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 pages.

This time is a special Christmas episode! Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live. Happy listening, and Happy Holidays!

"Noël Nippon" édition 2021 was aired at https://lafaceb.live on December 18, 2021 from 13:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: December 19, 2021 from 3:00 a.m.

This episode was not archived as-is, but it was replayed at the times below:

EST (Montréal/New York) —: Thurs. Dec. 23 at 20h, Fri. Dec. 24 at 16h
Japan time —: Fri. Dec. 24 at 10h, Sat. Dec. 25 at 6h

Listen to the Spotify playlist of most of the songs (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 that you can listen to.

1. The Caraway "Another Christmas Will Come Around This Year" (2021)

The Caraway, the solo unit of Osamu Shimada (Twitter) who is also the guitarist of Swinging Popsicle, has released last month a Christmas EP in the form of a 4-song 7". "Another Christmas Will Come Around This Year" is the title track. There's a sampler clip on YouTube, also at the bottom of this page.

The EP is available in digital form at Bandcamp, or the 7" can be ordered directly at the label's shop disques blue-very or Bandcamp which should get you a promo postcard (while supplies last).

The Caraway, which was formed in 2003, recently released a vinyl LP titled "the select of the Caraway" which includes songs from their first album and other releases.

The radio show's Spotify playlist contains a Christmas song by Swinging Popsicle.

<a href="https://blue-verylabel.bandcamp.com/album/another-christmas-will-come-around-this-year">Another Christmas Will Come Around This Year by The Caraway</a>

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: The Caraway, Mukaju Dan

2. Mukaju Dan "Denwa de Christmas" (2021)
(Japanese title: 無果汁団「電話でクリスマス」)

Techno-pop unit Mukaju Dan has just released a 2nd album titled "Uminekogazer" (Spotify, , YouTube Music)! The album contains this Christmas song, "Denwa de Christmas" (translates to "Christmas on the phone").

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). Check out the music video. There's one more from the same album at the bottom of the page.

3. Michiru Hoshino "hoshi ni, Merry Christmas" (2014)
(Japanese title: 星野みちる「星に、メリークリスマス」)

This Christmas song of singer-songwriter Michiru Hoshino was first released on mini-album "A/W Collection ~anata to watashi no Collection~" (2014, Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song is also available as the B-side of 7" single "suteki ni X'mas Night" (still available at Jet Set).

Michiru's latest album is "Moonlight Confessions" (Japanese title: "tsuki ga kirei desune") (2019, Spotify, , YouTube Music). She has been on hiatus at this time since November 2020. Here's hoping that she's doing fine!

4. Twisty featuring Shione & Yuko "Winter Scene" (2015)

Twisty, aka Twisty Bonbon, is the Brooklyn-based solo project of Tsugumi Takashi (musician active as a bassist in bands COUPY, Kissed By An Animal and EYE RÖLLER, among other projects). This song from 2015 produced by Twisty has vocals by Shione Yukawa and Yuko Kawasaki, with drums played by Avery Brooks (whose solo project is Lost Children, while being a member of COUPY, Data Security, and a live member of Ice Choir).

"Winter Scene" can be heard on YouTube, in the music video below, and also downloaded for free on Bandcamp. Check out a music video of COUPY further down the page.

The radio show's Spotify playlist alternately features a Christmas song by Shione Yukawa.

5. Hazy Sour Cherry "Bell of the beginning" (2021)

Hazy Sour Cherry (Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp) was formed in 2018, featuring singer Tsuzumi (also of OCHA∞ME), guitarist Jun (also of HATEMAN), drummer Karin, and just recently they were officially joined by bassist Chiba (who was until then their support bassist for a while)

"Bell of the beginning" is Hazy Sour Cherry's first Christmas song, just released earlier this month. The EP of the same name can be found on Bandcamp, and on various streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It also includes a cover of The Pixies Three's "Cold, cold winter".

Also check out Hazy Sour Cherry's 1st album "Tour De Tokyo" (2019, Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album can be found on colored LP via Bandcamp (from Damnably (UK)). There's word that a 2nd album will be coming in 2022 also on the Damnably label (UK).

<a href="https://hazysourcherry.bandcamp.com/album/bell-of-the-beginning">Bell of the beginning by Hazy Sour Cherry</a>

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Michiru Hoshino, Twisty featuring Shione & Yuko, Hazy Sour Cherry, The Pen Friend Club

6. The Pen Friend Club "Christmas Delights - Remastered 2021" (2018, 2021)

The Pen Friend Club, an 8-piece band that was formed around 2012, specializes in West Coast rock sound of the '60s that gives homage to the likes of The Beach Boys and Phil Spector. In 2018 they released Christmas album "Merry Christmas from The Pen Friend Club" which contained the original song "Christmas Delights". This year, the album was remastered and released digitally on various streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

There was a vinyl edition of the album released in 2019, and one copy seems available at Amazon at the time of writing.

Last year, The Pen Friend Club was joined by new vocalist Megumi, and have since released two 7" singles: "ippon no ongaku" (released for City Pop on Vinyl 2020) and "Chinese Soup" (released for RSD Drops 2021). You can watch the music video of "Chinese Soup" further down this page.

7. Learners "Hot Club Of Christ" (2016)

Learners is the rockabilly-style band led by Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (also of Neil & Iraiza, aka Cubismo Grafico), featuring on vocals Sara Mary, and on guitar Chie Horiguchi (heard earlier in this episode), on bass Masamitsu Hamada, and on drums Taichi Furukawa (Konkos). The song "Hot Club Of Christ" is a cover of Aztec Camera, and it was released part on the 7" "Christmas EP" in 2016, which was just re-issued last month (the re-issued 7" single is still available at HMV at the time of writing). The EP can also be found digitally on Bandcamp and streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Watch the awesome live performance below!

Learners' latest album is "Hello Stranger", released in 2020 (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

8. Hideki Kaji "The Winter Fields" (2021)
(Japanese title: カジヒデキ Kaji Hideki 「冬の野原を疾走する子供たち」 "fuyu no nohara o shissō suru kodomotachi"")

Hideki Kaji released this month a 3-song Christmas CD EP titled "(I Wish It Could Be) Christmas Everyday", which contains the instrumental "The Winter Fields" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Another song from the EP can be found on digital platforms, titled "Claire's Knees and Christmas" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Hideki Kaji's first album "Mini Skirt" from 1997 was just re-issued on double-LP last month for Record Day 2021, and it's still available at Jet Set and HMV.

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Learners, Hideki Kaji, MANON

9. MANON "Winter Lil Life feat. Sleet Mage"

French-Japanese singer/model Manon (Instagram) is part of the Asobisystem agency, and since her first album "Teenage Diary" (2018) she has kept steadily releasing new songs and collaborations with other artists.

The song "WINTER LIL LIFE" was released in early 2019, it was her first original song following the album, a collaboration with mysterious rapper Sleet Mage. Check out the fun music video below.

Manon's latest release is brand new song "Girlfriend" out just this week digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).