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Jason Maloney reviews
V o l u m e # 0 9 Week Commencing: 08th April 1991 Online Date: 08th April 2005
Mama Said
Having split opinion with his debut album Let Love Rule in 1989 (creator of skilful pastiches, or just plain plagiarist?), Kravitz emerged less than two years later with the follow-up. Essentially more of the same, the only difference this time was the commercial success of both the album itself (a Top 10 entry in the UK) and its second single It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over (#11 in the summer of 1991).
Let Love Rule had proved a sleeper hit of minor status, building up the fanbase which would take Mama Said straight in at #8, but it failed to rise beyond #56 on any given week. Such was the man’s famous attention to detail, he went to great lengths to track down genuine 1970s recording tape for the Mama Said sessions to really nail that authentic retro sound.
Rain Tree Crow
Almost a decade after disbanding Japan, the band’s members reunited in the studio once again to work on their first new material since the classic Tin Drum album. Lead vocalist and visual focual point David Sylvian had enjoyed a notable solo career throughout the intervening years, while the others had found their respective niches within the art and film industries.
Reviving past fortunes was never on the agenda, as evidenced by their refusal for the project to be released as Japan; instead preferring a new moniker, Rain Tree Crow, even when Virgin Records offered them much-needed money to complete the recording sessions but only on the proviso they used the old name. This determination meant the band had to dig deep into their own pockets to avoid artistic compromise.
It’s debatable how well Rain Tree Crow (the album) would have sold if it had been a Japan record – certainly its #24 peak in the UK wasn’t anything spectacular – but esoteric, ambient music with a high degree of experimentalism has never been that chart-friendly at the best of times. Its most accessible moments were the single Black Water (it nudged the lower regions of the Top 75) and Every Colour You Are, which ranks among the finest tracks Sylvian has ever put his name to.
Page Content copyright © Jason Maloney, 2005.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.