Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.6

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. If you couldn't tune in at the times below, or to listen once more, you can still listen anytime on Mixcloud.

This time is a selection of happy-feeling rocking tunes that should have you clapping your hands before long, or even make you dance! Hoping that you will find some new favorite songs or artists!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.6) was aired at http://lafaceb.live on June 24, 2020 from 22:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: June 25, 2020 from 11:00 (a.m.).

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes.

1. Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Easy Riding" (2018)

Wack Wack Rhythm Band is a funky party band of ten members, including a brass section, and the band has been around since the early 90's. Still fully active, they have just released a new album titled "The 'Now' Sounds" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which includes the original instrumental "Easy Riding". Stick around for more later in the show!

2. The Pen Friend Club "Mabataki" (2018)
(Japanese title: 「まばたき」)

The Pen Friend Club is also a large band, of currently eight members, and they take much of their inspiration from 60's west coast rock. The original "Mabataki" appeared on their 5th & latest album "Garden Of The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

The band has just recently changed vocalists, and their first release with new singer Megumi will be a 7" single titled "ippon no ongaku" (a cover of Murata Kazuhito), to be released on August 8 part of the "City Pop on Vinyl 2020" project.

3. K-taro Takanami & Playtime Rock meets Kenichi Shibata "kaerimichi" (2012)
(Japanese title: 高浪慶太郎とプレイタイム・ロック・ミーツ・柴田健一「かえりみち」)

Playtime Rock is a band led by K-taro Takanami (ex-Pizzicato Five), which also features singer and flutist Ichiba Mina. This song is from first album "Evening Primrose" (Amazon, HMV ), which was a collaboration with trombonist Shibata Kenichi. Playtime Rock also later released an album titled "Play Time".

K-taro's latest solo release is a single (CD+7") in collaboration with singer Hoshino Michiru, titled "Memorandum"
(CDJapan, Jet Set). Since then he has also contributed songs to band SOLEIL among others.

4. Yume To Cosme "deaigashira no ichibyōgo" (2010)
(Japanese title: ユメトコスメ「出会いがしらの一秒後」)

Yume To Cosme is a duo unit that takes some of its roots in Shibuya-kei, always with catchy melodies and often gorgeous strings arrangements. "deaigashira no ichibyōgo" is one of those, it's taken from a self-made EP titled "zettai Love Motion" (2010) which was mastered by Yoshida Tetsuto. More of their songs can be heard on SoundCloud.

Yume To Cosme's songwriter/arranger Hase Yasuhiro's name is lately most often seeing for contributions to idol groups including Negicco, WHY@DOLL and Wakita Monari, to name just a few. Find some of his works here.

5. comoestas "O Ed Twist" (2015)
(Japanese title: コモエスタス「お江戸ツイスト」 "Oedo Twist")

comoestas is the solo project of Comoesta Yaegashi, who is very active as a DJ and also known as a member of trio Tokyo Panorama Mambo Boys. "O Ed Twist" ("Edo" was the old name of Tokyo) is only available as a 7" single (Amazon), of which the B-side is a take on Japanese 60's rhythm pattern "Dodonpa".

The latest of comoestas is a collaboration with band Salome no Kuchibiru, with who he made the song "ozashiki Rock" that was just released on 7".

6. SOLEIL "5-4-3-2-1" (2019)

This one is by band SOLEIL, which was led by bassist Sally Kubota and fronted by young singer Soleil, and also featured guitarist Nakamori Yasuhiro (Hicksville). This song written by Sally is from their 3rd and last album "Lollipop Sixteen" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album was also released on vinyl.

7. Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Finish feat. Lemon" (2019)

Another one by Wack Wack Rhythm Band, again from their new album "The 'Now' Sounds" (Spotify, , YouTube Music)! This original song features singer Lemon who was the band's singer for quite a while. Lemon has a wonderful soulful voice! Aside from the album, the song is also available as a 7" single.

WWRB have recently released another 7" (of two more songs from the album) and also a cassette tape of rare live recordings. Find details here.

8. The Scooters "Scooters no Theme" (2012)
(Japanese title: スクーターズ「スクーターズのテーマ」)

The Scooters is an awesome band that was formed back in 1978 (!), and they are still very active to this day! The band is led by Shindō Mitsuo, art director who is famous for his tons of contributions to the visuals of the Shibuya-kei movement (including all of Pizzicato Five and Flipper's Guitar artworks, among so much more). The Scooters have a sound that may remind of Motown, and they have that special power to transport their audience to another era. This theme song of theirs appeared on album "Une Manche et La Belle" (Amazon, HMV, CDJapan).

Since then they have released a bunch of singles (always on 7" and including a CD), and a live album on cassette (which also comes with a CD, and a T-shirt).

9. The Shaolin Brothers "Pandafull World" (2019)
(Japanese title: 少林兄弟「パンダフル・ワールド」)

The Shaolin Brothers is a rock'n'roll band with a unique Hong Kong kind of twist. "Pandafull World" is one of their recent original songs released only as a 7" single (Jet Set), with for B-side a cover of The Scooters' hit song "Tokyo Disco Night".

Lately they've also be active in some of the most interesting collaborations, such as backing Nomiya Maki for Pizzicato Five self-covers (produced by none other than Konishi Yasuharu!) (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and also an original song featuring Maki (on this 7"), and more recently playing on star singer Suzuki Masayuki's new album (their songs again produced by Konishi).

10. Learners "Wiper Blues" (2020)

Learners is the rock band of Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (cubismo grafico, Neil and Iraiza), featuring singer/model Sara Mary, super guitarist Horiguchi Chie (also of Chie & The Wolf Baits), with bassist Masamichi Hamada (of Quattro) and drummer TA-1 (of Koncos).

The song "Wiper Blues" is from their latest and 3rd album "Hello Stranger" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). The album is also available on vinyl (HMV, Jet Set).

11. Francis "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel" (1994)
(Japanese title: Francis 「天使よありがとう」 "tenshi yo arigatō")

Francis is bassist Ori Makoto's solo project (who was previously in The Collectors, and has also played in Original Love). This song is from first album "bUrNing Bear!" released in 1994, and re-issued in 2015 (CDJapan, HMV).

Francis has been very active on stage in the recent years, either solo or also in a unit with Tajima Haruko (as Francis avec Haruko) with who he released two great mini-albums ("Jamón, jamón" and "Zero Gravity Love"). He's apparently working on a new album as Francis that I can't wait for!

12. hiro:n "music!!" (2010)

hiro:n (aka Hiroko Nakajima) is a singer-songwriter who debuted in 2000. Well this is my favorite song, from her album "What's up?! I'm good. Thanks!!" (Spotify, CDJapan, Amazon).

She has recently posted a home session of this song on YouTube, featuring five of herself! Watch it below!

13. The Aprils "Net Surf Music" (2004)
(Japanese title: エイプリルズ　「Net Surf Music」)

We're now going for some synth sounds, although definitely a rocking tune by The Aprils, a band that's both future-pop and neo-Shibuya-kei. This song is from their album "Pan·da" ().

Be sure to check out their brand new single "Aprilster" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) just out digitally last April!

14. Frenesi "Go Ropeway" (2013)
(Japanese title: フレネシ "GO ROPEWAY")

This song by Frenesi is actually one of her latest solo songs, released part of album "Dolphino" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which also revisited some of her early works.

Although Frenesi has been officially on hiatus from the end of 2014, since the end of April she has got active again as a member of vvv of Wonder (along with Nanba Shiho, Dr.Usui, Kishida Mel and Julie Watai, who were all once active together as xxx of Wonder) that's fronted by virtual singer icon Misazaki Honoha. Follow Honoha's Twitter account to see where this will lead to.

15. The Pen Friend Club "Flying Days" (2018)
(Japanese title: The Pen Friend Club 「飛翔する日常」 "hishō suru nichijō")

One more by The Pen Friend Club, also from their 5th album "Garden Of The Pen Friend Club" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and sung by Fujimoto Yuka. The song "Flying Days" was also released as a 7" single (still available at Jet Set) of which the B-side is a cover of Roger Nichols' "Don't Take Your Time". The Pen Friend Club's works are often half-originals and half-covers of great classics or lesser-known ones.

Definitely stay tuned for news in these pages of their upcoming single (and hopefully more) with new singer Megumi.

16. Hoshino Michiru "Peaberry o mitsuketara" (2014)
(Japanese title: 星野みちる「ピーベリーを見つけたら」)

To end the show is a song by singer-songwriter Hoshino Michiru, for which she was backed by Wack Wack Rhythm Band. This was released as part of mini-album "A/W Collection ~anata to watashi no Collection~" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV). I love her "yeah, yeah, yeah!" call at the end, which is just perfect for closing the show! :)

Be sure to check out Michiru's latest album "Moonlight Confessions" (Spotify, YouTube Music)!

Thanks for tuning in!

Find previous radio shows here.

Below are videos of songs and artists featured in this radio show.

Wack Wack Rhythm Band "The 'Now' Sounds" sampler clip