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.51) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on July 18 from 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: July 19, 2024 from 9:30 a.m.

This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks including the times below:

EDT (Montréal/New York) —

Mon. July 29, 2024 at 8h30 a.m., Fri. August 2 at 1h30 a.m.

Japan time —

Mon. July 29, 2024 at 21h30, Fri. August 2 at 14h30

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 which you can listen to.

1. GOOD BYE APRIL "Summer BGM of Us feat. Asako Toki" (2024)
(Japanese title: GOOD BYE APRIL 「ふたりのBGM feat. 土岐麻子」 "futari no BGM feat Toki Asako")

City pop band Good Bye April has just released a new song which features Asako Toki. Titled "Summer BGM of Us" (Japanese title "futari no BGM"), it is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music, OTOTOY), and there's also a music video that you can watch below.

Good Bye April will do a "Billboard Live Tour 2024" which will feature guest Asako Toki. The tour goes to Osaka on September 16 and then to Yokohama on September 20.

🎙️ Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Good Bye April, Mira Parameter

2. Mira Parameter "yoru Marathon" (2017)
(Japanese title: ミラパラメータ 「夜マラソン」)

Mira Parameter (Instagram, 𝕏) is a singer-songwriter who is also a tarot fortuneteller. In her first album "Reborn" (Spotify, , YouTube Music, OTOTOY), in which the song "yoru Marathon" can be heard (its title meaning "Night Marathon"). Check out the music video below!

Mira Parameter's latest release is as piano trio ○△□ (Marusankakushikaku), an album titled "Hoshi Ga Furu" (Spotify, ) in which she re-arranged some songs from "Reborn" and also including several new songs.

3. Milk Talk "Sakura Chill" (2023)

Milk Talk (Instagram, 𝕏, Bandcamp) is a duo formed of The Hair Kid, a U.S.-born musician who lives in Himeji (Hyōgō pref.), and the Tokyo-based vocalist Q.i.

After having released several singles digitally, their first full-length album "Milk Talk" "Milk Talk" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) was released towards the end of last year. It includes the song "Sakura Chill", of which you can watch the lyric video below.

🎙️ Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Milk Talk, Mukaju Dan

4. Mukaju Dan "Sayonara Free World" (2023)

From techno-pop unit Mukaju Dan's latest 3rd album titled "Hinafu Tone" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), this is the song "Sayonara Free World".

The album is named after its vocalist, Hinafu. Mukaju Dan is a production unit of which the main members are arranger Shock Tarō and composer Ton-chan, and their sound is reminiscent of Japanese new wave pop music such as early Pizzicato Five and Saeko Suzuki.

5. Wink Music Service "Spirit of the Beehive" (2024)
(Japanese title: Wink Music Service 「ミツバチのささやき」 "mitsubachi no sasayaki")

"Spirit of the Beehive" is the title song of Wink Music Service's latest 7" single, released last month but apparently sold out from reservations before its release, as it has become tradition with this popular series... This is the first time the unit features guest singer Sana Shiratori (member of idol group Lit Moon, and ex-member of Sakura Gakuin). "Spirit of the Beehive" is an original song with music written by K-taro Takanami (Playtime Rock, ex-Pizzicato Five) and lyrics by Yūko Iizumi (microstar). The single's B-side is a cover of Tomoyo Harada's "Romance".

Wink Music Service is the unit of K-taro Takanami and Sally Kubota (The Scooters, ex-The Phantom Gift, SOLEIL, Les 5-4-3-2-1). So far they have released four 7" singles, featuring three different guest singers (the others being Angie Hiyori and Lin Oberndorff). Only the first single is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and it was also released as a 3" (8cm) CD single for Tanzaku CD Day 2024 including exclusive instrumentals (HMV, Tower). There has been hint that an album should be coming next fall.

As "Spirit of the Beehive" isn't available digitally, this episode's Spotify playlist contains the song "To Rome With Love" instead.

6. Nathalie Wise "A world of nothingness" (2023)
(Japanese title: ナタリーワイズ 「何もない世界の果てに」 "nanimo nai sekai no hate ni")

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 "A world of nothingness" is from their latest album "Open Sky" (Bandcamp) out last year, 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).

On August 4, a solo show will be held at Sangenjaya Grapefruit Moon. Details and tickets can be found here.

🎙️ Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Wink Music Service, Nathalie Wise, Nagie Lane

7. Nagie Lane "Cafe Doki (Baião Groove Remix)" (2024)

Nagie Lane is a neo-city pop group of all singers, formed in 2018. "Cafe Doki" is their latest song released earlier last year, and here is a remix of it from the brand new remix EP "Cafe Doki (Remixes)" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The "Baião Groove Remix" was remixed by Benny Shake.

The group that has been performing with four members has announced that one (keiji) will be leaving at the end of July. The other members (mayu, mikako and baratti) will continue to perform from August.

Nagie Lane has previously released an a cappella cover of Pizzicato Five's "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (aka "the night is still young"). Their latest release is the single "Ikenai Couple" available digitally (music video).

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.