One thing that is very noticeable is that a Jun Togawa recording is very unique. There is nothing like it in this world. To make comparisons is always a fun sport, but I'm not sure if comparing her to other artists would be accurate. Saying that "Suki Suki Daisuki" has traces of French Yé-Yé sound, but updated to the 80s, and she does cover Serge Gainsbourg's "Comment te dire adieu," yet it sounds very much like her own material. The song is sung in Japanese, and I'm not sure if it's just translated lyrics from French to Japanese, or she may have written her own words to the song. The sound is more Togawa than Gainsbourg, yet respectful of the original melody/song.
She also does a beautiful, but a bizarre cover of "Angel Baby" the great Rock n' Roll ballad of the 1950s originally recorded by Rosie and the Originals. The original version is a fantastic time-piece of out-of-this-world pop, and Togawa does this song in English, that reminds me of Yoko Ono if she did a cover of this song. I'm not saying that due that they are both Japanese women, but their voices have a similar vocal range. Togawa can go for the lower notes to the highest, and she is an amazing singer. In the nutshell, I think of her work as a combination of Sparks, Yoko Ono, French Yé-Yé with a touch of Kate Bush ambition. I know that both John Zorn and Jim O'Rourke think of her work highly, and it's a shame that she is not better known in the West. Then again, I suspect that she could care less about the music market outside of Japan. Truly a unique music artist. Also, she did the design work for this album, and it's a great package.
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