Made of Rain

by The Psychedelic Furs

Overview

After spending nearly two decades as a reliable concert draw playing the old hits to crowds happy to hear them, the Psychedelic Furs decided as the 2010s came to a close that the time was right to record some new music. After two quick sessions spent recording a few older, but mostly newly written, songs, the band's eighth album, Made of Rain, was ready to share with the outside world. It's a largely melancholy record that doesn't harken back to their nervy post-punk days, or their shimmering synth pop days, or even their dance-rock heyday. Instead, they go for a spit-shined modern sound that is sure to sound good in large halls and small arenas. The powerful rhythm section, subtle keyboard flourishes, and layers of guitars provide a suitably dramatic backdrop for Richard Butler's impressionistic lyrics and impressively unchanged vocals. His world-wearily sardonic vocals sounded old before their time when he was young; now that his age and voice finally match, they sound remarkably sprightly and powerful. His nimble phrasing and cockeyed asides are still magical after many decades, and even if the music on Made of Rain isn't always as inspiring, his presence alone makes it worth hearing. The standout tracks like the ruefully soaring "Wrong Train" or the darkly tough "Don't Believe" have the same spark as the band's best work, matching Butler's voice with impassioned and jaggedly forceful music. Strong ballads like "Ash Wednesday" and "Stars" have a subtle touch that allows the full power of Butler's yearning vocals to cut through the mix. A full album of songs with this kind of energy and/or feeling would have been a miracle; it's not surprising that it falls a little short. Too many songs hang around in a kind of midtempo gloom that gets a little heavy, and instead of using the saxophone to provide texture, Mars Williams' soloing wrests the spotlight away from Butler far too often. These minor issues aside, Made of Rain is a fine and sometimes inspired comeback. It may not be Talk Talk Talk, Pt. 2 or Forever Now again, but it proves the Furs still have plenty of life left in them, and it's always nice to hear Richard Butler's voice no matter what the setting. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	07/31/2020
Label:	Cooking Vinyl
UPC:	0711297526219

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll
2. Don't Believe
3. You'll Be Mine
4. Wrong Train
5. This'll Never Be like Love
6. Ash Wednesday

Disc 2

7. Come All Ye Faithful
8. No-One
9. Tiny Hands
10. Hide the Medicine
11. Turn Your Back on Me
12. Stars

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Psychedelic Furs   Primary Artist
Paul Garisto   Percussion
Richard Butler   Vocals
Mars Williams   Saxophone
Tim Butler   Bass
Rich Good   Guitar
Amanda Kramer   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Paul Garisto   Composer,Group Member
John Ashton   Composer
Richard Fortus   Composer,Producer
Richard Butler   Composer,Lyricist,Group Member
Mars Williams   Group Member
The Psychedelic Furs   Producer
Justin Shturtz   Mastering
Tim Butler   Composer,Group Member
Jon Carin   Composer
Tim Palmer   Mixing,Producer
David Maurice   Producer
Matthew Reeves   Photography
Rich Good   Composer,Group Member
Amanda Kramer   Group Member
Kevin Grady   Design,Art Direction