Posted on December 2, 2023 at 22:30. | Event held on Sunday December 3, 2023 at 12:30 (JST)
usabeni "textures!"
Self-produced idol Beni Usakura recently changed her solo artist name to usabeni (until then her nickname), with the digital release of new song "trip", and here comes a first mini-album under her new name, titled "textures!". Included is latest...
Posted on October 25, 2023 at 22:11. | Released on October 25, 2023
Childish Tones feat. Beni Usakura "Yesterday Once More" (7" Flexi + Download code)
A new release is coming from Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter)! This one is a cover of The Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" using the Japanese lyrics written by Shintarō Sakamoto as he once sang in...
Posted on June 17, 2023 at 22:46. | Released on July 14, 2023
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.38
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 April 21, 2023 at 12:33.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.35
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 January 20, 2023 at 00:04.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.33
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 November 18, 2022 at 22:33.
Beni Usakura "NEW" (Download)
Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) has just released a solo mini-album of 6 songs! Included are the recent "open mind" and on the "Passion" 2-song single, which were released in digital form (and also physically via Beni's online shop and at...
Posted on November 17, 2022 at 11:56. | Released on November 16, 2022
HALLCA "Seaside Bar" (Download)
HALLCA has just released digitally a new EP of 4 songs, titled "Seaside Bar"! Two of the songs were arranged by Blackstone Village (unit of Rillsoul) ("Dream Dancer" and "Jewel Rain"), while the two others by PellyColo ("Inner Heaven" and...
Posted on October 23, 2022 at 14:05. | Released on October 16, 2022
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Noël Nippon" édition 2021
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 December 19, 2021 at 02:42.
Mukaju Dan "Uminekogazer"
Techno-pop unit Mukaju Dan has just released a 2nd album! Mukaju Dan is a songwriting/production duo formed of Shock Tarō and Ton-chan (both previously of blue marble), and this new album features singer Misaki like on the previous, "Madoromu" (2020)....
Posted on December 5, 2021 at 00:37. | Released on November 24, 2021
Interview: BJ Rubin
Interview of BJ Rubin by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) BJ Rubin is the New Yorker who is behind the eclectic TV show titled "The BJ Rubin Show" that's currently being aired on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). The show...
Posted on February 27, 2021 at 22:00.
Posted on January 24, 2021 at 00:12. | Event held on Saturday January 30, 2021 at 11:30 (JST)
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.11
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 November 25, 2020 at 23:58.
Record Day 2020
Record Day 2020, ran by Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, is just about to happen this November 3rd. Being on the same day as Japan's "Culture Day", it's a day off well spent doing record shopping. Record Day items are...
Posted on November 3, 2020 at 01:59. | Released on November 3, 2020
RSD Drops Day 3: Elekibass, bjons, SAKA-SAMA, marble≠marble
This Saturday October 24 is Record Store Day's third and last "RSD Drops Day", which this year gave a chance buying the exclusive items online on the day of release in addition to physical shops. Online sales will start from...
Posted on October 23, 2020 at 13:31. | Released on October 24, 2020
Mukaju Dan "Madoromu"
7 years since blue marble's "full color", the songwriting/production duo formed of Shock Tarō and Ton-chan is back with a first full album as Mukaju Dan. Their sound is self-described as "Hyper Technology Pops", a blend of techno-pop and city...
Posted on August 5, 2020 at 13:17. | Released on August 7, 2020
Posted on August 5, 2020 at 00:46. | Event held on Friday August 7, 2020 at 19:30 (JST)
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.2
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 January 22, 2020 at 23:55.
Inoue Honoka "Sparkling Chinatown" (7")
Two songs from voice actress Inoue Honoka's excellent first mini-album "First Flight" are being released on 7"! This was written and produced by Mukaju Dan (ex-blue marble), and comes from the Luxury kayō label. The 7"'s sleeve is reversible....
Posted on June 25, 2017 at 14:17. | Released on June 28, 2017
Inoue Honoka "First Flight"
Voice actress Inoue Honoka has a debut album that was released just recently. This was entirely written and produced by Mukaju Dan, a production unit formed of Shock Tarou and Ton-chan, both songwriting members of blue marble (unit that ended...
Posted on January 12, 2017 at 22:58. | Released on December 28, 2016
Various Artists "sube no ana Presents 'HELLO!!! vol.8'"
This is an 8th edition of the genreless compilation series "HELLO!!!" from rapper DOTAMA's label "sube no ana". Included is a brand new song by blue marble, along with many more up-and-coming indies artists. Available on iTunes worldwide at a...
Posted on February 27, 2015 at 23:46. | Released on February 25, 2015
Gig report: "Frenesi school: The legendary end-of-business ceremony"
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound The last show I saw in 2014 was Frenesi, and it was a very special one. In November Frenesi announced that she would put a stop (though maybe temporary) to...
Posted on January 4, 2015 at 00:34.
Game Soundtrack "taiko no tatsujin Original Soundtrack 'Girls Pop Mania'"
This new mini-compilation soundtrack for long-running hit game "taiko no tatsujin" brings four new songs under the theme "girls pop mania". Featured artists are blue marble, Her Ghost Friend, Phenotas (band of which guitarist/composer Yamamoto Shō has produced songs for...
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 23:59. | Released on August 13, 2014
lyrical school "waratte.net / My kawaii nichijōtachi"
Rap idol unit lyrical school's latest single is new song "waratte.net" coupled with "My kawaii nichijōtachi" from album "date course". Both songs were written by Illreme ((((sssurrounddd)))). The limited edition contains two live tracks from a show held on November...
Posted on December 31, 2013 at 13:09. | Released on December 11, 2013
blue marble "full color"
blue marble is the songwriting unit of Shock Tarō (stage keyboardist for frenesi) and Ton-chan, which debuted with album "Valerie" in 2010. Now they have newly teamed up with singer Takei Mariko (previously in 8-bit unit usagi no heitai wa...
Posted on September 26, 2013 at 23:40. | Released on October 16, 2013
Gig report: blue marble, mishmash* Julie Watai
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday June 22 was an event presented by blue marble, a band that released first album "Valerie" (Amazon) four years ago to then sort of disappear. This was to...
Posted on June 29, 2013 at 11:26.
Gig report: Vanilla Beans band live with Kaji Hideki
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Until recently, Vanilla Beans had always performed their shows "idol style", singing karaoke over a backtrack of the music. Last year marked their 5th anniversary, and then came 3rd album...
Posted on May 3, 2013 at 20:01.
De De Mouse "sky was dark"
De De Mouse has a 4th album out now! This album is said to have a conceptual story tone based around the "time" keyword. HMV offers an extra CD of a non-album track (while supplies last). There's also a bonus...
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 00:11. | Released on October 17, 2012
Gig report: Beat Communist vol.10: Nakatsuka Takeshi, Kaji Hideki, akiko, P.O.P ORCHeSTRA
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday May 26 was the 10th edition of the "Beat Communist" event presented by Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone), which is regularly held every 3 months at jazz club JZ Brat....
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 23:20.
Kaji Hideki "Blue Heart"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new album out this week! This is a first release on his own label Blue Boys Club, coming 1½ year after "Teens Film" (a collaboration album with Riddim Saunter), and 2½ years after latest solo...
Posted on May 14, 2012 at 22:24. | Released on May 16, 2012
