Taeko Onuki - Romantique (2018) Hi-Res

A masterpiece produced with the concept of European sound and the first of the prestigious "European trilogy", the fourth original album in total. Also includes a self-cover of "Shinkirou no Machi" recorded in "SONGS" during the Sugar Babe era.

Paralleling musical trends in North America and Europe, the early '70s saw several talented singer/songwriters emerge in Japan, such as Miyuki Nakajima, Tatsuro Yamashita and Yumi Matsutoya. Somewhat less well-known but equally deserving of attention is Taeko Onuki, who was one of the members of a band called Sugar Babe, along with Yamashita. Sugar Babe was one of the first Japanese bands to emphasize high-quality, original material that catered to a more sophisticated, mature audience. On Sugar Babe tracks such as "Itsumodori (As Usual)", Onuki set the template for her style: mellow without being soporific, with a strong pop feel. Sugar Babe broke up in 1976, and ever since then Onuki has worked as a solo artist, starting with her first solo album Gray Skies, which came out the same year.