Biography Wikipedia
Group Members: Mick Karn, David Sylvian, Richard Barbieri
Wikipedia:
David Sylvian chronologyRain Tree Crow was the name used by the English New Wave band Japan (excluding Rob Dean, who had departed prior to Japan's initial breakup) when they briefly reformed for this one-off project, which would be their final album. It was the first time all four members of the band, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn and Richard Barbieri, collaborated on a project since the compilation of the 1983 live album Oil on Canvas.
Recorded in 1989-1990 and released in April 1991, the majority of the material on their eponymous album was written as a result of group improvisations (aside from 'Blackwater'). There were no pre-rehearsals and the music that emerged was a hybrid of atmospheric ambient ballads in the style of lead singer David Sylvian's contemporaneous albums and more dissonant experimental styles that sometimes echoed the work of Tom Waits and King Crimson.
All members of the band aside from Sylvian wished to retain the Japan moniker which was last used when the band split in December 1982. However, Sylvian levered increasing artistic and production control over the project (including his insistence on using the RTC name instead of Japan, much to the other members' bemusement and annoyance), to the point where the recording developed from a band effort into a what was essentially another Sylvian solo project, leaving the other members as mere sessioners for the front man.
Bassist Mick Karn died in January 2011, ensuring that this would be the last album released by all four continuous Japan members.
"Blackwater" was released as the album's only single and just missed the Top 60 in the UK singles charts in March 1991. The album itself was, in general, critically acclaimed by the music press and reached the Top 25 in the UK albums chart. The Japanese box set includes also a 28 page booklet with exclusive photographs.
"...the album is at its best. Rain Tree Crow is not ponderous, as Japan once had pretensions to be, but it fills a darkened room nicely." -- Sue Peter, Option, 92
Track listing
The following tracklisting is for the re-mastered version of the album released in 2003. It contains an additional track not featured on the original album; called "I Drink to Forget," the song was the B-side of "Blackwater." The original album contained tracks 1 to 12, as listed below, in precisely the same order.
"Big Wheels in Shanty Town" – 7:08 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, hammond organ, electric piano, shortwave radio, horn arrangementBill Nelson - electric guitarMick Karn - bass, brass, horn arrangementRichard Barbieri - synthesizerDjene Doumbouya - vocalDjanka Djabate - vocalSteve Jansen - drums, percussion, hammond organJohnny Thirkell - trumpet/flugelhornGary Barnacle - saxes"Every Colour You Are" – 4:46 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, electric piano, shortwave radio, treatmentsPhil Palmer - slide guitarMick Karn - bass, saxophoneRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - drums, percussion"Rain Tree Crow" – 2:04 David Sylvian - vocal, percussionMick Karn - pipesRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - percussion"Red Earth (As Summertime Ends)" – 3:38 David Sylvian - slide guitar, keyboards, Indian drumPhil Palmer - acoustic guitarMichael Brook - bass congaMick Karn - bass, tablaRichard Barbieri - synthesizerBrian Gascoigne - orchestrationSteve Jansen - ceramic drums, percussion"Pocket Full of Change" – 6:08 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, organMichael Brook - guitar treatmentsMick Karn - bass, brassRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - drums, percussion, organ"Boat's for Burning" – 0:45 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitarRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - tambourine"New Moon at Deer Wallow" – 5:12 David Sylvian - electric guitar, bassMick Karn - bass clarinetRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - Moroccan clay drum, fan drums"Blackwater" – 4:19 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, keyboardsBill Nelson - electric guitarMick Karn - bassRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - drums, percussion"A Reassuringly Dull Sunday" – 1:22 David Sylvian - organ, keyboards, percussionMichael Brook - percussionMick Karn - bass clarinet, percussionRichard Barbieri - synthesizer, pianoSteve Jansen - marimba, percussion"Blackcrow Hits Shoe Shine City" – 5:14 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, organ, electric piano, keyboards, treatmentsMick Karn - bass, saxophoneRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - drums, percussion"Scratchings on the Bible Belt" – 2:46 David Sylvian - electric guitar, banjo, marimba, harmoniumMichael Brook - treatmentsMick Karn - bass clarinetRichard Barbieri - synthesizer, water wheelSteve Jansen - piano, marimba, percussion"Cries and Whispers" – 2:31 David Sylvian - vocal, electric guitar, treatmentsMick Karn - bassRichard Barbieri - synthesizerSteve Jansen - percussion"I Drink to Forget" - 1:46 David Sylvian - piano, keyboards, percussionMick Karn - wine glassesRichard Barbieri - synthesizersSteve Jansen - wine glasses, percussion
