Tokyo's Coolest Sound

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.

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.39) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on May 18 from 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: May 19, 2023 from 9:30 a.m.

This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks, between Thursday noon and Friday noon (EDT), including the times below:

EDT (Montréal/New York) —

Fri. May 26 at 2h30, Fri. June 2 at 6h30

Japan time —

Fri. May 26 at 15h30, Fri. June 2 at 19h30

Listen to the Spotify playlist of some of the songs played (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. Elektel "Man with a Thousand Faces" (2023)

This time we start with the brand new song of lounge music unit Elektel: "Man with a Thousand Faces" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It was released digitally in April.

Other recent songs are "Dent in The Universe" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Goodbye Husky Girl" (this one released part of compilation "Pastelphonic pt.3 powered by Guitar Pop Restaurant").

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Elektel, Nathalie Wise

2. Nathalie Wise "Shine" (2023)

Nathalie Wise is a band formed in 2000, featuring singer Bikke (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set), Tetsuya Saitō (Sai-Tama) and Hiroshi Takano. The song "Shine" is from their brand new album "Open Sky" (Bandcamp) released this month, almost 19 years since the release of their previous ("raise hands high" in 2004). The sound is produced by HAAS (a.k.a. Hiroshi Takano).

While the full album "Open Sky" is only available digitally on Bandcamp, with a CD edition available within Japan via the band's online shop, there's also an EP of four of the songs that's available via download/streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

3. Grenfelle "Keep It Goin' (Full ver.)" (2023)

"Keep It Goin'" is the first song released by Grenfelle (Instagram, Twitter), a band featuring members of Swinging Popsicle, Northern Bright, airbus and Honeydew. The full version played on this program is from the compilation CD "BLUE TENTION #bt20230221" (HMV, Tower, disques blue-very) released in February. The 5-song compilation doesn't come on a regular CD but rather on an 8cm (3") CD like those that were a popular format for singles in Japan in the '90s. Note that you need an adapter to play 8cm CDs in players that aren't designed to play those. 2023 is the 35th anniversary of the format, and there are many special releases.

This song by Grenfelle was first released on 7" vinyl, and although it already seems to have sold out, it can also be found digitally on download/streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Since then, their 2nd 7" single "Big Plaid" was released last December for Record Day 2022, and that one can still be found at HMV and Tower (Japan only).

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Grenfelle, Lafuzin

4. Lafuzin "1990special" (2023)

Lafuzin (Instagram), described as a "new retro sophisti-pop duo", released last month this new song titled "1990special" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

In terms of new music, his follows their first album "Love Energy Motivation" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) released last year. The duo is formed of main singer Mika Tamura and producer Brian Shinsekai.

Also, a 7" of "Tokai Girl (DÉ DÉ MOUSE Tokai 1988 Mix) / SILK CARDIGAN" was released for "Record Day 2022" (still available at HMV and Tower Records). Recently, a new mix of an album track was also released digitally: "Wednesday Rain (ano koro mix)" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

5. Magic, Drums & Love "Once Upon a Summertime" (2019)
(Japanese title: 「一生解けない魔法とは。」 "isshō tokenai mahō to wa.")

Magic, Drums & Love is a rock'n'roll band in Tokyo. The song "Once Upon a Summertime" is from their 2nd album "Hurricane Upsetter" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) which was produced by Gakuji "Chabe" Matsuda (LEARNERS, Neil & Iraiza). This song was also released as the B-side of 7" "koi wa Paradiso" (sold out).

The band's latest release is the single "Dancehall! Supreme! Shooting!" (2021) (Spotify, , YouTube Music), since which they have also arranged and performed the music of two songs on the new album of singer and voice actress Takako Ohta (known for "Creamy Mami"), "Voice of Angel": the songs "anata ni ichiban kiku kusuri" and "BIN-KAN Rouge".

A new 7" single has also just been announced, to be released on July 5! It will be titled "tohhou magic" and can already be pre-ordered at HMV or Tower Records. A release party will be held on July 30 at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar. There are more shows meanwhile such as "New Now! -vol.9-" on May 28 at Shimokitazawa Three, "Higaeri Utopia" on June 18 at Shibuya Lush (with Meet The Hopes, Haikarasan and Sunanokabe), and "Nu Psychic Teen Sounds! ~Rinda & Marya Release Party~" on June 22 at Shimokitazawa Club Que (with Rinda & Marya and Childish Tones).

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Magic, Drums & Love, Shiho

6. Shiho "wave goodbye to us" (2023)

Shiho (Twitter) is a singer known for her bands Sucrette and mini kyute. In March this year, she released a 7" of 4 solo songs (at 33½ RPM), titled "favorite shirt afternoon / tears or laughter" (Bandcamp). Two songs are produced by Osamu Shimada (of The Caraway and Swinging Popsicle), including "wave goodbye to us" presented here, and the two others by Atsushi Sasaki (of Melting Holidays and Pot-Pourri).

The limited 7" is available directly from the label's shop disques blue-very, or via Bandcamp (where it can also be obtained digitally).

Thank you for tuning in! Information about replays can be found at the top of the page.

Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some older ones on Mixcloud.