Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.26

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.26) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on April 14, 2022 from 20:30 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: April 15, 2022 from 9:30 a.m.

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

EST/EDT (Montréal/New York) —: Fri. April 15 at 16h30, Mon. 18 at 12h30, Tue. 19 at 8h30, Wed. 20 at 4h30, Thurs. 21 at 0h30
Japan time —: Sat. April 16 at 5h30, Tue. 19 at 1h30, Tue. 19 at 21h30, Wed. 20 at 17h30, Thurs. 21 at 13h30

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. valknee "Scrapbook" (2022)

Rapper valknee (Twitter, Instagram) just released a new EP titled "SPRING2022..u_u..vV" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), of which the lead track is "Scrapbook". The EP's three tracks are by Shampoo, including a remix of valknee's previous single "Lip Lacquer".

Last year valknee also released single "Sweetie30" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). She's also a member of rap super-group Zoomgals, whose latest track is "Conspiracy Hairy" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: valknee, O'CHAWANZ

2. O'CHAWANZ "Colorful" (2022)
(Japanese title: O'CHAWANZ 「カラフル」)

"Colorful" is a new song by hip-hop unit O'CHAWANZ, from their latest mini-album "Episode X" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) (read "Episode Ten"). This is actually their last release with their current line-up.

Check out the music video! The mini-album is also available on CD (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV). Also don't miss their previous album "Do The Right Thing" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

3. MANON "GALCHAN MODE" (2021)

MANON (Instagram, Twitter) released last year this song "GALCHAN MODE" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), which surprised with ParaPara-inspired dancing and a 3DCG music video that's literally out of this world. The track was written produced by Lil'Yukichi (Twitter) with lyrics by MANON herself.

Since then she also released the song "Girlfriend" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Watch the video further down this page, also an impressive 3DCG feat!

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: MANON, °C-want you!

4. °C-want you! "Cherry Coke" (2019)

°C-want you! is a singer-songwriter who performs solo, and often backed by the band Meet The Hopes (Twitter), and she's also a member of Magic, Drums & Love.

°C-want you!'s first album (self-titled), which contains the song "Cherry Coke", is available on CD (CDJapan, HMV) and also on vinyl (HMV). There's also a 7" single of the song "Cherry Coke" (Jet Set).

The latest release is one as °C-want you! & Meet The Hopes, a digital single titled "Love Dream" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). You'll also find it in this radio show's Spotify playlist, instead of "Cherry Coke" which isn't available for streaming. You can watch this trailer of the 7" single though!

5. perfect young lady "COLLECTION" (2021)

perfect young lady (Bandcamp, SoundCloud) is a mysterious solo project of a girl doing home recordings, with a lo-fi electro sound and cheap-sounding synths, and just perfect like that!

The artist's first physical album is a cassette tape album that's still available at Jet Set at time of writing, probably in very limited numbers. Watch the teaser clip below that features part of the song "COLLECTION". Two songs also appeared on the compilation "Ocirco Records Greatest Hits" released last year. Otherwise there are plenty of tracks and demos that can be heard on Bandcamp and SoundCloud.

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: perfect young lady, CHILDISH TONES feat. Beni Usakura

6. CHILDISH TONES feat. Beni Usakura "It's Cold Outside" (2022)
(Japanese title: CHILDISH TONES feat. 宇佐蔵べに「冷たい初恋」 "tsumetai hatsukoi")

Childish Tones (Instagram, Twitter) feat. Beni Usakura (Instagram, Twitter) released latest single "Girls Wanna See No Cry / It's Cold Outside" on 7" in January. While the A-side is also available digitally (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube), the B-side is a cover of The Choir's "It's Cold Outside" that can only be found on the record. Sung in Japanese, it is rearranged with a touch of Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe In Magic".

Childish Tones is a unique band that uses only toy musical instruments to play rock'n'roll, and I play a mini drum set in it! We have upcoming shows on April 17 (this one just as Childish Tones) (with bands such as °C-want you! & Meet The Hopes, Chie & Chabe (of Learners), The Neatbeats, etc.), and on May 29 (this one feat. Beni Usakura) with The Pen Friend Club. Both will be held at Nishi-Eifuku JAM. °C-want you!, heard earlier on the show, is playing support toy piano and organ in Childish Tones for the show in April.

Since "It's Cold Outside" cannot be heard online so far (except for a short sample at Jet Set), you can instead hear the original song on its flipside, "Girls Wanna See No Cry". Don't miss checking out the previous album "God Bless the Girls" (2020).

7. Natsu Amano "Curry Rice" (2020)
(Japanese title: 天野なつ「カレーライス」)

Natsu Amano is a singer who did her solo debut in 2018 just after leaving idol group LinQ. The song "Curry Rice" is from her first full-length album "Across The Great Divide" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Writing her own lyrics, the music is by various great songwriters. "Curry Rice" has music written by Seki Yoshihiko, and co-arranged by Matsuo Muneyoshi (ex-Instant Cytron).

The album is available on CD (CDJapan, HMV, Amazon), and also the vinyl edition is also still available at Jet Set at this time.

Last year she has released three new songs digitally: "Labyrinth Game" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), "Après la pluie, le beau temps" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Super, Super, Hero" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). These three songs were also released on a CD EP titled "Labyrinth Game" (Amazon).

🎙 Listen to Narration IV
Presenting: Natsu Amano, Kokone Suzuki

8. Kokone Suzuki "FEVER" (2020)
(Japanese title: 寿々木ここね「FEVER」)

Kokone Suzuki (Twitter), member and leader of idol group SAKA-SAMA, released her first solo album in 2020, titled "FEVER" (CDJapan, Spotify, ), from which is taken this title song. This song was written and arranged by pop band bjons (which unfortunately disbanded at the end of 2021). Check out the charming music video below.

Meanwhile, SAKA-SAMA has just released this month a new digital single of two songs, "Lilac Rendez-Vous / E.S.P." (Spotify, , YouTube Music).