Cranes (band)

Cranes
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985
Founder	Alison Shaw, Jim Shaw
Headquarters	Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances

Cranes is a British rock ensemble, notable for lead vocalist Alison Shaw's uniquely youthful singing style. Alison established the group alongside her brother, Jim Shaw.

History

In 1985, the Shaw siblings created Cranes, drawing the band's name from the industrial cranes located at Portsmouth’s docks. Their initial release was the independently produced Fuse mini-album in 1986, distributed on cassette. Following a three-year interval, they launched the 12" mini-album Self-Non-Self in 1989 and recorded sessions for John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 program. This exposure facilitated their signing with Dedicated Records, a subsidiary of BMG, in 1990. With the addition of guitarists Mark Francombe and Matt Cope, Cranes graced the cover of Melody Maker and released several well-received singles and EPs between 1990 and 1991. Their debut full album, Wings of Joy, achieved a peak position of #52 on the UK Albums Chart.

Their prominence increased after touring globally with The Cure in 1992, leading up to their sophomore album Forever (UK chart position #40) in 1993. This record embraced pop influences and featured their most successful tracks: "Everywhere," which received extensive airplay on US alternative radio despite not being issued as a single, and "Jewel," which reached #29 in the UK following a remix by Robert Smith. The subsequent release was Loved in 1994; after Matt Cope left, the Shaws created La Tragédie d'Oreste et Électre (1996), inspired by Sartre’s theatrical work and initially issued as a limited edition. Drummer Manu Ross joined later, allowing Jim Shaw to take on guitar duties during live performances; this formation produced Population Four in 1997.

Following Dedicated Records’ closure in 1998, Cranes entered an indefinite hiatus. The Shaws resumed composing in 2000, assembled a new lineup, and founded their own label, Dadaphonic. They released Future Songs in 2001 and supported The Cure once again during Hyde Park and various European festivals in 2002. Two additional albums followed on Dadaphonic: Particles and Waves (2004) and a self-titled album (2008). These releases marked a transition toward an electronic and ambient sound while retaining Alison Shaw’s distinctive vocal style.

In 2023, Cranes reunited for their first live performances in over ten years and continued to play several shows throughout 2024. They have managed reissues of early recordings and archival material—including their John Peel sessions—and issued vinyl editions of previously unavailable albums. Reports indicate that the band is currently developing new material.

Musical style

The group’s sound has been characterized as "gothic minimalism", although the band disputes being labeled "gothic." During the early 1990s, they were briefly linked to the shoegazing genre. They have also been described as dream pop.

Alison Shaw’s vocal delivery has attracted significant notice, being described variously as "helium tones of a small child," "baby-doll-voiced," and "a mewling, childish wisp of a voice." One critic encapsulated their sound as "a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with grinding guitars in the background."

Band members

Current lineup

Alison Shaw – lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Jim Shaw – guitar, bass, keyboards, drums (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Paul Smith – guitar, keyboards (1995–1997, 2000–present)
Ben Baxter – bass guitar (2000–present)
Jon Mattock – drums (2008–present)

Past members

Kevin Dunford – lead guitar (1988–1989)
Mark Francombe – guitar, bass, keyboards (1989–1997)
Matt Cope – guitar (1989–1997)
Manu Ross – drums (1996–1997)
Jon Callender – drums (2000–2007)

Studio albums and mini-albums

Fuse (1986, Bite Back!)
Self-Non-Self (1989, Bite Back!)
Wings of Joy (1991, Dedicated/RCA)
Forever (1993, Dedicated/RCA)
Loved (1994, Dedicated/Arista)
La Tragédie d'Oreste et Électre (1996, Dedicated)
Population Four (1997, Dedicated/Arista)
Future Songs (2001, Dadaphonic)
Particles & Waves (2004, Dadaphonic)
Cranes (2008, Dadaphonic)

Live recordings

Live in Italy (2003, Dadaphonic)
Live at Amsterdam Paradiso 22.02.91 (2006, Dadaphonic)

Compilation albums

Forever Remixes (1993, Dedicated)
EP Collection Volumes 1 & 2 (1997, Dedicated)
John Peel Sessions 1989-1990 (2023, Dadaphonic)

Singles and EPs

"Inescapable" (1990, Dedicated)
Espero EP (1990, Dedicated)
"Adoration" (1991, Dedicated)
"Tomorrow's Tears" (1991, Dedicated/RCA)
"Adrift" (1993, Dedicated)
"Clear" (1993, Dedicated/RCA)
"Jewel" (1993, Dedicated/RCA)
"Shining Road" (1994, Dedicated/Arista)
"Beautiful Friend" (1994, Arista)
"Lilies" (1995, Arista)
Ancienne Belgique EP (1996, Dedicated)
"Can't Get Free" (1997, Dedicated)
"Future Song" (2001, Dadaphonic)
"Submarine" (2002, Dadaphonic)
"The Moon City (Demo Version)" (2002, Elefant Records)

Notes

The band's initial recorded song was "Vegetate," featured on the 1986 Bite Back! compilation titled Against the Tide.
The track "Nothing in the Middle, Nothing in the End" was included in the 1987 Bite Back! compilation Make Ready for Revelation.
The demo named "Cha Cha Escueta" appeared as an untitled track on the 1990 Melody Maker cassette compilation called Gigantic 2.
Alison Shaw partnered with Rudi Tambala of AR Kane in the project Inrain; their single "Glow" was released through Rough Trade's Singles Club in 1991.
The song "Shining Road" was part of the soundtrack for the 1996 movie Eye for an Eye.
"Astronauts," from the album Particles and Waves, was featured in a 2005 American Express advertisement starring Kate Winslet.
Alison Shaw provided vocals on Twine's 2008 release titled Violets.
The track "Don't Wake Me Up," from the album Future Songs, was used in a 2011 episode of the television series Californication.
Songs such as "Shining Road," "Beautiful Friend," and "Trumpet Song" were incorporated into the 1996 short film Scarborough Ahoy.

External links

authored by Alexander Laurence