Cranes | Artist

Cranes are a British alternative rock band formed 1985 in Portsmouth, England by siblings Alison (vocals, bass) and Jim Shaw (guitar, vocals). The band grew in 1990 with the addition of Mark Francombe (guitar, bass, keyboards) and Matt Cope (guitar, bass). Support players have come and gone but the Shaws remain the core members. Cranes are best known for the singular childlike vocals of lead singer Alison. Their music has been described as "gothic minimalism" meets "dream pop". In the early 1990s they were briefly included as part of the shoegazing movement of the era. 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 EP in 1989, which led to them recording their first of two sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show. 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 #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, which contained their biggest hit single, "Jewel." Their excellent third LP Loved followed in 1994. After several more lacklustre albums, the original lineup disbanded and the band fell silent for a period of four years. In 2000 the Shaws formed a new line-up and began writing music again, releasing albums Future Songs and Particles & Waves on their own Dadaphonic label. Their most recent album, 2004's Cranes marked a return to the high standard of their earlier works. Their later albums signified a change in the overall style of their music, employing more electronics to bring out their ambient, ethereal qualities - but still revolving around Alison Shaw's distinctive singing. Standout albums include Wings of Joy (1991), Forever (1993), Loved (1994), and Cranes (2008). Also recommended are EP Collection Volumes 1 & 2 (1997) and Collected Works Vol 1 (2014). 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. They are rumoured to be in the studio finishing off their next album. The band's name was inspired the many mechanical cranes around the docks of their home city Portsmouth.

Artist Website: wikipedia/Cranes_(band)

Featured Albums: Cranes

Related Artists: Bodychoke