Wings of Joy explained

Wings of Joy
Type:	studio
Artist:	Cranes
Cover:	Cranes Wings of Joy.jpeg
Studio:	First Protocol (London)
Genre:	Dream pop,^[1] Neo-psychedelia
Label:	Dedicated
Producer:	Cranes
Prev Title:	Self-Non-Self
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Forever
Next Year:	1993

Wings of Joy is the debut studio album by English rock band Cranes.^[2] The album was released on 16 September 1991 by Dedicated Records.^[3] It followed the band's mini-album Self-Non-Self, released two years earlier.

Critical reception

The Washington Post determined that "the Cranes' balladeering may be a little bland, and even irksome when A. Shaw's voice is at its most little-girlish, but it's actually more appealing than the group's harder side".^[4]

Ned Raggett of AllMusic called Wings of Joy "a beautiful, if unsettling, piece of work" and found that in comparison to Cranes' earlier work, "the gripping, chilling atmosphere that Cranes dwell in hasn't moved an inch, but in terms of approach... the quartet has continued to expand its palette."

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[5]

Cranes

• Matt Cope – guitar
• Mark Francombe – guitar
• Alison Shaw – vocals, bass
• Jim Shaw – drums, guitar, piano

Production

• Cranes – production
• Gail Lambourne – engineering

Design

• Robert Coleman – design

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bill's Indie Basement (2/15): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more . . 15 February 2019 . 7 March 2021 . Pearis . Bill.
2. Brothers . Stud . Wings of Joy by Cranes . Melody Maker . 31 Aug 1991 . 67 . 35 . 33.
3. New Releases: Albums . . 14 September 1991 . 10 April 2021 . 12, 21.
4. News: Jenkins . Mark . Tripping Out of Britain: Psychedelic Rock for the '90s . The Washington Post . 9 Feb 1992 . G6.
5. Wings of Joy . . . 1991 . ZD 75122 . liner notes.
6. Distribution: Indie Albums . . 5 October 1991 . 28 May 2021 . 24.