Taeko Onuki & Ryuichi Sakamoto - UTAU (2024) Hi-Res

Taeko Ohnuki is a Japanese singer with a long and successful recording career since the early 70s. A close friend with Ryuichi Sakamoto, they teamed up again to record this album of Sakamoto's compositions in 2010, with just her voice and his piano. The combination of Ohnuki's vocals and Sakamoto's elegant piano playing are at various times haunting, playful and inspirational. Surprised me that there had not been a vocal album of Sakamoto's music before but this one is top tier.

This is a collaboration album released in 2010. It consists of Ryuichi Sakamoto's past songs with new lyrics by Taeko Onuki, a previous collaboration between the two, the children's song "Akatonbo," and a new song, "a life." The simple expression of just piano and vocals conveys the rich history of the two artists dating back to the early 1970s. In addition to the main track, the album also includes a bonus disc of Ryuichi Sakamoto's performances, including improvisations.