SUNSHOWER

Sometimes I wonder whether the word 'romantic' is meant only for men. But when I hear A1, that thought disappears. It is such a refreshing number that I want to call it a standard of feminine killer tunes. A2 is an Ohnuki-style dance song that I listen to from time to time: an irresistibly good groove, with Latin flavor brought forward by the percussion. A3 is groovy too, showing a spirited side while saying, 'It's sad, but today is the only day I'll feel down.' Most striking is the transparency of the guitar solo in the outro. A4, whose saxophone theme recalls Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On,' is no less compelling. The arrangement sensibility of Ryuichi Sakamoto, known as 'the Professor,' shines, and the different uses of Haruomi Hosono and Tsugutoshi Goto on bass are another pleasure. Side A alone is enough to make this a classic. There are no throwaway tracks outside the recommendations, either. It is a bible-like album of light mellow music.

A romantic story of a certain summer. A woman who has grown up feels no need to make a fuss; intoxicated by her swaying heart, she lets a smile float in her own world. She does not move in response to every changing scene, but takes it in calmly until she begins to feel happy. Even when she goes out into the sleepless night streets, she has no intention of forgetting herself and keeping someone company until dawn. She murmurs, almost to herself, 'Let's go home, together.' Perhaps Ohnuki is that sort of woman.