clammbon "Why not clammbon!? ~ clammbon Tribute"
This recently released clammbon tribute album features a great amount of like-minded artists, including Buffalo Daughter, salyu x salyu, Nona Reeves, Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, GREAT3, Hanaregumi, Rekishi and more. Check out the trailer clip below, and hear samples of...
Posted on December 31, 2014 at 17:53. | Released on December 3, 2014
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set "try∴angle"
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set has a new album that was released this month! This includes song "One Day" that's being featured as the theme song of game-themed TV series "No-Con Kid". The limited edition contains a bonus DVD with the...
Posted on December 28, 2013 at 23:10. | Released on December 4, 2013
Koizumi Kyoko "Collaborakyon"
Kyon-kyon aka Koizumi Kyōko's new compilation album of old and new collaborations, appropriately named "Collaborakyon", seems to have quite a bit of a Shibuya-kei direction. Featured are Jazztronik, Asa-Chang & Junray, Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, Sokabe Keiichi, Hosono Haruomi, Watanabe...
Posted on February 12, 2011 at 23:40. | Released on February 16, 2011
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set "subete hikari"
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary with this album of covers featuring various female singers such as Halcali, Kojima Mayumi, Toki Asako, Harada Ikuko (clammbon) and more. Covers include ones of Original Love, Scha Dara Parr,...
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 21:58. | Released on February 9, 2011
Various Artists "VerSus 'Japanese Rock VS FPM' selected and non-stop mixed by FPM"
FPM starts a new series of mix CDs, titled "VerSus". In the first he has his take on J-rock, mixing rocking tracks while keeping a club attitude. The first pressing comes in a specially printed jewel case, like it was...
Posted on August 3, 2010 at 21:41. | Released on August 4, 2010
Halcali "Tokyo Groove"
Halcali is finally back this month with a new album! The previous was "Cyborg oretachi" 3 years ago. This time we are treated to 2 CDs of 8 songs each. The first contains original songs, and the other all covers....
Posted on May 10, 2010 at 23:24. | Released on May 26, 2010
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set + Halcali "You May Dream"
Halcali and Tokyo No.1 Soul Set have a new collaboration single coming, follow-up to the "konya wa Boogie Back" that was a big hit. This time they do a cover of Sheena and the Rokkets' "You May Dream", a song...
Posted on May 1, 2010 at 20:08. | Released on May 5, 2010
Tokyo No.1 Soul Set + Halcali "konya wa Boogie Back"
The latest from Halcali is this cover of Scha Dara Parr with Ozawa Kenji's hit song "konya wa Boogie Back", here produced by Tokyo No.1 Soul Set. The song was heard a lot on TV in a commercial for Nissan...
Posted on September 27, 2009 at 13:22. | Released on September 23, 2009
Full-text search results for Tokyo No.1 Soul Set
Record Day 2024
This year again, Record Day was held earlier this month on November 3, coinciding with the public holiday Culture Day. Here are some picks from the many releases of this year. The full list can be found here. Cruisic "Euphoria"...
Posted on November 19, 2024 at 23:36. | Released on November 3, 2024
City Pop on Vinyl 2024
City Pop on Vinyl was held for the 5th time on Saturday, August 3, 2024. Below are just a few recommendations that shouldn't be missed by Tokyo's Coolest Sound's readers. There's also a lot more to find on the official...
Posted on August 10, 2024 at 18:07. | Released on August 3, 2024
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.51
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...
Posted on July 19, 2024 at 13:25.
City Pop on Vinyl 2023
City Pop on Vinyl is being held for the 4th time, on August 5, 2023. There are many exciting releases this time again, and below are some recommendations to Tokyo's Coolest Sound's readers. There's also a lot more to find...
Posted on August 5, 2023 at 23:05. | Released on August 5, 2023
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.39
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...
Posted on May 19, 2023 at 14:29.
City Pop on Vinyl 2022
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei. It takes place again in 2022, for the 3rd tme. Below is a selection of some titles not to be missed by readers of this...
Posted on August 6, 2022 at 00:55. | Released on August 6, 2022
Record Store Day 2022
It's time for Record Store Day! This weekend on Saturday April 23 is the worldwide Record Store Day, and like always there are many releases happening in Japan too! Below is a list of recommended picks. Many releases in Japan...
Posted on April 23, 2022 at 01:33. | Released on April 23, 2022
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.25
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...
Posted on March 11, 2022 at 01:26.
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
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.19
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...
Posted on August 26, 2021 at 00:23.
RSD Drops 2021 Day 2
Here comes the 2nd of Record Store Day's "RSD Drops" for 2021, following the first held on June 12. Online sales will start at 13:00 (JST) on release day. Below are some picks for July 17, followed by some related...
Posted on July 17, 2021 at 02:04. | Released on July 17, 2021
Posted on February 9, 2021 at 23:52. | Event held on Sunday February 21, 2021 at 12:30 (JST)
Way Wave "the supreme man c/w Looking For Woman" (7")
From their latest mini-album "Soul Punch" (2019), here comes a 7" single by funky soulful sisters Way Wave! Included are the P-Funk-reminiscent "the supreme man", which was written by Sokabe Keiichi (Sunny Day Service), and "Looking For Woman". Like...
Posted on June 13, 2020 at 21:59. | Released on June 17, 2020
Negicco "Negicco 2003~2012 Best" (2x12")
The final release of Negicco's vinyl re-issue project is their first full-length album, first released on CD in 2012 and bringing together 18 of their best songs since their 2003 debut. To fit everything, it needed to be made into...
Posted on November 3, 2019 at 22:54. | Released on November 5, 2019
Record Day 2019
Record Day 2019, an initiative of Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, is being held this Sunday November 3rd (the same day as Japan's "Culture Day" national holiday). Items are available in stores and online from that date. Below is a...
Posted on November 3, 2019 at 01:12. | Released on November 3, 2019
Original Love "bless You!" (12")
Original Love (aka Tajima Takao)'s latest album "bless You!" has just been released on vinyl! Also a new music video for title song "bless You!" has been released, as well as the full length videos for "Acrobat tachi yo" and...
Posted on August 30, 2019 at 22:52. | Released on August 21, 2019
Pizzicato Five "The Band of 20th Century: Nippon Columbia Years 1991-2001"
Pizzicatomania all over the world! Check this out! This is a compilation of the best from Pizzicato Five's Nippon Columbia years (Triad/Readymade), which featured vocalist Nomiya Maki. The whole was supervised and selected by Konishi Yasuharu himself, with art direction...
Posted on August 2, 2019 at 23:40. | Released on November 3, 2019
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
Gig report: Adieu, Vanilla Beans!: Retrospective & last gig reports
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound They came carried by winds from Northern Europe, where they returned to last October 7 (2018). So goes the setting of Vanilla Beans, a unique idol group that had debuted...
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 22:03.
Wack Wack Rhythm Band "Madras Express / Stay-Pressed" (7")
Wack Wack Rhythm Band has another new 7" single out now! This time the band brings us two new groovy original instrumentals. A-sider "Madras Express" has over 5 minutes and spotlights the brass section in an afro-funk tune, while...
Posted on November 11, 2018 at 10:38. | Released on November 11, 2018
Record Day 2018
Record Day is this Saturday November 3, always held on the same day as national holiday "Culture Day". Led by Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, many labels and artists coordinate their releases in the favorite physical format of many to...
Posted on November 2, 2018 at 23:22. | Released on November 3, 2018
Takkyu Ishino "Takkyu Ishino Works 1983-2017"
Takkyu Ishino (Denki Groove), who just turned 50 on December 26, is releasing an box set of eight CDs! This includes a lot of his works except his solo original albums and Denki Groove original songs. This sums up to...
Posted on January 6, 2018 at 00:23. | Released on January 24, 2018
Gig report: "Shibuya no Radio no Shibuya-kei Festival"
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday October 21, 2017 was held a very special music event for Shibuya-kei music fans. Shibuya ward organizes annually a music festival called "Shibuya ongakusai" (or "Shibu-on", official site) and for...
Posted on October 28, 2017 at 11:43.
Various Artists "Kayama Yuzo no shin sekai"
Kayama Yūzō is a singer-songwriter who will soon be celebrating his 80th birthday. This is a remix album of some of his songs, featuring artists such as Scha Dara Parr, Wednesday Campanella, Rhymester, Momoiro Clover Z with Cypress Ueno &...
Posted on March 29, 2017 at 22:55. | Released on March 8, 2017
Ishino Takkyu "EUQITANUL"
Takkyu Ishino (Denki Groove) has a new remix album out this week! All tracks from latest album "LUNATIQUE" were remixed by many of his close DJ friends, including Towa Tei, Sunahara Yoshinori, agraph, Hiroshi Watanabe (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, InK),...
Posted on December 20, 2016 at 00:40. | Released on December 21, 2016
"lyrical school no michi to no sōgū" (Blu-ray/DVD)
Earlier this year rap idol group lyrical school made a sci-fi-themed movie that was shown in theaters in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, and has now just been released on Blu-ray and DVD. While working in a Tokyo record shop to...
Posted on December 10, 2016 at 13:05. | Released on December 7, 2016
Record Store Day 2016
This year again Record Store Day is being held in Japan, this time on Saturday April 16! A lot of special and limited vinyl editions are being released on that very day, and at first only available in physical shops....
Posted on April 14, 2016 at 23:15. | Released on April 16, 2016
P.O.P "okaasan ni kiite minai to wakaranai"
Rapper twins-fronted hip-hop band P.O.P (not to be confused with newcomer idol group POP...) has a 2nd album out now, follow-up to "tanoshii koto bakari arimasu yō ni." (2014)! The 15-song album features guests such as Nakatsuka Takeshi, BIKKE (Tokyo...
Posted on December 10, 2015 at 00:12. | Released on December 2, 2015
Yapani! "Salvia feat. P.O.P"
Instrumental brass rock band Yapani! has a new digital single out now, featuring rapper twins P.O.P! This is available on iTunes worldwide. No live info for Yapani! at this time, but P.O.P have a one-man live featuring Nakatsuka Takeshi...
Posted on August 2, 2015 at 13:42. | Released on August 2, 2015
P.O.P "tanoshii koto bakari arimasu yō ni."
P.O.P (previously known as P.O.P ORCHeSTRA) is a hip-hop band led by two identical twin rappers. They have long been active on stage, and have released several songs on iTunes before, but finally here comes their first album being released...
Posted on June 18, 2014 at 23:09. | Released on June 18, 2014
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 Kyūshū island in the south of...
Posted on July 17, 2013 at 00:59.
Gig report: Vanilla Beans, Nomiya Maki & BIBA
Text and 2nd photo by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound. 1st photo by Kaz Sekiguchi, courtesy of Yoko Fujiwara. On July 5th was the 4th edition of Vanilla Beans' series of shows with a live band. Every time they...
Posted on July 11, 2013 at 23:34.
tofubeats "Lost Decade", "university of remix", "college of remix"
1990-born young genius DJ tofubeats has a first full-length album out now! This features hit song "suisei" (feat. rapper Onomatope Daijin), as well as a lot of new tracks, including songs featuring vocalists Nanba Shiho, PUNPEE, G.RINA, Kariya Seira and...
Posted on April 28, 2013 at 23:31. | Released on April 24, 2013
Gig report: Saitō 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.
Gig report: Happy X'mas with The Scooters
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Christmas day, I went to a show of The Scooters who got active again this year after some 30 years! Last summer was released new album "Une Manche et...
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 23:48.
Gig report: Nosa Reina release party w/ Portable Rock, Nomiya Maki, Takanami K-taro
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On November 30, I went to the release party for Nosa Reina's first album "don't kiss, but yes". Producer Takanami K-taro was on stage too part of the band, more on that...
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 00:19.
Gig report: Portable Rock
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday June 2, I went to see Portable Rock at small venue Club Crawl in Shibuya. It was the first of two "one-man" shows (no opening band) the band played. This...
Posted on June 3, 2012 at 21:57.
Gig report: Nomiya Maki's 30th anniversary concert
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound. Photos by Kasuga Miwa. On Monday March 19, I went to Nomiya Maki's 30th anniversary concert held at O-East, coincidentally (?) almost the same place where was held Pizzicato Five's last concert...
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 22:31.
Gig report: Sally Soul Stew and The Fave Raves
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound The last show I went to in 2011, on December 28, was one organized by Sally Soul Stew, band of bassist Sally Kubota (Les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift). I had...
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 23:30.
Jimi Shijimi "Shijimi no onna"
New-comer female singer Jimi Shijimi has a debut single out now, produced by multi-talent artist Lily Franky. The single includes remixes by FPM and Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, InK), and the limited edition comes with the music...
Posted on August 19, 2011 at 23:16. | Released on August 17, 2011
globe "house of globe"
Late 90's mainstream dance unit globe, produced by Komuro Tetsuya, has a remix album coming that attempts to appeal to fans of the current club scene. Remixers include Konishi Yasuharu, FPM, Osawa Shinichi, Shinco (Scha Dara Parr), Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo...
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 23:02. | Released on August 10, 2011
Kaseki Cider "Sound Burger Planet"
Kaseki Cider is a rapper who debuted in the mid-90's with ties to the Shibuya-kei scene but then went into a long hiatus, 13 years later he's now back with a 3rd album that promises a lot of fun! This...
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 01:21. | Released on June 29, 2011
Gig report: mōretsu kara Beautiful Concert 2011: Sally Soul Stew and Keme
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Sunday May 8 was a show of Sally Soul Stew, the band of bassist Sally Kubota (Les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift), held at Shinjuku rock venue Red Cloth. Sally...
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:55.
Various Artists "Speed Racer Japan ~Mach GoGoGo Tribute~"
Anime series "Mach GoGoGo", known to the rest of the world as "Speed Racer", is being paid homage on this tribute album featuring Fantastic Plastic Machine, Halfby, Kaji Hideki, Kiiiiiii+DJ Codomo, Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove, InK), Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1...
Posted on August 24, 2008 at 23:37. | Released on August 27, 2008
Nakatsuka Takeshi "Kiss & Ride"
Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone, Happiness Records) has a new solo album on the way. The album is said to be part mellow house, part electro-pop, and will feature guests Nomiya Maki (ex-Pizzicato Five), Eli (ex-Love Tambourines), Utamaru (Rhymester), and more. Nakatsuka...
Posted on July 22, 2008 at 16:04. | Released on September 17, 2008
Fantastic Plastic Machine "Sound Concierge Japan"
FPM brings us a 10th installment of his popular "Sound Concierge" series! This time he focuses his selection to nothing but house tracks with Japanese lyrics! As the rest of the series, we can expect limited edition artwork with desktop...
Posted on January 30, 2008 at 15:02. | Released on March 26, 2008
columbia*readymade jazz-rock re-issues
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Columbia, Konishi Yasuharu offers us some rare 70's Japanese jazz-rock (as the genre is called) albums from Columbia Japan re-issued on CD (actually 9 out of 10 8 out of 9 are for the first...
Posted on January 15, 2008 at 17:18. | Released on April 16, 2008
InK "InK EP1", "InK EP2" (12")
InK, the unit of Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove) and Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1 Soul Set), has two 12" EPs coming up. These contain tracks from the recent album "InK PunK PhunK", but also some remixes and brand new tracks! InK...
Posted on November 6, 2007 at 10:48. | Released on November 28, 2007
"standard of 90's" re-issue series part 2
After Original Love and Spank Happy, here come re-issues of Scha Dara Parr, Great 3 (unit of Katayose Akito, husband of Chocolat) and Tokyo No.1 Soul Set (unit of Kawanabe Hiroshi now member of InK). These are also all remastered...
Posted on October 22, 2007 at 22:23. | Released on November 28, 2007
"standard of 90's" re-issue series part 1
EMI and BMG have got together and decided to re-issue a bunch of Shibuya-kei related CDs, under a "standard of 90's" theme. Part 1 and 2 (out in October and November) got my interest with titles by Original Love, Spank...
Posted on October 21, 2007 at 14:33. | Released on October 24, 2007
Akakage "Louca"
A new mix CD series called "Louca" (Portuguese for "insane person") with the theme something like "hot, happy and fun summer" is starting with Akakage and DJ Uraken, the latter who includes a few covers of 80's hits. Akakage also...
Posted on June 15, 2007 at 14:45. | Released on July 25, 2007
Crazy Ken Band "Soul denpa"
Super-productive Crazy Ken Band have a 9th album coming up, not even a year after the previous, "Galaxy". ("denpa" in the title means "electro-magnetic wave".) Crazy Ken Band "Soul denpa" クレイジーケン バンド "Soul電波" 1. Intro: Soul denpa 2. Playboy kakumei...
Posted on June 13, 2007 at 15:16. | Released on August 8, 2007
InK "C-46"
After TakBam, Okamura to Takkyū and Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr, Ishino Takkyū's new collaboration unit is with Kawanabe Hiroshi of Tokyo No.1 Soul Set, and the name is InK (surely stands for "Ishino and Kawanabe")! Their sound is...
Posted on March 7, 2006 at 13:09. | Released on April 26, 2006
InK first live at Liquid Room
Ishino Takkyu (Denki Groove) has a new unit together with Kawanabe Hiroshi of Tokyo No.1 Soul Set. The unit is called InK (Ishino 'n' Kawanabe) and a first live show has been scheduled. There's an album scheduled for release on...
Posted on February 6, 2006 at 15:50. | Released on March 31, 2006
Halcali "Halcalimix"
Halcali's first remix album will contain remixes by OTF, Halfby, Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto), Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove), Okamura Yasuyuki, and more! Some of the tracks have been previously released on Halcali's singles, but some are brand new. Halcali "Halcalimix"...
Posted on January 11, 2005 at 16:17. | Released on March 16, 2005
