Various Artists "Série Teorema #08: Senyum Harapan"
Série Teorema, the label recently started by mastering engineer Nagano Beat of Clinck Records, has released a new compilation CD just recently. This time it is selected by Hibiki Tokiwa (𝕏) — photographer, designer and DJ (long ago also known...
Posted on January 7, 2024 at 22:27. | Released on December 22, 2023
Rie Aono "Tokyo Magic"
City-pop singer Rie Aono is back with a 3rd original album. Following two albums produced by Seki Yoshihiko — "Pastoral" (2017) and "Rain or Shine" (2022) —, the new album "TOKYO Magic" consists of new music written and produced by...
Posted on November 15, 2023 at 09:06. | Released on November 15, 2023
Record Day 2023
Record Day is being held this year again, on November 3, coinciding with public holiday Culture Day. Below are some picks that are not to be missed from the November 3 crates, but there's also much more to be found...
Posted on November 3, 2023 at 11:43. | Released on November 3, 2023
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo corner"
One more compilation of the excellent "City Music Tokyo" series selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi, leader of city pop band Ryusenkei. This is a selection from Universal Music's repertory, the first on the label in this series (which was so far...
Posted on July 1, 2023 at 13:03. | Released on June 28, 2023
Interview: The Courettes in Japan
Interview & translation by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) Just one year after "Back in Mono", The Courettes made it to Japan to entertain, meet and greet their fans in Japan who seem to have been increasing very quickly. In...
Posted on March 28, 2023 at 12:32.
The Pen Friend Club "The Pen Friend Club" (12")
After a few delays, The Pen Friend Club's latest 8th album "The Pen Friend Club" is finally arriving on vinyl! It's the first but also last album featuring singer Megumi who had joined three years ago but is leaving the...
Posted on February 20, 2023 at 23:59. | Released on February 22, 2023
Record Day 2022 Day 2
It's still time to check out Record Day held a month ago on December 3, which had many great releases and therefore took me some time to write it up. It was the 2nd of two days, following November 3....
Posted on January 3, 2023 at 20:16. | Released on December 3, 2022
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.30
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...
Posted on August 12, 2022 at 09:00.
The Pen Friend Club "The Sun Is Up" (Download)
The Pen Friend Club has just released a brand new original song digitally, in advance of their upcoming 8th album "The Pen Friend Club". "The Sun Is Up" has music written by bassist Rie Nishioka. Check out the music...
Posted on July 17, 2022 at 00:30. | Released on July 13, 2022
Rie Aono "Rain or Shine"
Singer Rie Aono is releasing a 2nd solo album, the follow-up to "Pastoral" (2017) (Bandcamp, , Spotify, YouTube). With lyrics written by herself, the music was written, arranged and produced by Seki Yoshihiko in an AOR/city-pop sound. Check out the...
Posted on March 15, 2022 at 20:59. | Released on March 16, 2022
Rie Aono "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Download)
Rie Aono, who released the album "Pastoral" in 2017, has just released a brand new single digitally! The song is an original, of which the music was written and arranged by The Bookmarcs' Horasawa Tōru, with lyrics written by...
Posted on October 31, 2021 at 00:58. | Released on October 27, 2021
Various Artists "Kyohei Tsutsumi Song Book"
Famous songwriter Tsutsumi Kyōhei passed away last October at the age of 80. This album is a tribute made of brand new recordings, featuring the work of producers Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato One), Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Takebe Satoshi, Kameda Seiji,...
Posted on March 25, 2021 at 10:14. | Released on March 24, 2021
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights" (12")
Natsu Summer's latest album, "Hayama Nights" (2020), is getting a vinyl release! Produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), the album features collaborations with Kobayashi "Mimi" Izumi and Saigenji. Covers of Ryusenkei's "3gōsen" (aka "Route No.3 Shibuya") and Miyazawa Rie's "kokoro kara...
Posted on March 15, 2021 at 23:06. | Released on March 17, 2021
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo invitation"
Cunimondo Takiguchi, the leader of city pop band Ryusenkei (and also known as the producer of albums by hitomitoi and Natsu Summer), has selected this compilation of songs that have influenced him. While some are famous songs, others are rare...
Posted on November 8, 2020 at 21:48. | Released on November 4, 2020
Interview: Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi
Original interview text by Takashi Ikegami Translated from Japanese by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi (below "Mimi") is an interesting artist from actually many perspectives. First, there is the one where she expresses original works as the...
Posted on November 2, 2020 at 00:25.
Natsu Summer "ano koro, Poolside de / kokoro kara suki" (7")
Natsu Summer has a new 7" about to be released, of two songs from latest album "Hayama Nights"! A-side "ano koro, Poolside de" is a collaboration with Saigenji, and the B-side is a cover of Miyazawa Rie. Natsu Summer...
Posted on October 20, 2020 at 23:09. | Released on October 21, 2020
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights"
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer has a brand new album about to be released! Like her previous mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation", it is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei). The album features collaborations with Kobayashi Izumi (Mimi of...
Posted on August 4, 2020 at 00:55. | Released on August 5, 2020
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.7
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...
Posted on July 22, 2020 at 23:35.
Les Childish Tones avec Beni Usakura "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter), band that using only toy instruments, has a new single featuring singer Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram) about to be released! This time they cover Jane Birkin's "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (1978) and The Spiders' "Nati Bati...
Posted on March 16, 2020 at 00:52. | Released on March 25, 2020
The Pen Friend Club "Along Comes Mary / Love Can Go The Distance"
The Pen Friend Club, a band of eight that takes inspiration from 60's west coast rock, has a brand new single to be released this week! This is actually their last release featuring Fujimoto Yuka who had been the...
Posted on March 8, 2020 at 12:14. | Released on March 11, 2020
Clémentine "Café de POP from Tokyo Paris"
French singer Clémentine has just recently released a new album, a 4th of her "Café" series. Included are some new original songs, but also various covers of Shibuya-kei hit songs with lyrics translated to French (Pizzicato Five, Flipper's Guitar, Ozawa...
Posted on February 25, 2018 at 21:06. | Released on February 14, 2018
The Suzan "Konichiwa" (Download)
The Suzan, now the duo of sisters Saori and Rie, has recently released a new 3-song EP produced by Bjorn (of Peter Bjorn and John). It's available on iTunes, Spotify, etc. Check out the video for "Desire" here! The...
Posted on February 8, 2018 at 22:40. | Released on January 19, 2018
Blue Peppers "Retroactive"
Blue Peppers is a unit formed of Fukuda Naoki and Inoue Kaoru. After an EP and two singles, here comes their first full-length album, which features guest vocals by Hoshino Michiru and Sasaki Shiori. Aside from making their own music,...
Posted on December 31, 2017 at 11:07. | Released on November 15, 2017
Rie Aono "Pastoral"
Singer Aono Rie (who also fronts band Aono Rie & hums, and has sung in aoyama and Frog) has a first solo album being released! The whole has a cool city pop sound produced by Seki Yoshihiko with songs co-written...
Posted on October 15, 2017 at 23:28. | Released on October 18, 2017
Various Artists "Ace 2", "Ace ep" (7"x2)
Konishi Yasuharu compiles another CD from Sony's J-Pop hit catalog, consisting of songs that have not been released on 7". This follows the release of "Ace" last February that was the starting point to the release of several 7" singles...
Posted on September 12, 2017 at 23:20. | Released on September 13, 2017
"'Tasha Tudor - a still water story' Soundtrack"
"Tasha Tudor - a still water story" is a documentary movie by Japanese director Matsutani Mitsue that followed for ten years Tasha Tudor, a picture book writer and maker of beautiful gardens. This movie soundtrack features music by sione (aka...
Posted on May 4, 2017 at 21:34. | Released on May 15, 2017
Various Artists "Toy Chara Pop Collection Vol.1~3 Selected by DJ Fukutake"
DJ Fukutake, who selected the great "Yava-kayō" mix CD series, is back with this trio of compilations under a "Toy Character Pop" theme! Respectively subtitled "Hero & Hit", "Fancy & Kawaii" and "Video Game", each compilation is filled with Shōwa-era...
Posted on April 1, 2017 at 22:26. | Released on March 22, 2017
Nomiya Maki "otoko to onna 'Un Homme et Une Femme' ~ Nomiya Maki, French Shibuya-kei o utau."
Nomiya Maki has a brand new album just about to be released! This album has a theme of "French Shibuya-kei", highlighting bits of the French culture that influenced the Shibuya-kei scene. This is a 2-CD release of both a studio...
Posted on August 29, 2016 at 23:22. | Released on August 31, 2016
Sheena Ringo "gyaku yunyū ~Kowan-kyoku~"
In this special album, Sheena Ringo (self-)covers songs that she wrote for other artists. Not only that, each song has been rearranged by a different other artist. Featured arrangers include Maeyamada Kenichi (aka Hyadain), Ōtomo Yoshihide, Ōsawa Shinichi, Tomita Keiichi...
Posted on May 26, 2014 at 23:58. | Released on May 27, 2014
petit milady "petit miladear"
This is the first album by petit milady, the unit of voice actresses Yuki Aoi and Taketatsu Ayana. Most of the tracks are produced by Satō Seiki (microstar), and the included "Retro Future Mix" is by Elektel! All tracks can...
Posted on May 11, 2014 at 12:23. | Released on May 7, 2014
kotringo "birdcore!"
Pianist singer-songwriter kotringo has a new album out now! This contains the title track from latest single "dare ka watashi o", and guest artists include Aoki Takamasa, Murata Shige (Kuchiroro), Tabata Yoshiaki (Beautiful Hummingbird), and toy instrument player Yoshihara Rie....
Posted on April 30, 2014 at 23:29. | Released on April 30, 2014
Nakatsuka Takeshi "Swinger Song Writer"
Nakatsuka Takeshi (ex-Qypthone) has had an active solo career for some 10 years, and here comes a first greatest hits album that period. Alongside some all-time favorites, new song "Zero no mugen" (released digitally the week before) is included as...
Posted on April 20, 2014 at 15:58. | Released on April 23, 2014
Various Artists "Red Diamond ~Tribute to Yukihiro Takahashi~"
This is a tribute album to Yellow Magic Orchestra's Takahashi Yukihiro who celebrated his 60th anniversary last June 6. Included are new covers of Takahashi's songs from his whole career. O/S/T (Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius), Sunahara Yoshinori and Towa Tei) offers...
Posted on July 29, 2012 at 13:37. | Released on August 8, 2012
Various Artists "Girly Graffiti ~a letter from Paris~", "~from Liverpool with love~"
Two releases of this new series of cover compilations (all new recordings) titled "Girly Graffiti", both of which are have ties with the Orange Records family. The first one, an album of French-pop covers (though somehow "Da Da Da" made...
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 09:56. | Released on April 18, 2012
mito "Dawns"
mito, bassist of band clammbon, has a solo album coming next week. Featured are many guests including electronic artist agraph, pianist kotringo, and members of bands toe and Rovo. Plus, the album is mastered by Sunahara Yoshinori! Released at the...
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 01:26. | Released on May 18, 2011
Various Artists "Post Newnow - Crue-L Classic Remixes Vol.2 - Compiled by Kenji Takimi"
Here's a new remix compilation from Crue-L Records, compiled by Takimi Kenji. This includes songs by many Crue-L artists, remixed by Sunahara Yoshinori, Ken Ishii, Inoue Kaoru, Yura Yura Teikoku, and more. Many previously unreleased tracks, or ones on CD...
Posted on January 3, 2010 at 14:20. | Released on January 22, 2010
Various Artists "The Future Is Yours"
A new compilation from Crue-L Records brings us new sounds of Japanese music. All tracks are brand new and exclusive to this release. Featured are Crue-L regulars such as Fran-Key, Spikewave, Stoned Green Apples, and more. There are also two...
Posted on July 24, 2008 at 16:59. | Released on August 29, 2008
Various Artists "AKSB ~kore ga Akishibu-kei da!~"
There's a relatively new genre called Akishibu-kei, a mix of Shibuya-kei and Akiba-kei (the latter referring to cosplay idols singing in high-pitched voices over electro-pop), which is getting acknowledged by this compilation of anime songs from Victor's discography. Featured producers...
Posted on July 31, 2007 at 15:35. | Released on September 21, 2007
m-flo "Dope Space Nine"
m-flo has an upcoming remix and reproduction album of their recent "Beat Space Nine", featuring Japanese and overseas remixers. m-flo "Dope Space Nine" 1. One Day / Loves Katō Miriya (Remixed By Kreva) 2. So Exclusive / Loves Sowelu (Remixed...
Posted on September 21, 2005 at 10:58. | Released on November 2, 2005
m-flo "Beat Space Nine"
m-flo is to release a new album in August, once again featuring many guests! Aside from the two songs from the upcoming single with Emyli & Yoshika and Wada Akiko, are expected appearances by Kahimi Karie, Monday Michiru, Lisa (ex-m-flo)...
Posted on June 10, 2005 at 09:55. | Released on August 24, 2005
Riez! "Gente / Alone Again (Naturally)" (7")
Fashion model and trumpeter, we should already have heard Riez! (aka Yamaguchi Rie) as she has appeared on Nomoto Karia and Mizumori Ado's albums produced by Konishi Yasuharu. Her first album as a solo singer-songwriter, "Blue" was released in November...
Posted on April 28, 2005 at 15:29. | Released on May 17, 2005
Elektel "Bit Stream Lounge"
Elektel has a second album on the way on Astro Note Records, and will feature a lot of guests: cokeshi, Takami Yūko (ex. suitcase rhodes), Kaori (from dahlia), Saeki Kenzō (Pearl Brothers), Tomoko (from Jellyfish), Inomata Lie, Magnaroid (from Magma),...
Posted on January 29, 2005 at 11:27. | Released on March 23, 2005
Various Artists "Yellow Magic kayōkyoku" & "Techno Magic kayōkyoku"
Two interesting compilations of 80's techno-pop/kayō, certainly containing a lot of gems, will be released in February at a relatively low price. The first compilation has 3 CDs and consists of only songs written/produced by Yellow Magic Orchestra members (Sakamoto...
Posted on December 7, 2004 at 17:54. | Released on February 23, 2005
