Cranes (band)

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 childlike, high-pitched vocals of lead singer Alison.

The band's first release was the self-financed Fuse cassette.[3] 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.[3] With the addition of Mark Francombe and Matt Cope (both guitar), they released a series of EPs in 1990 and 1991 that preceded their debut full-length album, Wings of Joy, which reached number 52 on the UK Albums Chart.[3] 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).[3]

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.[6] 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.[6]

Cranes performing live

The band's music has been described as "gothic minimalism", although the band have disputed the "gothic" label.[3][7] They have also been described as dream pop.[7] In the early 1990s they were briefly included as part of the shoegazing movement of the era.[3]

“The Cranes have been tagged with more than their share of inaccurate labels over the years, such as "Gothic", "Ethereal" and even "Industrial", but just as often, they are more accurately described as a band with a furiously creative drive which allows even their simplest songs to sound beautifully honest and original. But as simple as their music seems, the Cranes have always kept things interesting by giving their music an element of edginess and unpredictability. Some of their songs make their point with no more than three notes played repeatedly on a piano, while others rely on screeching, wailing walls of sound provided by guitarists Matt Cope and Mark Francombe, while still others rely on a clever, sometimes surprising combination of the two. All of these elements are complemented perfectly by Shaw's unmistakable vocal style and her brother Jim Shaw's precise and powerful percussion.”
          – Andy Dolan, The Michigan Daily, 1995[8]

Much has been made of Alison Shaw's vocals, with descriptions ranging from "the helium tones of a small child",[9] "baby-doll-voiced",[10] and "a mewling, childish wisp of a voice".[11] One reviewer described the band: "Imagine a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with a background of grinding guitars".[12]

• Cranes first recorded appearance was a track called "Vegetate" for a cassette compilation on Bite Back! named "Against The Tide" (recorded 1985, UK release - February 1986).
• The track "Nothing In The Middle Nothing In The End" first appeared on the Bite Back! compilation album "Make Ready For Revelation" in 1987.
• Cranes contributed a demo of "Cha Cha Escueta" (although named "Untitled" on the sleeve) on the Melody Maker cassette compilation "Gigantic 2" (1990).
• Alison Shaw was the vocalist for the 7" single "Glow" by Inrain on Rough Trade Records, a collaboration with Rudi Tambala of AR Kane (UK release - January 1992).
• The track Astronauts from the 2004 album Particles and Waves has been used as music for the American Express commercial with actress Kate Winslet.
• Alison Shaw recorded a new song Endormie with the group Twine on their last album, Violets.
• The track Shining Road was played in the film Eye for an Eye.
• The television series Californication uses the track Don't Wake Me Up during the outro sequence and credits of Season 4, Episode 5.

• "Dadaphonic". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
• "Cranes – An Interview with Alison Shaw". Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. by Alexander Laurence
• Bodman, Paul (October 2008). "Review of Cranes (2008)". Daily Music Guide. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2006.
• Nesset, Kirk. "The Cranes: An Interview With Ali Shaw". Legends Magazine Online. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2006.