Taeko Ohnuki – Sunshower (Clear Vinyl)

Taeko Onuki’s Sunshower arrived in 1977 and has since come to be regarded as one of the key records from city pop’s first wave. Her second album, it places soft-focus Japanese pop in conversation with jazz fusion, AOR and funk, with Ryuichi Sakamoto contributing arrangements and an all-star cast that includes drummer Chris Parker. That mix helps explain why the record still feels so fresh: graceful songs, but with real rhythmic bite and a wider musical horizon than the tag “pop” suggests.

What makes Sunshower especially rewarding is how lightness and sophistication work together. Tracks such as “Summer Connection,” “Tokai” and “Sargasso Sea” show Onuki stretching toward a more urbane, band-driven sound after her debut, while keeping her voice at the centre of everything. The album’s international rediscovery has also made it a touchstone for listeners exploring Japanese pop history beyond the usual canon, and its reputation now reaches well beyond Japan.

This edition also reflects part of that continuing appeal. It is issued on clear “Pure Vinyl,” using uncoloured virgin vinyl, a pressing approach promoted for its high-purity material and spacious sound. For a record that thrives on detail, air and groove, that feels like a fitting match.

Features

• Clear Vinyl, Pure Vinyl edition
• Made using uncoloured virgin vinyl
• Limited clear vinyl pressing

Reviews

• one of the seminal works of the genre's first wave - AllMusic.com