Tokyo's Coolest Sound

First released on CD last December, this tribute album to Haruomi Hosono supervised by Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five) is finally being released on vinyl.

Included are covers of Hosono's works, mainly performed in the spontaneous style of a musician playing an instrument and singing. There are also a few live performances, plus a previously unreleased demo take by Hosono. The album takes its name from the regular event "Coffee House mona records" held every two months at mona records in Shimokitazawa and organized by Konishi. In March 2025, Hosono had made a special appearance and performed with his guitar for the lucky crowd of the packed small venue.

This album has not been released digitally, but sampler clips can be heard on YouTube below.

Various Artists "Haraiso, no ongaku - Coffee House mona records no Hosono Haruomi san Tribute Album" (12")
オムニバス 「はらいそ、の音楽 コーヒーハウス・モナレコーズの細野晴臣さんトリビュート・アルバム」

A1. Ballade of Aya / Ino hidefumi
A2. Shin Shin Shin / Kaneda Kouhei (The Love Ningen)
A3. Fūraibō / Konishi Yasuharu
A4. Tokyo Shyness Boy / Wataru Sawabe (Skirt)
A5. Hong Kong Blues (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Haruomi Hosono
A6. Natsu Nandesu / Masahiro Naoe
A7. Fukuwauchi Oniwasoto / Tetsurō Yafune
B1. Owari no Kisetsu (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Konishi Yasuharu
B2. Haraiso / John & Paul
B3. Shimendōka / Naoki Itō
B4. Koiwa Momoiro (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Haruomi Hosono
B5. Koiwa Momoiro / YOSSY LITTLE NOISE WEAVER
B6. Liebesträume (Demo Version) / Haruomi Hosono

Ultra-Vybe VBCD-0127LP
Out 8/19, ¥4500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Playlist of sampler clips

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.71) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on Fri. August 7, 2026 from 14:30 and 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: Sat. August 8, 2026 from 3:30 and 9:30

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 (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 you can listen to.

1. Delivery Kamisama "The Reddening Miniature Garden" (2026)
(Japanese title: デリバリー神様 「赫らむ箱庭」 "akaramu hakoniwa")

Delivery Kamisama (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2024 in Osaka, and currently features four members. "The Reddening Miniature Garden" (or in Japanese "akaramu hakoniwa") is their latest and 4th single released digitally in July (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Check out the music video below!

🎙️ Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Delivery Kamisama, usabeni & A-bug

2. usabeni & A-bug "Heart Lag" (2026)

"Heart Lag" is the latest song by usabeni (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) (a.k.a. Beni Usakura), made in collaboration with the Brazilian producer/trackmaker A-bug (Instagram, 𝕏). The music was co-written by the two, and the lyrics written by usabeni. It's available on download/streaming platforms: Spotify, , YouTube Music.

This release came shortly after "Not Your Idol (A-bug Remix)", a remix that A-bug made earlier this year of a song from usabeni's album "Because my Idol".

Upcoming usabeni shows include the event "With Your Love" on August 17 at Gakugei-daigaku Maple House (details). Find her complete schedule here.

3. Bakubaku Dokin "Soda no yume" (2010)
(Japanese title: バクバクドキン 「ソーダの夢」)

Wacky and mysterious unit Bakubaku Dokin (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) has recently been active updating their Instagram with music videos covering their whole career which started in 2010. The song "Soda no yume" is a flashback from their debut EP: Spotify, , YouTube Music.

This July they started a regular DJ event named "Hiru-Hachi - Double Sider", held in the afternoon of the 2nd Sunday of odd months, at Aoyama Hachi. Watch their Instagram and 𝕏 for details.

4. TAMAYURAM "Pink, Pink, Pink!" (2026)
(Japanese title: TAMAYURAM 「ぴんく、ピンク、Pink！」)

From the 3rd single of TAMAYURAM, the collaboration unit of Mayutan (Instagram, 𝕏) (Masakosan, Tokyo Kakehiki Club, etc.) and Rukatama (Instagram) produced by Takurō Gō (Detune.), this is the title song "Pink, Pink, Pink!". It's a cover of a song that was featured in the 80's children's TV show "dokincho! nemurin", and was originally sung by Satoko Yamano.

The single is available only on tanzaku CD (mini-sized 3"/8cm CD), and was released for Tanzaku CD Day 2026. It can be ordered from CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, etc. All three TAMAYURAM releases so far are tanzaku CDs.

🎙️ Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Bakubaku Dokin, TAMAYURAM, Reo Ohtori

5. Reo Ohtori "Ressha de Hoshi e" (2026)
(Japanese title: 鳳レオ 「列車で星へ」)

Reo Ohtori (Instagram) is a newcomer mysterious singer-songwriter based in Japan, who takes inspiration from the 80s and 90s.

His first single "Ressha de Hoshi e" (translates to "Train to the Stars") is described as "Blending nostalgic melodies with dreamy atmospheres, the song follows an imaginary journey through the night toward something distant, unknown, and hopeful. It is a song about escape, wonder, and finding beauty in places most people pass by without noticing." The song is available digitally: Spotify, , YouTube Music.

6. hitomitoi "Before You Go feat. Los Retros" (2025)
(Japanese title: 一十三十一 「Before You Go feat. Los Retros」)

Here is a collaboration of Hitomitoi with California-based arist Los Retros, from Hitomitoi's latest album "Telepa Telepa" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Los Retros was in Tokyo early July, for the first time in Japan, and performed a concert with Jintana & Emerlads, the "neo doo-wop" group Hitomitoi is part of.

Also check out Los Retros' album "Odisea" (Bandcamp) on which the song "hazeru mono" features Hitomitoi.

🎙️ Listen to Narration III
Presenting: hitomitoi, Bajune Tobeta

7. Bajune Tobeta "After the Silence (with Christian Fennesz)" (2026)

From the upcoming album of Tokyo-based composer, producer and acoustic researcher Bajune Tobeta (Bandcamp, Instagram), the song "After the Silence" was released in advance digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It's a collaboration with Austrian electronic artist Christian Fennesz. Both Fennesz and Tobeta have worked with Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Tobeta comments as follows about the track:

"Christian recorded two albums with Sakamoto (2007's Cendre and 2017's Flumina), and I came up through his Tokyo production house. We had never recorded together until this track. We worked between Tokyo and Vienna, sending sounds back and forth. The title points to what emerges in the space after silence, a question that has taken on new resonance since Sakamoto's passing."

Bajune Tobeta's new 5-song album "Anechoic" will be released digitally on August 14, and can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp. Check out the official release page to learn more.

Album trailer clip

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

Find information about all previous episodes of this radio show right here.

Cornelius' new album "Refractions" is coming this August. It contains a total of 10 songs including the three released digitally recently — "Twisting & Glistening", "Aeons (feat. Sean Ono Lennon)" and "Yumenemi" (a cover of Yōsui Inoue) —, as well as "Bad Advice" (feat. Arto Lindsay) (2024). In addition to guests Sean Ono Lennon, Arto Lindsay and Bid, the song "Mazaranai" also has lyrics that were written by Shintarō Sakamoto. Check out the music videos below! It had already been three years since his previous album "Dream In Dream".

The Japanese CD edition is available at the shops linked below. HMV and Tower Records are still offering a free promo sticker at time of writing. Also, the international label Eat Your Own Ears has posted a store link for UK pre-orders of the CD & LP.

A tour of Japan for the new album will be held in September and October. Regular ticket sales start on August 8 at 10:00. Find details here. Meanwhile, a documentary of the tour for the previous album "Dream In Dream" has been published on YouTube in two parts: Part 1 & Part 2.

Cornelius "Refractions"

1. Refractions
2. Mazaranai
3. You Make me Cyborg / Cornelius · Bid
4. Aeons / Cornelius · Sean Ono Lennon
5. Mirrors
6. Bad Advice / Cornelius · Arto Lindsay
7. Yumenemi
8. Mind Train
9. Twisting & Glistening
10. Dissolving Line

Warner Music Japan WPCL-13774
Out 8/19, ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Aeons feat. Sean Ono Lennon"

"Yumenemi"

Loupx garoux (𝕏) has recently released a brand new 2nd album titled "Haunt". It's the follow-up to album "Anya" (2024) (Bandcamp, OTOTOY, , Spotify). The album is available digitally on Bandcamp and other download/streaming platforms, and also on CD.

Loupx garoux is fronted by singer-songwriter Mariko Nii, and also featuring drummer Yurina da Gold Digger (of Magic, Love & Drums), bassist okan (of roijypsy and WAO!), and keyboardist Romantic (ex-Bakudan Johnny).

A special show for the release will be held on September 11 at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar. Details and tickets can be found here. Also, an in-store event with a mini-live by singer Mariko Nii will be held on August 8 at Disk Union Ochanomizu from 18:00 (details), free to watch and followed by an autograph session.

Loupx garoux "HAUNT"

1. RAVEN
2. HAUNT
3. KISS DISS
4. ARISE
5. all day long
6. Make Some Noise
7. (RE)LOADED (album ver.)

Trash-Up!! Records TUR064
Out now (6/24), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.