Last Rays of a Dying Sun

The Rain Parade broke up after the lackluster reception accorded their second studio album (and ill-fated major label debut), 1985s Crashing Dream, though the groups legacy quietly refused to entirely fade away, as their languid brand of psychedelia and Matt Piuccis 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, 2023s 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 Parades masterful debut, 1983s Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, which is understandable – that was cut when David Roback was the groups focal point, and he left the band in 1984 (and died in 2020), and while his influence is still felt, this editions 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 Hills studio skills help generate the clear but mysterious sonics this music needs. Crashing Dream ended the Rain Parades 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