From 1974 until 1982, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn and Richard Barbieri came to prominence as members of the band Japan, releasing a number of acclaimed albums and singles and becoming one of the most influential acts of the decade, but personal differences between the members (or more between Sylvian and the others) led the band to split, and the four musicians each went their separate ways.

However, in 1991, the four former Japan members reunited, creating one album, Rain Tree Crow, showcasing elements of what each different member had been up to in the last nine years.

The band’s new name, “Rain Tree Crow”, had been chosen by Sylvian, and friction between him and the others inevitably resurfaced, ultimately leading to the project disintegrating shortly after.