Album review: Rain - Singularity (2020)

Rain released their debut album ‘Singularity’ on GEP in November last year. The band’s relationship with Giant Electric Pea won’t come as anything of a surprise when you look at the line-up, which includes John Jowitt on bass and vocals and drummer Andy Edwards. Completing the roster is Rob Groucutt, the son of ELO’s Kelly Groucutt on keyboards, vocals and guitar, and guitarist/vocalist Mirron Webb.
Edwards is on record saying that Rain isn't intended as a one-off album project, but that they want to make more and more music, and professes that he regards Rain as ‘the dream team’, where individual talents cover different areas, creating a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Jowitt concurs, evidently pleased to be reunited in what he describes as an ‘instinctual’ rhythm section where he believes Edwards has been given the chance to show what an all-round musician he is, but also acknowledging that Groucutt and Webb are both amazing musicians, songwriters and singers, creating a great combination.
The album is available in CD format from Bandcamp https://rainprogband.bandcamp.com/releases
You could of course take my word for it but you’re encouraged to listen to the music on YouTube before you buy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ9jylzHQj3ERjb9JzeW6g
I think you’ll find it’s well-produced melodic, modern prog, consummately played by gifted musicians and presented in a rather nice package with a cover painted by Matthew Bourne. For those who like their prog long-form, Singularity has five tracks, including a near-13 minute epic and another at over 11 minutes. The shortest tracks both last just over seven minutes, so there’s lots of variation and development and even some interesting experimentation.
Recommended for fans of IQ, Jadis, *Frost, Lifesigns and anyone who loves melodic prog

…there’s also a ‘lockdown live’ video of ‘Devils will Reign’ from the album https://youtu.be/8ioYsmIrp2s