "Secret Secret" (2024)

This is the latest song by CHiLi GiRL, the project of singer-songwriter and shamisen player Shinobu Kawashima mixing traditional sounds and city music. Titled "Secret Secret" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), the music production was done in collaboration with drummer & video director Shin Watanabe, who also shot and directed the song's music video. Watch it below!

This song was acclaimed by Reiji Okii (Tweedees, ex-Cymbals).

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods, CHiLi GiRL, HALLCA & kukatachii

5. HALLCA & kukatachii "Romantic" (2024)

The new song of HALLCA is a collaboration with pop dance band kukatachii, titled "Romantic" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Check it out on your favorite download/streaming platform. A music video should also be coming. This follows the release of three songs by HALLCA last summer: "Night Driver", "Sugar" and "Mind's Eye".

HALLCA, who has been broadcasting live on YouTube most Sundays since 2019, reached in March her 200th episode(!) and held a special event for it. The music & talk event can be watched on YouTube.

6. Maika Loubté "Shinsho Volcano" (2024)
(Japanese title: Maika Loubté 「心象volcano」)

Maika Loubté released this month a new song digitally, titled "Shinshō Volcano" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). It is inspired by a visit she made to Nagashima Aiseien (National Sanatorium for Hansen's Disease Patients). You can read about her experience and the thoughts she put into the song, in a text in the song's description on Bandcamp.

Last month, Maika also released a 7-minute piano EP inspired by a novel from 1962, written by a 9-year-old girl named Megumi Takaku's "Sotetsu's Flute". The EP is titled "Sotetsu's Flute, Pebble of 2024 (Prototype)", and it's available for free on Bandcamp.

On May 25, Maika will be part of event "Deep Dive in sync with Ghost In The Shell" at Zepp Shinjuku. Find details here, and Maika's full schedule on her official site.

7. U-zhaan × Tamaki Roy × Chinza Dopeness "Bunka" (2021)
(Japanese title: U-zhaan × 環ROY × 鎮座DOPENESS 「BUNKA」)

Next is a collaboration by tabla player U-zhaan with rappers Tamaki Roy & Chinza Dopeness. "Bunka" gives respect to their various influences. It was included on album "tanoshimi" (2021) (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and there's also a cool music video that you can watch below.

I went to U-zhaan and violinist Yuji Katsui (ROVO)'s regular event "Four Forty Lunch Live" the other day at Shimokitazawa 440, and that's what prompted me to play this song this time. The next of the series will be on June 1st. U-zhaan's full schedule can be found here.

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Maika Loubté, U-zhaan × Tamaki Roy × Chinza Dopeness, Haruko Tajima

8. Haruko Tajima "Gal Ninja feat. Hatsune Miku" (2024)
(Japanese title: 田島ハルコ 「GAL NINJA feat. 初音ミク」)

The last song this time is a new one by Haruko Tajima (Instagram, 𝕏). Featuring Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku, it's titled "Gal Ninja" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Check out the music video below!

Another new song ttiled "Who? (@Ri@N@ Gr@Nde)" was just released this week (Bandcamp, YouTube Music, , Spotify).

Haruko Tajima will host an event titled "Disco 2001" on May 6 from 12:30 at Shinjuku Rock Cafe Loft, also featuring perfect young lady and DJ Buddha Limit, and of course a live performance by Haruko who will also DJ and do a pop-up of New Wave Gal Shop. Find details here.

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.