Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.24

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. Happy listening!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.24) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on February 10, 2022 from 20:30 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: February 11, 2022 from 10:30 a.m.

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

EST (Montréal/New York) —: Fri. Feb. 11 at 16h30, Mon. 14 at 12h30, Tue. 15 at 8h30, Wed. 16 at 4h30, Thurs. 17 at 0h30
Japan time —: Sat. Feb. 12 at 6h30, Tue. 15 at 2h30, Tue. 15 at 22h30, Wed. 16 at 18h30, Thurs. 17 at 14h30

Listen to the Spotify playlist of the songs played, 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. Machi Akari "Dead In A Hundred Years" (2022)
(Japanese title: 町あかり「Dead In A Hundred Years」)

This episode begins with a brand new song released in January, the first sung in English by singer-songwriter Machi Akari, who until now had always sung in Japanese. Titled "Dead In A Hundred Years" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), the catchy & fun pop track carries a message of "memento mori".

In terms of Machi Akari's other recent activity, in 2020 a first cover album titled "sore yuke! dengeki ryūkōka" (Spotify, ), in which she covers songs from various periods. A 7" from that album was also released, titled "minato ga mieru oka" (still available at Jet Set and HMV).

More recently, on January 1st this year, she also released a song titled "Let's Dance! FruFull" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), the theme song of Shizuoka fruit jelly shop FruFull.

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Machi Akari, Fantastic Paisen

2. Fantastic Paisen "Tariki Hong Gung" (2021)
(Japanese title: ファンタスティック☆パイセン「他力Hong Gung」)

Fantastic Paisen (Twitter, TikTok, YouTube channel) is a unit of two teenagers, and "Tariki Hong Gung" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is their first officially released song. The song was written and sound-produced by Kentaro Imai (The Aprils, CTO LAB.), with the music video directed by Norihisa Nakama (also of The Aprils, and DISCOMPO) that you can watch below.

Fantastic Paisen are most active on their YouTube channel and TikTok, which are full of frequently updated fun and funny contents, giving advice such as everyday lifehacks.

3. The Aprils "Hyper Girl" (2021)
(Japanese title: エイプリルズ Aprils 「ハイテンションガール」 "High-tension Girl")

"Hyper Girl" is the latest released song by The Aprils, released last year for April Fools' (a special day every year for The Aprils) ("Hyper Girl" (Spotify, ).

This song is actually a self-cover of one that was written for electro-pop idol "my♪Rabbits", and released in 2020. Check out my♪Rabbits' music video below, and find details on the single here (which includes a cover of The Aprils' "SHINExSHINExSHINExSHINE").

The Aprils have been active lately, playing a show in December. Also this year's April Fools' Day will be coming in not very long, so let's remember to check The Aprils' website (when it turns midnight in Japan, and for the next 24 hours) to see what they might be up to.

Here's the music video of my♪Rabbits' version. This one is also directed by The Aprils' Hirohisa Nakama.

4. Machida Girls Choir "hoshizora no Synthesizer" (2022)
(Japanese title: まちだガールズクワイア「星空のシンセサイザー」)

Machida Girls' Choir is a chorus group formed in 2015 and based in Machida, Tokyo. After having releasing a few space-themed songs digitally last year, in January they released brand new album "Orion-za ryūseigun" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which turned out to have an overall spacey touch. Hear "hoshizora no Synthesizer" (title which translates to "starry sky synthesizer"), written and produced by the group's main producer Shōkichi Ishida (ex-Scudelia Electro, Spiral Life)!

The album "Orion-za ryūseigun" is also available on CD (HMV, Tower, CDJapan, Amazon).

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: The Aprils, Machida Girls Choir, CTO LAB.

5. CTO LAB. "Nazo No Enban" (2018)

Next is a song by CTO LAB., the super group formed of Tohru Okada (Moonriders), polymoog (Elektel) and Kentarō Imai (The Aprils). The song "Nazo No Enban" is from their latest album "Beyond The Box" (Spotify, ) I had the opportunity to write lyrics for this song, of which the title means "the mysterious disc", coincidentally somewhat linking with the album's jacket.

Since "Beyond The Box", CTO LAB. has been mainly active playing shows (their previous was in December), sometimes performing new songs such as covers of Moonriders. Meanwhile, a new Moonriders original album (their 10th) has been announced for release on March 12. Stay tuned!

"Beyond The Box" sampler clip

6. Frenesi "Pure Shampoo" (2012)
(Japanese title: フレネシ「ピュアシャンプー」)

Next is a song by Frenesi, from her latest full-length original album, "Gendai" (Spotify, ). "Pure Shampoo" is the theme song of an imaginary retro shampoo commercial that you can watch just below.

Since "Gendai", Frenesi released an album of early and rare works titled "Dolphino" (2013) (Spotify, ), after which she went on hiatus at the end of 2014. Since then she has contributed a few songs and lyrics to other artists, perhaps the latest of which is SOLEIL's "Anachronic Girl" (on album "Lollipop Sixteen").

Look out for Frenesi's albums which can be heard on download/streaming platforms.

The full song:

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Frenesi, Buffalo Daughter

7. Buffalo Daughter "Everything Valley" (2021)

Buffalo Daughter (Facebook) released last September a brand new album titled "We Are The Times" (Bandcamp, Spotify, (World), (Japan), YouTube Music)! "Everything Valley" is the album's closing song, and here it marks the end of the episode. As a Canadian, I was happy to hear that Kid Koala made the characters for the music video of the song "Global Warming Kills Us All" (watch it further down this page).

The album is available for pre-order on a sea blue vinyl U.S. edition via Bandcamp, where the digital edition is also available. There's also a Japanese vinyl edition on black vinyl that was released in January and still available at Jet Set, and the Japan-only CD edition.

Also, a split EP with DMBQ, "A Missing Link Between Buffalo Daughter And DMBQ", was released on Bandcamp in November.