Cranes (band) explained

Cranes
Origin:Portsmouth, England
Genre:Dream pop, gothic rock, shoegaze[1]
Years Active:1985–1997, 2000–present
Label:Bite Back
Dedicated Records
Arista
Dadaphonic
Current Members:Alison Shaw
Jim Shaw
Paul Smith
Mark Francombe
Past Members:Matt Cope
Manu Ross
Jon Callender
Ben Baxter
Jon Mattock
Simon Tufnal
Kevin Dunford

Cranes are a British rock band formed in 1985.[2]

History

Formed in 1985[2] in Portsmouth, England by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw[3] and named after the many mechanical cranes around the city's docks, Cranes are best known for the singular childlike vocals of lead singer Alison.

The band's first release was the self-financed Fuse cassette. Signing with Portsmouth based independent label Bite Back!, Cranes recorded the Self Non Self mini-LP in 1989, which led to them recording their first of two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show.[4] [5] They moved to the BMG offshoot Dedicated Records in 1990. With the addition of Mark Francombe and Matt Cope (both guitar), Cranes attained a front cover with Melody Maker magazine and released a series of critically acclaimed EPs in 1990 and 1991 that preceded their debut full-length album, Wings of Joy, which reached number 52 on the UK Albums Chart. Following a general softening of their sound, the introduction of pop elements to their music, and a world tour with the Cure in 1992, the band's popularity increased, and peaked with the release of the album Forever (UK No. 40), which contained their biggest hit single, "Jewel" (UK No. 29). Loved followed in 1994.

The band fell silent for a period of approximately four years after the release of Population 4 in 1997, and the subsequent closure of Dedicated, with the original line-up disbanding. In 2000, the Shaws formed a new line-up and began writing music again, and released Future Songs and Particles and Waves on their own label, Dadaphonic.[6] These albums signified a change in the overall style of their music, emphasising its ambient, ethereal qualities. Despite heading in a more electronic direction, however, the band's music continued to revolve around Alison Shaw's distinctive singing. In 2002 the band again supported The Cure, at Hyde Park and several European festivals.

Cranes reformed in 2023 for their first live shows in eleven years and have also announced shows for 2024. The band also released a new album on CD and Vinyl which collected their John Peel Sessions from 1989 - 1990. The band area also rumoured to be in the studio finishing off their next album.

Musical style

The band's music has been described as "gothic minimalism", although the band have disputed the "gothic" label.[7] They have also been described as dream pop. In the early 1990s they were briefly included as part of the shoegazing movement of the era.

Much has been made of Alison Shaw's vocals, with descriptions ranging from "the helium tones of a small child",[8] "baby-doll-voiced",[9] and "a mewling, childish wisp of a voice".[10] One reviewer described the band: "Imagine a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with a background of grinding guitars".[11]

Band members

Current members
Former members

Discography

Cassettes

Albums

Compilations / live albums

Singles and EPs

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Clarke, Mia. "Cranes". Pitchfork, 16 January 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2021
  2. Bite Back interview 1989
  3. Book: Strong, Martin Charles. The Great Indie Discography. 2003. Canongate U.S.. 978-1-84195-335-9. 690–1 .
  4. Bottomly, Mo (1991) "Cranes", Lime Lizard, March 1991, p. 4-6
  5. "Cranes", Keeping it Peel, BBC, retrieved 1 January 2011
  6. Strutt, Anthony (2004) "Cranes : Interview with Alison Shaw ", pennyblackmusic.co.uk, 24 September 2004, retrieved 28 December 2010
  7. Book: Larkin, Colin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave. 1998. Virgin Publishing. 978-0-7535-0231-0. 105 .
  8. Price, Simon (2010) "Paolo Nutini, Royal Albert Hall, London; Cranes, Jazz Café, London", The Independent, 11 April 2010, retrieved 28 December 2010
  9. Hochman, Steve (1993) "England's Cranes Soar at the Whisky", Los Angeles Times, 18 September 1993, p. 10
  10. Pareles, Jon (1992) "Cranes and Belly, Limelight", The New York Times, 23 April 1992, retrieved 28 December 2010
  11. VanNoy, Emily (1994) "Cranes Trade Gothic Pianos for Guitars", Cavalier Daily, 10 November 1994, p. 7, retrieved 28 December 2010
  12. "Cranes", Chart Stats, retrieved 28 December 2010

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