Last Rays of a Dying Sun

by Rain Parade

Overview

The Rain Parade broke up after the lackluster reception accorded their second studio album (and ill-fated major label debut), 1985's Crashing Dream, though the group's legacy quietly refused to entirely fade away, as their languid brand of psychedelia and Matt Piucci's dreamlike guitar work continued to fascinate a cult following. After staging periodic reunion shows since 2012, and cutting three songs for the 2019 Paisley Underground round robin project 3x4, the Rain Parade have given fans their first studio album in nearly 40 years, 2023's Last Rays of a Dying Sun. Featuring original members Piucci on guitar and keyboards and Steven Roback on bass (as well as guitarist John Thoman, who joined in time for Crashing Dream), this album captures a bit of the trippy sense of sonic exploration from the 1984 EP Explosions in the Glass Palace (the opening of the title cut bears no small resemblance to "No Easy Way Down"), while also incorporating the harder, more rock-oriented punch that made itself known on Crashing Dream. It lacks the bittersweet fragility of the Rain Parade's masterful debut, 1983's Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, which is understandable - that was cut when David Roback was the group's focal point, and he left the band in 1984 (and died in 2020), and while his influence is still felt, this edition's touch is noticeably different. That said, one of the most pleasant surprises of Last Rays of a Dying Sun is that it sounds just like a Rain Parade album - the approach is a bit more aggressive and the tunes sound a bit more down to earth, and yet this is an absolutely credible 21st Century version of the their trademark approach, with the nocturnal melodies, the thoughtful interplay of the guitars, the starry-eyed vocals and expert harmonies, and the gently insistent rhythms coming together with the same impact they summoned in their salad days. The veteran members can still pull their weight, and the relative new guys (Derek See on guitars and keyboards, Mark Hanley on keyboards and bass, and Stephan Junca on drums) have been seamlessly integrated into the group, while producer Jim Hill's studio skills help generate the clear but mysterious sonics this music needs. Crashing Dream ended the Rain Parade's first era on a note of disappointment, while Last Rays of a Dying Sun begins a new chapter in their story with impressive strength and vision, and finds the Paisley Underground heroes still as gifted and capable as one could hope. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/08/2023
Label:	LABEL 51 RECORDINGS
UPC:	0810137040042

Tracks

1. Angel Sister
2. Last Rays of a Dying Sun
3. Couldn't Stand to Be Alone
4. Bring You Back
5. Got the Fear
6. Share Your Love
7. Sunday's Almost Gone
8. Green
9. Forgetfulness
10. Other Side of You
11. Left the Fire

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rain Parade   Primary Artist
Steven Roback   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Stephan Junca   Drums,Percussion
Vicki Peterson   Vocals (Background)
Debbi Peterson   Vocals (Background)
Derek See   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Matt Piucci   Bass,Sitar,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards,Guitar (Baritone)
Aryeh Frankfurter   Strings
Thom Moore   Vocals (Background)
Darian Sahanaja   Vocals (Background)
Steve Jarvis   Vocals
Jim Hill   Vocals,Tambourine,Synthesizer
John Thoman   Guitar,Vocals
Marcus Blake   Vocals (Background)
Greg Moore   Vocals (Background)
Rob Bonfiglio   Vocals (Background)
Mark Hanley   Bass,Vocals,Keyboards
Meena Makhijani   Tabla
Mac Hill   Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Steven Roback   Composer
Chris Bellman   Mastering
Matt Piucci   Composer
Gabriel Shepard   Assistant Engineer
Darian Sahanaja   Vocal Arrangement
Stefanie Beltron   Art Direction
Jim Hill   Engineer,Producer,Treatments,Art Manipulation
Varun Kejriwal   Assistant Engineer
Jon Krop   Package Layout
Emily Wick   Cover Photo