RED RAIN

I'm giving the first review for this song because it definitely deserves it. The opening track of the 1986 album So, it's among his most effective songs of the "faster", or, how to put it, more intensive side of his output. Not that it's that fast, but hopefully you know what I mean. Anthem- like it is. It has a gorgeous arrangement especially on the percussion, featuring Stewart Copeland (of The Police) playing hi-hat. 'Red Rain' was strong heard for the first time in '86 when I was sixteen, and it's still strong, almost to the shivers-down-my-spine -level. Lyrics deal - metaphorically - violence towards entire nations, red referring to blood naturally. Gabriel gives his all in his emotional performance, from wordless howls to the last exhausted moments when the band has stopped and he goes on singing about "red rain pouring down all over me". Magnificent!

Maxi-single seems to have (no, I haven't actually listened to it, I admit) an instrumental version of 'I Go Swimming' which I know from Plays Live. I never have seen much point in its lyrics, so it might fit well into an instrumental treatment. The playing is rhythmically lively and colourful at least. And then 'Walk Through the Fire', a song from the film Against All Odds. Well, not very interesting song really, I even prefer Phil Collins' syrupy 'Take a Look at Me Now' from the same soundtrack album.

My ratings for singles depend heavily on the non-album tracks and sadly here they are far from the level of the title track. But anyway, three stars for the sake of 'Red Rain'.