band'. As rehearsals developed the music into full-fledged songs, the decision was made to work towards recording an album. Live gigs will be a rarity until the album is released." He continued, "after a year, we're keen to get into a studio. We've got a lot of songs together and we're keen to get them recorded." In August 1987 Crombie indicated they were working on the soundtrack for a feature film, Rikky and Pete (1988). Rayner was "working on the film as well, doing the underscore." (see The Makers) Noel's Cowards, formed as a studio-only ensemble, consisted of the extant Schnell Fenster members, plus Wendy Matthews (vocals), Michael Harris (fiddle), Louis McManus (mandolin), Vika Bull and Lisa Edwards (backing vocals). They provided six "country-tinged" tracks for Rikky and Pete and the related single, "Fingers Crossed", in 1988. Schnell Fenster's track, "Run a Mile", was also used on the soundtrack. Schnell Fenster released their debut studio album, The Sound of Trees, in September 1988 via EMI Records/Warner Music Australasia for the Australasian market and Atlantic Records, internationally. The music was composed by all four members with lyrics written by Judd. They had signed with EMI in January of that year after, "it became evident that actual songs were emerging from these [jam] sessions, the band started recording demo tapes." The album was co-produced by the group with English producers, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, at Platinum Studios, Melbourne. It peaked in the ARIA top 100. Another The Canberra Times reporter, Kathryn Whitfield opined that the album's, "music is bizarre, though not extraordinary. It is similar in parts to those weird wonders produced by the Cure. These off-beat ditties are all over the place like a dog's dinner, with synthesised gurgles crashing about the seemingly opium-induced lyrics... coupled with the high-pitched whining vocals of Judd, it is more than one person should have to bear." Boswell and Whitfield's fellow journalist, Amanda Lynch, described the group's debut single, "Whisper" (August), which "has a subtle Split Enz feel to it but in general, the music of Schnell Fenster is very different. It lacks the clarity and energetic enthusiasm that was the Split Enz trademark." "Whisper" peaked in top 60 in Australia and top 50 in New Zealand. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 the group were nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Album for The Sound of Trees, Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Whisper"