RAIN TREE CROW

"Rain Tree Crow" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by UK pop/rock act Rain Tree Crow. The album was released through Virgin Records in April 1991. While it´s the debut album under the Rain Tree Crow monicker it could just as well have been released as the sixth full-length studio album by Japan, as it features the same four musicians in the lineup who also recorded Japan´s final studio album "Tin Drum" (November 1981). In fact Virgin Records put pressure on the band to release the album under the Japan monicker but lead vocalist David Sylvian vetoed the idea and got his will (although the album front cover features the names of all four musicians, which is of course a label marketing trick to lure in fans of Japan). The album was relatively successful and to begin with it wasn´t meant to be a one-off project, but as old disagreements came to the surface again, Rain Tree Crow folded again even before being able to tour in support of the album.

Stylistically it´s an atmospheric, organic, and deeply melancholic album, featuring steady organic grooves, synth/keyboard and guitar chords and themes to create atmosphere, and lead vocalist/guitarist David Sylvian´s pleasant and warm baritone voice in front. The tracks aren´t your usual vers/chorus structured pop/rock songs, but often more linear in structure and not always written to be an accessible listen. In that respect Rain Tree Crow respect the artistic integrity of Japan, but other than that this sounds more like a David Sylvian solo album than an album created by all four members of the last incarnation of Japan. Mick Karn´s busy and dominant bass playing and the creative and groovy drumming of Steve Jansen for example aren´t heard much on this album. This is generally a more stripped down and atmospheric release. And I´m afraid some tracks even travel down the repetitive dark and ambient muzak road.

"Blackwater" was released as an album single, and it´s probably the most mainstream oriented and normal vers/chorus structured track on the album, so that makes sense. It´s still a melancholic and ambient pop/rock song, but it´s relatively accessible. "Rain Tree Crow" features a warm and organic sounding production job and it´s obvious that this is a late 1989/1990 recording when you listen to the drum sound, the synths/keyboards chosen, and the way the vocals are produced. It´s just a really well sounding release.

Upon conclusion "Rain Tree Crow" will probably not be what most people expect when they learn that it was recorded by the same lineup who recorded Japan´s "Tin Drum" and it´s definitely not a given that fans of Japan will find this interesting. Sylvian´s baritone and the melancholic atmosphere of the music is recognisable but the instrumental part of the music is generally far removed from the sound of late 70s/early 80s Japan. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

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