Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.16

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 http://lafaceb.live. Happy listening!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.16) will play at http://lafaceb.live on May 26, 2021 from 22:00 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: May 27, 2021 from 11:00 a.m.

This episode was not archived as is. Listen to the Spotify playlist of most of the songs, 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. U-zhaan x Tamaki Roy x Chinza Dopeness "Meow (feat. Akiko Yano)" (2021)
(Japanese title: U-zhaan×環ROY×鎮座DOPENESS 「にゃー (feat. 矢野顕子)」 "nya- (feat. Yano Akiko)"

To begin the show is the song "Meow", by tabla player U-zhaan with rappers Tamaki Roy & Chinza Dopeness. It's from their brand new album "Tanoshimi" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) just released last month.

The song "Meow" features Akiko Yano... in the role of a cat! Many of the album's songs have music videos up on YouTube.

🔈 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: U-zhaan x Tamaki Roy x Chinza Dopeness, Blank Music

2. Blank Music "My Name is Blank" (2021)

Blank Music is the new project of Dai Nakamura aka NUBACK (also in bands BANK and Vacation Three). While it has started just by himself, it's not a solo project but is expected to evolve into a band once the situation gets better. The song "My Name is Blank" is from the first digital EP "My Name is Blank" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ).

Also check out NUBACK's recently released 7" single "When The Party Is Over" on German label Growing Bin Records.

3. Wataru Sato "Blank" (2021)

Wataru Satō, aka Gecko of instrumental band Gecko & Tokage Parade, is a pianist who makes music described as minimal post-classical. His latest album is "After World" (Bandcamp, Spotify, ) released in January.

This song is a bit of an exception on the album, having an electronica style that contrasts with the more acoustic compositions. Check out the music videos for "Two Worlds feat. Saoirse Casey" and "Requiem".

🔈 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Wataru Sato, Cutemen

4. Cutemen "Fruits Jerry Planet" (2020)

Cutemen is the techno unit of musician CMJK and singer Picorin. Formed in 1991 and having went through two hiatuses, they've been active again since 2016. This song is from their latest original album "2121" (Spotify, )! An instrumental edition is also available, titled "2121 Instrumentals" (Spotify, ).

Cutemen also just released a mini-album of mostly covers, as the title says: "Covers & Mellow Tunes 2" (Spotify, ). Included are songs originally by Gary Numan, Sparks, Killing Joke and more.

5. NeoBallad "Hachinohe Kouta" (2014)
(Japanese title: NeoBallad 「八戸小唄」)

NeoBallad is a unit formed of unit of singer Sachi Wakasa and drummer/producer Wataru Kamiryō (ex-P-MODEL, GRASS VALLEY), who spread their love for Japanese traditional minyō songs by rearranging them in their signature style. They give a great live performance, which is how I first found out about them. The song "Hachinohe Kouta" is one that originated from Aomori prefecture about 90 years ago. It's the first song of their 3rd album "03 ~enishi~" (Spotify, ).

NeoBallad recently released a 5th album, titled "05 ~zerogo~", and it's available on CD or MP3 only directly via their official shop which also takes international orders. One song features P-MODEL's Susumu Hirasawa.

6. nakayoshi group "Psycho Drastic Kiss" (2013)

nakayoshi group is a band characterized by new wave-y sounds and the deep and low vocals. "Psycho Drastic Kiss" appeared on their first mini album "The Jesus vs Cheatman" (Spotify, (World), (Japan)).

For those who can't get enough, an early EP can also be found on Bandcamp.

7. Maika Loubté "Spider Dancing" (2021)

Singer-songwriter Maika Loubté has just released a brand new song this month, titled "Spider Dancing" (Spotify, )! It's the third advance single from an upcoming album to be released later this year. Also check out the other singles "5AM" and "Mist".

In other recent news, Maika did a remix of Seattle artist Mark Diamond's song "Heartbreaker".

🔈 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: NeoBallad, nakayoshi group, Maika Loubté, Lullatone

8. Lullatone "Late Nights and Mosquito Bites" (2021)

Lullatone is a Nagoya-based duo formed of Shawn and Yoshimi. Just two months ago they released a new song titled "Late Nights and Mosquito Bites" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music). "Palindrome looping" is how they call this technique used in the song: "The melody bounces forwards and backwards until it weaves itself into a cozy blanket that wraps around the drums. The whole thing turns into a mellow beat about wishing for warmer weather, with all the texture of hazy memories of summers past (we mastered it on an old cassette 4-track)."

Also check out their previous EP "Houseplant Music" (Bandcamp) released in July 2020. Follow Lullatone on Bandcamp, a good place where to keep track of their new sounds.

9. Ino hidefumi "In Dreams" (2021)

Singer-songwriter Ino Hidefumi, whose main instrument is the Fender Rhodes electric piano, has just released a brand new album titled "In Dreams" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and this is the title song! While his early works were instrumental, since his previous album "Song Album" he has been singing a lot. Konishi Yasuharu (Pizzicato One) contributed lyrics to a song on each of these two albums.

An instrumental edition of "In Dreams" can be found digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

10. CMJK "Dying Tokyo" (2021)

CMJK (an early member of Denki Groove), who you heard earlier in Cutemen, has just released this year a first-ever solo album as CMJK titled "Landscape 1" (Spotify, ).

Taken from that album, "Dying Tokyo" is a collaboration with musician Kyōichi Watanabe, who co-wrote the song and also plays saxophone and flute.

🔈 Listen to Narration IV
Presenting: Ino hidefumi, CMJK, Elektel

11. Elektel "Goodbye Husky Girl" (2021)
(Japanese title: Elektel 「さよならハスキーガール」 "sayonara Husky Girl")

Elektel has recently released a brand new song ttiled "Goodbye Husky Girl", part of compilation "Pastelphonic pt.3 powered by Guitar Pop Restaurant" (, OTOTOY). Be sure to check out the music video below, directed by Ryōsuke Ishikawa.

Last year Elektel also released another new song featured on compilation "Casiotunes!" (Spotify, ).

12. Ayane Yamazaki "The Moment God Dwells" (2020)

Singer-songwriter Ayane Yamazaki recently released digitally an album titled "Yobikakerarete" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) that's of full pleasant electronic piano and synthesizer sounds. While most songs feature her own singing, "The Moment God Dwells" is a mysterious instrumental with some talking. The album also includes a cover of the theme song from "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind".

Ayane Yamazaki has just released digitally last week a brand new song titled "Melody" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

🔈 Listen to Narration V
Presenting: Ayane Yamazaki, Soleil

13. Soleil "Kurage No Nanari" (2021)
(Japanese title: それいゆ「海月のななり」

To end this episode is a song by Soleil (Twitter) (ex-SOLEIL, Tanqun Democracy), who this year released a first self-produced solo single of which the title song is "Kurage No Nanari" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). She wrote herself the lyrics of this song, in which she sings, plays drums and also glockenspiel. She is accompanied by Yasuhiro Nakamori (Hicksville, Mashimaro, ex-SOLEIL) on guitar, and by Takurō Gō and Shūta Ishizuka (both of detune.) on keyboards and bass respectively.

On Saturday May 29 (Japan time), an online show titled "Soleil Acoustic Show vol.1" will be streamed. The performance of about 30 to 40 minutes will feature Soleil and Takurō Gō.