Taeko Ohnuki -- Cliche

Probably of all of the original solo albums that I've collected of Taeko Ohnuki（大貫妙子） (8 so far), "Cliche", released in 1982, is the one that has been my favorite up to now. According to J-Wiki, Ohnuki wanted to capture...especially with the last 6 tracks....that very French flavor of Jean Musy arrangements and movie music. I'd posit that she got all that in just the first track alone. "Kuro no Clair"(黒のクレール...Black Clair) is a very sweeping and epic introduction to the album; you can just smell the ennui. And her delivery is the strongest for any song within the 8 albums that I have of her. Half the album has this distinct Frenchness, especially Track 7's "Tourbillon"...which almost demands that you walk down the Champs Elysees while listening to it.

The other half has Ohnuki doing some slightly more techno and whimsical fare, such as Track 2's "Shikisai Toshi"(色彩都市....City of Colours) which seems to be a distant cousin of that old standard, "Happy Talk". EPO is on backup vocals here.