Rain Tree Crow - "Rain Tree Crow" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 1991/2019 (Virgin)

Rain Tree Crow is the band Japan, with all four original members (David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen, & Richard Barbieri). This album is a reunion after Japan broke up. Why they didn't keep the name, Japan, is a mystery to me. When the record was released in 1991, it didn't make significant noise in the music press nor anywhere else for that matter, which is a shame, because this is a beautiful record.

The first cut "Big Wheels in Shanty Town" is very similar sounding to the David Byrne/Brian Eno's album, in that it has a groove that's "World" music like, but then David Sylvian's croon makes it their music. Sylvian and company, which I suspect were under the influence of Can while making this album, is a series of improvisions done in the studio. What was perhaps a 'jam' album becomes tight compositions. The appeal of Rain Tree Crow is that what they do is not original, but that they can take the concept or riff and make it their own.

Their sound (as in Japan as well) is very distinctive of their collaborations. Barbieri has that unique ambient electronic sound that gives the material a foundation. Then you add Karn's distinctive brass arrangements and fretless bass, with the creative percussion by Jansen. Then Sylvian adds effects, and importantly, his Bryan Ferry-like croon. What once was an inspiration, now is very much part of the Sylvian aesthetic. The great song is "Blackwater," which is a stunning ballad. It builds to a certain level and then floats like a cloud seen from a distance. The album, in whole, works in that fashion.