Cranes are a British rock band, perhaps best known for the childlike vocals of lead singer Alison Shaw, who formed the band with her brother Jim Shaw.

History

The Shaw siblings started the band in 1985, which led to them becoming one of the first bands signed to the BMG offshoot label Dedicated Records in 1990. Cranes again supported The Cure in 2002, at Hyde Park and at several European festivals. In the early 1990s, they were briefly included as part of the shoegazing movement of the era.

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

Band members

;Current members

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

;Former members

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

Discography

Albums and mini-albums

  • Fuse (1986, Bite Back!)
  • Self-Non-Self (1989, Bite Back!)
  • Wings of Joy (1991, Dedicated Records/RCA Records)
  • Forever (1993, Dedicated/RCA)
  • Loved (1994, Dedicated/Arista Records)
  • La Tragédie d'Oreste et Électre (1996, Dedicated)
  • Population Four (1997, Dedicated/Arista)
  • Future Songs (2001, Dadaphonic)
  • Particles & Waves (2004, Dadaphonic)
  • Cranes (2008, Dadaphonic)
  • Fuse (2024, Dadaphonic)

Live albums

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

Compilations

  • 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

  • Cranes' first recorded appearance was a track called "Vegetate" for a cassette compilation album called Against the Tide, released by Bite Back! in 1986.
  • "Nothing in the Middle, Nothing in the End" first appeared on another Bite Back! compilation, Make Ready for Revelation, in 1987.
  • Cranes contributed a demo of "Cha Cha Escueta" which was released on the Melody Maker cassette compilation Gigantic 2 in 1990, although the track is simply named "Untitled" on the sleeve.
  • Alison Shaw also participated in a short-lived collaboration called Inrain with Rudi Tambala of AR Kane, which resulted in a single called "Grow", released as part of the Rough Trade Singles Club in 1991. The album Rise was released on May 23rd 2026 on vinyl and streaming
  • "Shining Road" was used in the 1996 film Eye for an Eye.
  • "Astronauts" (from Particles and Waves) was used in an American Express commercial with actress Kate Winslet in 2005.
  • Alison Shaw provided vocals on the track "Endormie" for the American group Twine on their 2008 album, Violets.
  • "Don't Wake Me Up" (from Future Songs) was used in a 2011 episode of the television series Californication.
  • "Shining Road", "Beautiful Friend" and "Trumpet Song" were used in the 1996 short film Scarborough Ahoy.

References

  • by Alexander Laurence