Rain Tree Crow

Rain Tree Crow was the only album by Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri working together as a four-piece since 1982. It was recorded in 1989 and 1990 at Studio Miraval in France and at Condulmer near Venice, with long stretches of improvisation, and every song is a group composition. The name was chosen to mark a break from Japan's past. Karn said the plan had been a pop-oriented record, and Virgin pressed the musicians to market it as Japan, but Sylvian refused and the album came out as Rain Tree Crow. Sylvian mixed it, with Pat McCarthy and Steve Nye mixing some of the tracks.

Blackwater was the only single and reached number 62 in March 1991. The album reached number 24. Sylvian said in 2009 that he had fought harder for Blackwater than for any other track. Bill Nelson, Phil Palmer, Michael Brook and Brian Gascoigne were among the guests. Sylvian cited differences of opinion, money and old tensions as the project came apart, and Jansen, Barbieri and Karn later worked together as JBK.