Have a Nice Day! "Cloud Nine"
Have a Nice Day! (Instagram, đ, YouTube) has released a brand new album titled "Cloud Nine", with a catch copy that says "Music for dancing between reality and illusion, despair and hope". The album is available on CD, download/streaming services,...
Posted on April 18, 2026 at 00:21. | Released on April 17, 2026
ayU tokiO "Star Call" (Download)
ayU tokiO has released this month a new single titled "Star Call". Watch the music video below! His previous original song was apparently "Family Contents" (2022). ayU tokiO's label COMPLEX will be releasing a cassette tape compilation titled "REV.02"...
Posted on October 22, 2025 at 00:20. | Released on October 7, 2025
Tanzaku CD (8cm CD) Day 2025
For the 3rd year, Tanzaku CD Day is being held on July 7 (same day as the Tanabata festival), following the 2023 and 2024 editions that revived the nostalgic 8cm CD format (3" CD/mini CD). This year again has many...
Posted on July 9, 2025 at 00:17. | Released on July 7, 2025
Sugiurumn "Someone Is Dancing Somewhere"
SUGIURUMN (of The Alexx, ex-Electric Glass Balloon) has released a brand new solo album, featuring a variety of singers: Ani (of Scha Dara Parr), Keiichi Sokabe (Sunny Day Service), Hokuto Asami and Haruna Yusa (both of Have a Nice Day!),...
Posted on August 17, 2024 at 17:39. | Released on August 7, 2024
RYUTist "WOOT!" (Download)
Niigata-based idol group RYUTist has released a new song titled "WOOT!". The song was written and produced by Satoko Shibata who previously also wrote the songs "Nice Pose" and "Aurora" for the group. Check out the music video below!...
Posted on June 21, 2024 at 00:25. | Released on June 12, 2024
Haruna Yusa "Dreams In Dawn" (Download)
Keyboardist and singer Haruna Yusa (Twitter, Instagram) (a member of bands Kowarekake no Tape Recorders and Have a Nice Day!) has released digitally a 2nd cover of the group Strip Joint. This one is of the song "Consolation" (music...
Posted on August 12, 2023 at 23:27. | Released on August 9, 2023
Haruna Yusa "Liquid Of Summer" (Download)
Keyboardist and singer Haruna Yusa (Twitter, Instagram) (a member of bands Kowarekake no Tape Recorders and Have a Nice Day!) has released a new solo single in which she covers the song "Liquid" originally by her labelmates Strip Joint....
Posted on July 29, 2023 at 00:02. | Released on July 20, 2023
Tanzaku CD (8cm CD) Day
What's going on in 2023? Well, it's the 35th anniversary of the 8cm CD, also known as "Tanzaku CD" (or also 3" CD or "mini CD"), which was a very popular format for singles in Japan in the 90s. A...
Posted on July 8, 2023 at 01:15. | Released on July 7, 2023
Record Store Day 2023
Record Store Day will be held worldwide on Saturday April 22! Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. As always, there are no online pre-orders,...
Posted on April 15, 2023 at 23:40. | Released on April 22, 2023
Shonen Knife "Our Best Place"
Shonen Knife has just released a brand new album titled "Our Best Place"! Included are many brand new songs, plus a re-recorded version of the song "Girl's Rock" (first featured on compilation "Girls L.T.D - Girls Like To Dance"), and...
Posted on February 18, 2023 at 00:16. | Released on February 15, 2023
Record Day 2022 Day 1
Record Day is being held this year again, on November 3 (coinciding with public holiday Culture Day) and also on December 3. Below are some picks that are not to be missed from the November 3 crates, but there's also...
Posted on November 6, 2022 at 12:11. | Released on November 3, 2022
Cassette Store Day 2022
Cassette Store Day is happening this year again, on Saturday October 15, and many albums are being released in the nostalgic format. Below are a few picks, a bit coincidentally all from the KiliKiliVilla label (which puts a lot of...
Posted on October 14, 2022 at 22:38. | Released on October 15, 2022
The Courettes "Daydream" (7"), "Back In Mono: B-sides & Outtakes" (Japanese edition CD)
Denmark-based Brazilian/Danish garage rock band The Courettes are finally coming to Japan this month! To commemorate their visit, they are releasing a Japan-only 7" single of the song "Daydream" with for B-side a version sung in Japanese(!), and also a...
Posted on October 1, 2022 at 21:02. | Released on October 5, 2022
nicely nice "The Adventures of Nicely Nice"
The 1st full-length album of nicely nice, solo unit of Seiki SatĆ (microstar), which was released on vinyl for "Record Day 2021", has just been released as a CD edition. The jacket features the same illustration by Hisashi Eguchi, slightly...
Posted on June 9, 2022 at 13:17. | Released on June 8, 2022
Haruna Yusa "Another Story Of Dystopia Romance"
Haruna Yusa (Twitter, Instagram) (also a member of bands Kowarekake no Tape Recorders and Have a Nice Day!) has released a solo album which consists of covers of Have a Nice Day!, band in which she plays keyboards. The album...
Posted on May 22, 2022 at 12:46. | Released on April 20, 2022
Record Day 2021 Day 2
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), has being held once more this November, on Saturday November 27. Also check out the post about day 1! Items can be ordered online. Below is...
Posted on December 4, 2021 at 00:54. | Released on November 27, 2021
Record Day 2021 Day 1
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), is being held on two separate days in 2021: November 3 and 27. Items can be ordered online without any delay. Below is a list of...
Posted on November 3, 2021 at 00:44. | Released on November 3, 2021
Interview: The Courettes Ă Seiki Sato
Interview & translation by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) Rock band The Courettes is releasing its 3rd album "Back in Mono" on October 15th, 2021 from Damaged Goods Records (UK), and the album has the particularity of having been mixed...
Posted on October 14, 2021 at 20:00.
Interview: BJ Rubin
Interview of BJ Rubin by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) BJ Rubin is the New Yorker who is behind the eclectic TV show titled "The BJ Rubin Show" that's currently being aired on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). The show...
Posted on February 27, 2021 at 22:00.
Interview: Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi
Original interview text by Takashi Ikegami Translated from Japanese by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi (below "Mimi") is an interesting artist from actually many perspectives. First, there is the one where she expresses original works as the...
Posted on November 2, 2020 at 00:25.
Ushio Kensuke "'Japan Sinks: 2020' Original Soundtrack" (2CD)
This is the soundtrack for Netflix anime series "Japan Sinks: 2020" (directed by Yuasa Asaaki), of which the music was produced by Ushio Kensuke (agraph). This soundtrack album includes 41 songs on two CDs, and the first pressing is said...
Posted on August 23, 2020 at 11:43. | Released on August 26, 2020
Posted on August 7, 2020 at 22:33. | Event held on Saturday August 15, 2020 at 22:00 (JST)
Recto Berso "No Recto, No Berso"
Singer-songwriter guitar duo Recto Berso have a first full-length album out now! This follows their 2012 mini-album "Nice To Love You!" which was produced by Okada Tohru (Moonriders, CTO LAB.). The album which was entirely recorded at home contains plenty...
Posted on March 28, 2020 at 19:20. | Released on March 25, 2020
Philosophy no Dance "Sapiosexual"
Funky idol group Philosophy no Dance (aka Dance for Philosophy) has a new remix album about to be released! Included are remixes by FPM, Hyadain, Pasocom Music Club, ikkubaru (Indonesia), Night Tempo (South Korea), among many others. The album comes...
Posted on March 5, 2020 at 22:15. | Released on March 6, 2020
Record Store Day 2019
Record Store Day 2019 is just around the corner! This year it's to be held on April 13, a week earlier than usual. This year again there are many great releases happening in Japan. Below are Tokyo's Coolest Sound's picks!...
Posted on April 11, 2019 at 22:33. | Released on April 13, 2019
Lullatone "Music for Museum Gift Shops"
Nagoya-based unit Lullatone has already been around for 20 years (when counting their early days)! It seems like it was the right time to revisit their vast repertory, as does this 52-song album of almost 2½ hours. All songs were...
Posted on March 30, 2019 at 13:32. | Released on March 22, 2019
DJ Hasebe "DJ HASEBE Butter Smooth - Tokyo 90's Groove -"
DJ Hasebe (official Facebook page) has a new mix album out now of 90's songs revolving around Shibuya-kei. This includes a brand new original song that features Nomiya Maki! DJ Hasebe "DJ HASEBE Butter Smooth - Tokyo 90's Groove -"...
Posted on February 24, 2017 at 00:10. | Released on February 22, 2017
Various Artists "Best of Pied Piper Days Vol.2"
Pied Piper House (official Twitter) was an influential record shop in Tokyo from 1975 to 1989. It has been revived for a limited time on the 5th floor of Tower Records Shibuya since last summer, first for an expected 6...
Posted on January 22, 2017 at 15:36. | Released on January 25, 2017
Shoko "A Love Letter to London"
Shoko, a multi-artist based in London and Tokyo, has a first full-length album out now! Kaji Hideki, her husband, wrote all songs except for a cover of Saint Etienne's "London Belongs to Me". The album was recorded in Tokyo, Malmö...
Posted on October 10, 2015 at 16:08. | Released on October 7, 2015
Gig report: Playtime Rock, BANK live at Saravah Tokyo
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Friday July 12 was a show of Playtime Rock, the Nagasaki-based band of Takanami K-taro (ex-Pizzicato Five) (blog). Nagasaki being part of the Kyƫshƫ island in the south of...
Posted on July 17, 2013 at 00:59.
RF "Fill the bill"
Jazz band RF covers hip-hop classics with their signature live band sound. This follows De De Mouse-produced cover album of De De Mouse influences (here). For audio samples, checkout Amazon MP3 (U.S.). RF "Fill the bill" (Original artists in parentheses)...
Posted on April 1, 2013 at 22:11. | Released on April 3, 2013
Gig report: SaitĆ Neon Sign, Love & Revolution, Emmy Lee & The Psyzans
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Sunday January 6, I went to an event at Koenji U.F.O. Club part of a series celebrating the 17th anniversary of the popular GS (Group Sounds)/garage rock oriented venue....
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 00:11.
Recto Berso "Nice To Love You!"
Recto Berso is a band of two guys who love vintage instruments, especially Beatles-era Gibson guitars. They even go as far as using recording equipment from back in the day to create sounds of the same texture. For that reason...
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 22:06. | Released on August 8, 2012
Gig report: Yellow Magic Orchestra U.S. shows, with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter, Towa Tei
Text, photos and videos by Nicholas D. Kent (Japanese Electronic Music) for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Two reports of Yellow Magic Orchestra shows held in California last month (June 26 at Hollywood Bowl, L.A., with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter and Towa...
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 20:13.
Gig report: Ohno Yumiko "The Rainy Table" release party
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Friday was a public holiday, Japan's National Foundation Day, and early evening I went to Roppongi SuperDeluxe for an event organized by multi-talent Ohno Yumiko of Buffalo Daughter. Yumiko...
Posted on February 14, 2011 at 22:52.
The Suzan "iTunes Live" (Download)
The Suzan played an acoustic show last January 9 at Apple Store Ginza, and it's now available on iTunes Japan at a nice price! All tracks are from their album "Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat" which has just...
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 23:53. | Released on January 26, 2011
The Suzan "Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat (Japan edition)" (CD+DVD)
The Suzan (MySpace) have been enjoying a lot of success and good word-of-mouth since the release of this album last year on A-Trak's Fool's Gold (U.S. edition this way), and now here comes an overdue Japanese release. This includes 4...
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 23:04. | Released on January 26, 2011
The Suzan "Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat"
Tokyo girl band The Suzan keeps going back and forth the Pacific Ocean of late, they've been signed by US label Fool's Gold on which they've already released a 7" this summer. Now here comes their first international album! The...
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 01:39. | Released on October 25, 2010
Various Artists "From Us To You! The covers of the Fab Four by Japanese performers"
This new Japanese release contains previously released covers of The Beatles performed by Japanese artists, including Takahashi Yukihiro (Yellow Magic Orchestra), Clammbon, Hirota Mieko and many more. Nice jacket too! Various Artists "From Us To You! The covers of the...
Posted on October 13, 2009 at 23:43. | Released on October 21, 2009
DJ Hiroki "ViVidness! -Lovely Cover's R&B-"
DJ Hiroki is a considered like an emerging scene hero of Shibuya's (Tokyo, Japan) vinyl record shop area Udagawa-chĆ. Here he mixes nothing but covers of super hit songs everyone has heard before. All of these covers have been up...
Posted on May 29, 2008 at 01:23. | Released on May 29, 2008
Posted on January 16, 2008 at 10:21. | Released on February 14, 2008
Miura Makoto "be bop or do something"
DJ Miura Makoto (aka Monsieur Mieurax) brought us earlier this year this mix CD of happy, upbeat jazz with hints of breakbeats and latin house. Included is Fun Lovers' "Samba" that FPM has been spinning. The German version of "Hit...
Posted on December 29, 2007 at 22:26. | Released on June 16, 2007
DJ Sora-Mimi "Groove Party"
DJ Sora-Mimi, a new-comer of the scene who recently released a first 7" and also participated to the "Christmas Will Be Just Another Day" 12" compilation, has a first mix CD out now! 32 tracks of soft rock, groovy pops,...
Posted on December 28, 2007 at 11:08. | Released on December 26, 2007
Boot Beat "Manifesto! 2"
After offering us his great first album "Switch", Boot Beat is back with a new mix CD, follow-up to last year's "Manifesto!" that sold out very quickly. No details yet, except for the artwork and the news that it should...
Posted on October 29, 2007 at 13:12. | Released on November 29, 2007
Ryukyudisko "nasaki feat. Mongol 800"
Okinawan techno unit Ryukyudisko's 2nd major single will include a remix by Fantastic Plastic Machine of a song with the popular Beat Crusaders. Ryukyudisko "nasaki feat. Mongol 800" Ryukyudisko ăăă”ă feat. Mongol 800ă 1. nasaki feat. Mongol 800 2. Mathar...
Posted on June 19, 2007 at 13:54. | Released on July 11, 2007
Introducing Agenda: Magazine!
This last day or two I've been preparing something new called Agenda: Magazine. This is a list of magazines featuring columns or interviews with some of my favorite artists. Each entry contains front cover (when available), featured artist names (in...
Posted on July 1, 2006 at 02:05.
