Nicholas DeGraff

Magical, a 1984 compilation album by Junko Ohashi, is one of the most iconic and recognizable Japanese albums of the 1980s to Western audiences. It cohesively puts together many of Ohashi's best works, despite the fact that many of the songs on the album never became hits. What the album does, however, is combine a feeling of power (stemming from Ohashi's strong voice) and good songwriting without succumbing to the allure of 1980's synthpop. Though critics will say that Magical is over-rated, the album accurately pairs Ohashi's best examples of songwriting and singing together with no regard for their ultimate commercial success. Upon release in 1984, Ohashi's hit-making career was essentially over, with her largest hits coming from the late 1970's. And although she would continue to make more original albums through the 80's, Magical was somewhat of a "last hurrah" for the late 70's and early 80's sounds that she was best known for.

This album is a masterful showcase of the Japanese funk and city pop genres. Bright, ear-catching horns, strong vocals, catchy and complex baselines, and innovative synth work combines into one metropolitan, stylish, and sophisticated work of music perfectly representing the 1980's Japanese "bubble era".