Cranes (band)


Cranes are a British rock band, perhaps best known for the childlike vocals of lead singer Alison Shaw, who formed the band with her brother Jim Shaw.
WWW cranes-fan.comFB cranes.music.official

History

The Shaw siblings started the band in 1985, taking their name from the many mechanical cranes located around the docks in their home city of Portsmouth. After signing with local independent label Bite Back!, the band's first release was the self-financed Fuse mini-album in 1986, released only on cassette; it would take another three years before Cranes followed up with another mini-album, a 12" record called Self-Non-Self, in 1989. They recorded the first of their two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, which led to them becoming one of the first bands signed to the BMG offshoot label Dedicated Records in 1990. After the addition of two guitarists, Mark Francombe and Matt Cope, Cranes were featured on the front cover of Melody Maker magazine, and went on to release a series of critically acclaimed singles and EPs through 1990 and 1991. Their first full-length album, Wings of Joy, reached #52 on the UK Albums Chart.
Following a world tour with the Cure in 1992, the band's popularity increased, and peaked with the release of their second album, Forever, in 1993. Continuing with the subtle, gradual softening of their sound, the album introduced elements of pop music, resulting in their two biggest hits: though not officially released as a single, the album's opening track, "Everywhere", received a heavy amount of airplay on alternative radio stations in the US, while the second single, "Jewel", was buoyed to #29 in the UK after being remixed by Robert Smith. Another album, Loved, was released in 1994, after which Matt Cope left the band. Working as a duo, the siblings recorded an album inspired by the Jean-Paul Sartre play Les Mouches; called La Tragédie d'Oreste et Électre, the album was initially given a limited-edition release in 1996. Cope was eventually replaced by drummer Manu Ross, which allowed Jim Shaw to move to guitar for live performances, and this lineup released the fifth Cranes album, Population Four, in 1997.
Following the 1998 closure of Dedicated, the group went on an indefinite hiatus, and functionally disbanded. In 2000, the Shaws began writing music again, assembled a new lineup, and set up their own label, Dadaphonic, which released the album Future Songs in 2001. Cranes again supported The Cure in 2002, at Hyde Park and at several European festivals. Two more albums have been released on Dadaphonic: Particles and Waves in 2004, and a self-titled album in 2008. These albums have signified a change in the overall style of their music, heading in a more electronic direction and emphasising its ambient, ethereal qualities, while continuing to showcase Alison Shaw's distinctive voice.
Cranes reformed in 2023 for their first live shows in eleven years, and also played a handful of shows in 2024. They have recently overseen the reissues of early and archival recordings, including a compilation of their two John Peel sessions from 1989 and 1990, as well as albums that had never been released on vinyl before. Their ninth album Fuse was released on 5 April 2024 via their own music label Dadaphonic.

Musical style

The band's music has been described as "gothic minimalism", although the band have disputed the "gothic" label. In the early 1990s, they were briefly included as part of the shoegazing movement of the era. They have also been described as dream pop.
Much has been made of Alison Shaw's vocals, with descriptions ranging from "the helium tones of a small child", "baby-doll-voiced", and "a mewling, childish wisp of a voice". One reviewer described the band thusly: "Imagine a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with a background of grinding guitars".

Band members

;Current members
;Former members
  • Kevin Dunford – lead guitar
  • Mark Francombe – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, spanner
  • Matt Cope – guitar
  • Manu Ross – drums
  • Jon Callender – drums

Discography

Albums and mini-albums

Fuse Self-Non-Self Wings of Joy Forever Loved La Tragédie d'Oreste et Électre Population Four Future Songs Particles & Waves Cranes
  • ''Fuse''

Live albums

Live in Italy
  • ''Live at Amsterdam Paradiso 22.02.91''

Compilations

Forever Remixes EP Collection Volumes 1 & 2

Singles and EPs

  • "Inescapable" Espero EP
  • "Adoration"
  • "Tomorrow's Tears"
  • "Adrift"
  • "Clear"
  • "Jewel"
  • "Shining Road"
  • "Beautiful Friend"
  • "Lilies" Ancienne Belgique EP
  • "Can't Get Free"
  • "Future Song"
  • "Submarine"
  • "The Moon City "