Tokyo's Coolest Sound

VIOLAVIE (YouTube, 𝕏, Instagram), the idol group produced by Emiri Kanou, has released a first EP titled "Destiny". Included are new songs "Destiny", which has music co-written by ISAFAT and Emiri, and "Tailwind", composed by Hyoe Yasuhara. All lyrics were written by Emiri.

Also included is a re-recorded version of "Birthday", a song from the single released in April. VIOLAVIE is now formed of four members: Konoha, Mioha, Mitsuki and Saaya.

A release party will be held on October 26 at Ebisu Batica, starting at noon. The event will also feature guests ISAFAT and HALLCA. Find details here, and other live information in their full schedule. An event with Tetsuro Yafune and Tetsuto Yoshida, and DJ Yasuhiro Hase (Yume to Cosme) has also been announced to be held on December 14 (details and reservation form).

By the way, there was news this week that Emiri Kanou got married with actor Kū Ijima. Congratulations! 🎉

VIOLAVIE "Destiny" (Download)

1. Destiny
2. Tailwind
3. BIRTHDAY (Re-recorded)

Blute Company
Out (10/9)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Sampler clip

"Destiny" dance practice

DJ 810 of Tokyo's Coolest Sound is organizing the event below with longtime friend polymoog (ELEKTEL/CTO LAB.). Come by for a late-afternoon/early-evening of good music (with lounge, electro, pop, Shibuya-kei, and beyond).

Check out the details below in Japanese & English.

"POLY-810"

polymoog (ELEKTEL/CTO LAB.) と
DJ 810 (Tokyo's Coolest Sound/CHILDISH TONES)
によるDJイベントを開催します！

2024年11月10日(日)
浅草 オドリバ （KAMINARI 2F）
17:00 〜 22:00
CHARGE ￥1000 + 1 drink order

住所: 台東区雷門2-13-1 KAMINARI 2F オドリバ (Google Maps)
アクセス: 東京メトロ銀座線 都営浅草線 / 浅草駅から徒歩3分

入場方法: 受付のみ1Fほしや
★ほしやでお酒・お飲み物やおつまみをテイクアウトすることができます！（テイクアウト利用のみ）

🍪 おすすめ情報 🍪
11/8(金)までご予約の方には、西荻窪Kiesのクッキーのミニセットをプレゼントします！
（※ クッキーのプレゼントはオドリバでお渡しします。DJ 810かpolymoogにお声がけください。）

予約フォーム
お問い合わせ

"POLY-810" (English)

A DJ event featuring:
polymoog (ELEKTEL/CTO LAB.) &
DJ 810 (Tokyo's Coolest Sound/CHILDISH TONES)

Sunday, November 10, 2024
Asakusa Odoriba (Kaminari 2F)
From 17:00 to 22:00
Charge: ¥1000 + 1 drink order

Place: Odoriba, Kaminari 2F, 2-13-1 Kaminarimon, Daitō-ku (Google Maps)
Access: 3 min. from Asakusa station (Tokyo Metro Ginza & Toei Asakusa lines)

Admission: First check-in at Hoshiya, 1F
* Drinks and alcohol, snacks can be purchased to go at Hoshiya! (Take away only)

🍪 Special bonus 🍪
Those who reserve by Friday, November 8 will be given a mini set of cookies from Nishi-Ogikubo Kies!
(* The cookies will be given at Odoriba 2F. Please ask DJ 810 or polymoog.)

Reservation form
Contact

Self-produced idol usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura) has released a new single titled "Patchwork", to commemorate the 10th anniversary since her debut. The song "Patchwork" was written by Tsuruuchi Hana, a long-time collaborator who also wrote several songs for avandoned, and more recently the song "Cosmic Dress" (which appeared on mini-album "textures!"). The lyrics were co-written by usabeni. Check out the music video below, directed and edited by herself!

A limited CD edition with two exclusive bonus tracks is available in premium and regular editions at Naruheson;s, though only shipping within Japan.

This release follows EP "AIR", since which two collaborations with former groupmate nonayu were also released: "Ice Bahn" and "PEEK-A-BOO!".

usabeni has shows in Tokyo today October 8, at Akihabara Club Goodman, and tomorrow October 9, at Shindaita Fever. Later this month she will perform twice in Bangkok (Thailand), on October 23 and 24. Find all details of her schedule here.

usabeni "Patchwork"

1. Patchwork
CD-only bonus tracks
2. Bye-bye (Demo)
3. Patchwork (Inst.)

Naruheson;s
Out now (10/7)
Order: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"Patchwork"

Sampler clip

Loupx garoux (𝕏) is a recent band 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). "Anya" is their first full-length album. Some of the songs are ones that were previously in Mariko Nii's solo repertory. Loupx garoux's arrangements are done by Romantic. This follows the release of EP "xxx" last year, and the single "A.N.G.E.L." (Bandcamp).

The album is only available digitally, and purchasing the album on Bandcamp includes a short text titled "memo from Loupx garoux".

A release event titled "Black Field" (a translation of "Anya") will be held on October 13 at Shindaita Fever. Details and ticket info can be found here.

Loupx garoux "Anya" (Download)
Loupx garoux 「暗野」

1. Anya
2. Adults just don't get it
3. TEARDROPS
4. LILITH
5. UNDERTAKER
6. D
7. Anatomia
8. Maps to the stars
9. WONDERWALL
10. PARALLEL

Amp-mutation/Trash-Up!! Records AMP-002/TUR-056
Out now (10/2)
Sample/buy: Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY,

Live performance of "Maps to the stars" from last year
(That full show can also be viewed here)

Crazy Ken Band has just recently released a 24th album, with the title "Kasei" (Japanese for "Mars"). Check out the music videos below! It's the follow-up to last year's "Sekai".

The album is available in limited and regular editions. The limited edition includes a bonus DVD of 11 songs from a recent show held this year. The album is also available on download/streaming platforms.

A tour for the release has just started and will be going on through the beginning of next year. There's an upcoming show in Tokyo on November 1st at Line Cube Shibuya. Find all tour details here.

Crazy Ken Band "Kasei"
クレイジーケンバンド 「火星」

1. Overture
2. Kasei
3. Hama no Beat - Hama Beat -
4. Rainbow Drive
5. Percolation
6. Eye Catch * Late Summer Madness
7. Atama ni Kichauze
8. Oh! My Girl
9. Tsujidou Kaigan
10. Niji Nijuu Nifun
11. Eye Catch * Arashi wo yobu Genta!
12. Trans Solar System Express
13. Tasogare Kyuukou - Twilight Express -
14. Kiriko
15. Eye Catch * Kiriko Part 2
16. Sha Na Na Na Na

DVD "Hama Fest. 165 Mitsubishi-chisho Presents Special Concert 2024.5.26" (Limited edition only)
1. Barrio Chino
2. Lantern
3. Honmoku Beach Field
4. Mandarin Palace
5. Hama no Beat - Hama Beat -
6. Suzy Wong no sekai
7. Kankō
8. hayaku ne Night chomechome shichau zo ~ GT
9. Let'S Go! Crazy Ken Band ~ Tiger & Dragon With Chibow & Chozen Lee
10. My Home Town With Chibow &Amp; Chozen Lee
11. Hama no Beat - Hama Beat -

Limited edition (CD+DVD (Region 2 NTSC))
Universal Music UMCK-7249
Out now (9/18), ¥7250 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon (14% off *), HMV, Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition (CD only)
Universal Music UMCK-1775
Out now (9/18), ¥3250 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Hama no Beat - Hama Beat -"

"Niji Nijuu Nifun"

"Rainbow Drive" lyric video

"Percolation" lyric video

Album sampler clip

Here's a new solo single from Kaede (Negicco). Titled "Wrong" in English, and in Japanese "ikenai", the title song was written and produced by the band Mitsume. The B-side is named "Fine Time" and was written and produced by The Recreations. Check out the music video of "Wrong" below.

Just released on CD and digitally, the two songs will also be released on 7" on October 12. Find details below.

In terms of solo releases, this follows "Leave It To Shining a Light" (2022).

A remix by jazz pianist Sora Ichikawa will also be coming digitally on October 2. Find details here.

Kaede "Wrong" (CD/Download)
Kaede 「いけない」
(Japanese title: "ikenai")

1. Wrong
2. Fine Time
3. Wrong (inst)
4. Fine Time (inst)

Fall Wait Records FAWA-0017
Out now (9/17), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kaede "Wrong" (7")
Kaede 「いけない」
(Japanese title: "ikenai")

A. Wrong
B. Fine Time

Fall Wait Record FAWA-0018
Out 10/12, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Wrong"

Neo-doo-wop group Jintana & Emeralds has just released a new single digitally which comes as a split with Pan Pacific Playa mates Paisley Parks (SoundCloud). The new song "Summer Crazy Days" commemorates Yokohama crew PPP's 20th anniversary, and it features producer Latin Quarter, talkbox musician BTB, and guitarist Kashif (previously a member of Jintana & Emeralds). The song was mixed by Dub Master X. A remix by XTAL (also previously of Jintana & Emeralds) & Keita Sano is also included.

Jintana & Emeralds' vocalists are Toi Emeralds (a.k.a. hitomitoi), Cao Emeralds (a.k.a. Kami Kaoru), and Hikari Emeralds (of the group Mime).

The B-side is "A Moment of Silence" by Paisley Parks, the group formed of Nō, KES, Kent Alexander and SONY that has been active for a long time in Japan's juke/footwork scene.

As the artwork hints, there is word that a 7" release of the two main songs should also be coming.

JINTANA & EMERALDS / Paisley Parks "Summer Crazy Days c/w A MOMENT OF SILENCE" (Download)

(Artist / Title)
1. JINTANA & EMERALDS / Summer Crazy Days
2. Paisley Parks / A MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. JINTANA & EMERALDS / Summer Crazy Days (XTAL & KEITA SANO Daze Haze Maze Remix)

Pan Pacific Playa / P-Vine DGP-1435
Out now (9/25)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, OTOTOY

DÉ DÉ MOUSE's latest collaboration collaboration is with the duo Milk Talk (Instagram, 𝕏, Bandcamp). The song is titled "Beautiful Criminal". Check out the music video below, which was directed by Milk Talk's singer Q.i.

For more of DÉ DÉ MOUSE's recent releases, check out the recent posts tagged "DE DE MOUSE" such as the previous one for "Skyscraper Starlight", and also his official site's news pages.

DÉ DÉ MOUSE & Milk Talk "Beautiful Criminal" (Download)

not records NOT0071
Out now (9/11)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Beatmaker/producer and AKAI MPC-user MPC GIRL USAGI (Instagram, 𝕏) has just released a new EP, titled "MOMENT EP". Included is the title track "MOMENT" which is a collaboration with trackmaker/singer-songwriter and modular synth musician Acidclank.

This EP is the follow-up to "Inside" (2023) (, Spotify, YouTube Music), since which MPC GIRL USAGI has also done more collaborations with other artists.

MPC GIRL USAGI "MOMENT EP" (Download)

1. HELLO
2. NO NEED TO WIN
3. 88E
4. MOMENT (with Acidclank)
5. Summer in Korea 2024

DOBEATU NBTU67
Out now (9/13)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Teaser clip

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.53) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on September 19 from 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: September 20, 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. Magic, Drums & Love "KE OLA JIVE" (2024)

The first song is Tokyo rock'n'roll band Magic, Drums & Love's brand new single, "KE OLA JIVE" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), out now on 7" and digitally. With doo-wap-like layered vocals, it has a Hawaiian touch of ukulele and steel guitar. Like as usual, the band's sound is produced by Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (of Learners, Neil and Iraiza, Cubismo Grafico).

The single's B-side is a remix by Dorian of the song "Tohhou Magic" (of which the original was also released on 7" last year).

A release party for the new single will be held on September 23 from 11:30 a.m. at Basement Bar in Shimokitazawa, also featuring Nihao!!!! and DJs Riyo Mountains and Clark Naitō. Find details and tickets here.

🎙️ Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Magic, Drums & Love and BLUEVALLEY

2. BLUEVALLEY "BMO" (2024)

Nagoya-based bassless lo-fi pop group BLUEVALLEY has recently released a digital EP named "WHITE ep" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which includes the song "BMO".

This release was the follow-up to their first album "BLUEVALLEY" (2022), which is available digitally, on CD and also cassette tape.

3. Cocopuff Club "Be Myself" (2024)

Next is the latest song by Cocopuff Club (Bandcamp), the solo project of COCO (𝕏, Instagram) (lead singer and guitarist of THE LET'S GO's). This new song is available on Bandcamp, as well as two more songs released in the previous months.

Another new song should be coming, apparently taking inspiration from France, the destination of a recent tour of THE LET'S GO's.

4. MPC GIRL USAGI "MOMENT" (2024)

Beatmaker/producer and AKAI MPC-user MPC GIRL USAGI (Instagram, 𝕏) has just released a new EP, titled "MOMENT EP" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). "MOMENT" is its title track, and it's a collaboration with trackmaker/singer-songwriter and modular synth musician Acidclank.

This EP is the follow-up to "Inside" (2023) (Spotify, , YouTube Music), since which MPC GIRL USAGI has also done more collaborations with other artists.

🎙️ Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Cocopuff Club, MPC GIRL USAGI, xiangyu

5. xiangyu "haccha KO" (2024)
(Japanese title: xiangyu 「はっちゃKO」)

"haccha KO" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is the latest song of xiangyu (𝕏, Instagram), again produced by Gimgigam (𝕏, Instagram) — same producer as her other recent works — who this time makes beats inspired by South-African Amapiano.

xiangyu explains that "haccha KO" it's about when eating out and having eaten all what you've ordered, and still being just a little bit hungry but just not enough to order something else... and then you notice that the person sitting at the next table has one leftover karaage (piece of fried chicken)...!

xiangyu will hold a self-organized live and talk event on Monday December 2 at O-nest in Shibuya. Tickets are available at e+.

6. CHiLi GiRL "FLY" (2024)

CHiLi GiRL, the project of singer-songwriter and shamisen player Shinobu Kawashima mixing traditional sounds and city music, has just released a new full-length album titled "CARAI" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). "FLY" is the opening song, and it was arranged by Reiji Okii (of TWEEDEES, ex-Cymbals) who also plays the bass in it.

The album's CD edition comes with three bonus live tracks (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower).

CHiLi GiRL will do a solo show on November 17 at Moon Romantic, backed by a full band and also featuring special guest Sho Kurashina of Good Bye April (details). Info of other shows can be found on her official site.

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

7. Monari Wakita "UNI" (2023)
(Japanese tiitle: 脇田もなり 「UNI」)

From Monari Wakita's latest and 4th album, this is its title song "UNI" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), pronounced as in "universe". Dorian is the sound producer of the whole album, and the lyrics of "UNI" were written by Yurina da Gold Digger of Magic, Drums & Love, heard earlier, and who also plays drums in loupx garoux.

The album "UNI" is also available on CD, at Amazon, HMV, Tower, etc.

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.