Category: Cranes

Cranes – From When The Fuse Was Lit, an ICA

2023 saw the proper re-emergence of Cranes. First there was news of the John Peel Sessions being released and then… three gigs; two in London (of course) and one in Portsmouth (their hometown). Then bam! Another re-release – see below.

The only two musicians to appear on all releases are siblings Alison and Jim Shaw. I think it fair to say that Cranes are an indie band; surfacing with Bite Back! then Dedicated and latterly their own imprint Dadaphonic, despite a very brief encounter with Elefant.

Wrench  (Fuse Cassette. 1986)

Things have been relatively non-existent for the band since their last proper gig (in London) in 2012 – although their actual last gig was at a festival, Electric Picnic, Galway. There have been and continue to be re-releases of albums that were previously released on vinyl, or that have never been released on vinyl – the latest being La Tragédie d’Oreste et Électre, all courtesy of Music On Vinyl.

My initial intention was to re-buy all of the re-releases from Music on Vinyl, whether I had them originally on vinyl or cd (or both). I’d convinced myself I ‘needed’ them. I put my ‘need’ on pause as more albums were released and decided that to begin to re-buy would be a costly effort and, surprise, surprise… I didn’t really ‘need’ what I already had.

However, I did fall foul of the John Peel Sessions. I did have this digitally but no physical format had previously been released and so I bought the limited-edition cd, ‘Dinked’ vinyl edition and limited edition first-press black vinyl edition. When the releases arrived, I initially felt quite content, but soon after realised I’d probably never open any of them, let alone play them. This was a relatively new phenomena for me – having only recently re-bought two treasured LPs I knew I’d never open, or play. I previously bought music to play. To pour over art work. To enjoy. Here I was, coldly and callously, collecting. It felt weird. I have a collection. I was a collector but, I was connected to what I was buying and there was a reward in the pleasure of the music. Something had changed. I didn’t like it.

Since that day, I have vowed that I will only buy a physical format if I intend to listen to it. That seems an odd thing to agree with oneself, but there you are. The ICA is presented in a chronological order and features some of today’s Cranes favourites. They may not all be tomorrow’s Cranes favourites.

All of the above is a prelude to me as ‘Cranes fan’. The fan who just couldn’t wait to get that new single/LP home and listen to it again and again and again…

I was introduced to Cranes by a friend, the Self-Non-Self LP – other reminiscences are available. I was immediately taken by the vocals and later the tracks Joy Lies Within and Focus Breathe (which vocally reminded me of Lisa Gerard – always a good thing). I liked this band. I bought the LP.

Focus Breathe  (Self-Non-Self, LP. 1989)

As we drafted our playlists for our ‘ultra-cool’ club night Cranes featured – possibly the only time they ever did, at that time, in a Glasgow disco. It was my friend’s section of the playlist, not mine.

Give  (Inescapable, EP. 1990)

While others pondered and attempted to pigeonhole the band’s sound – I viewed them simply as post-punk. They were making the kind of racket that didn’t fit within either confines of shoegaze or goth.

Starblood  (Wings Of Joy, LP. 1991)

With each new release, I became more and more captivated. Wings Of Joy stripped back some of the noise to allow us to hear such beauty as Tomorrow’s Tears.

Far Away  (Forever, LP. 1993)

That stripped back sound continued on the following LP, Forever – possibly their best known? It may seem a bit contrived of me to omit Jewel – I didn’t do so lightly. Jewel was, at this time, without doubt the song that most people would associate with Cranes. Released as a 3 x 7” box set with different mixes but oddly no standard 12”.

Everywhere  (Forever, LP. 1993)

Loved was the last (at the time) LP to be released on vinyl. On the LP, and as a b-side to the single Shining Road, sat Paris and Rome. A remix by Flood originally appears on the 12” promo and has since been replicated elsewhere.

Paris and Rome – Flood remix  (12” promo. 1994)

In 1996 Cranes released La Tragédie D’Oreste Et Électre. The LP was recorded prior to 1994’s Loved LP but was delayed due to copyright issues with the estate of Jean-Paul Sartre whose words are used as lyrics. The LP is sung/spoken entirely, in French, by Alison. It reminds me of LPs Tindersticks would go on to record to greater acclaim.

Cranes go pop? Well, as pop as Cranes can go…

Can’t Get Free  (Population Four, LP. 1996)

In 1997 EP Collection Volumes 1 & 2 was released. The CD held no surprises but I was more than happy to add this to my collection. It’s been played – lots.

There was quite a hiatus until the release of the LP Future Songs. It is here that Cranes brought me to tears. The culprit, Driving In The Sun. The utter fragility of this song continues to make me weep. I have a wonderful memory of being in Madrid, the song playing loudly as I looked out over the rooftops towards Plaza de España, the evening sun casting light and shadow. The LP ends with the wonderfully titled The Maker Of Heavenly Trousers, a nod to the book of the same name.

Driving In The Sun  (Future Songs, LP. 2001)

In 2002/2003 the band released Submarine and Live In Italy, respectively. Submarine, a maxi-single consisted of remixed songs from Future Songs. It’s the only Cranes release that I don’t care for.

Particles and Waves seemed to sneak out. It contained 10 songs book-ended by Vanishing Point and Light Song. How is it that something so beautiful can go largely unnoticed?

Light Song (Particles and Waves, LP. 2004)

The final Cranes LP (thus far), coincidentally named Cranes, is probably their most ambient to date. I can’t help but wonder which direction would have followed? 15 years later, I’m no closer to knowing the answer to that question.

High and Low  (Cranes, LP. 2008)

The release of the John Peel Sessions masquerading as an LP was quite the stretch for me. Four songs from 1989 plus another three from 1990 equals seven songs. Seven songs – to my mind – does not an LP make. But… I forgive them in the hope that a new LP is forthcoming.

I can think of no other band that I owned all t-shirts of (long and short sleeve versions) all the way from the first to the last. I treasure my records, my CDs. I, on occasion, carefully look through my signed copy of Til The Stars Shine (a lyric booklet) handmade by Alison and chuckle gently and my silly collecting ways.

I hope you enjoy some of these songs. I found it a difficult, personal challenge to whittle my choices down for this ICA knowing full well my choices will have changed as soon as I send this to JC.

Bonus Tracks

Happy Xmas (War is Over) ( Ancienne Belgique, CD single. 1996)