CRANES - Forever 1993

It's Sunday, a day I like, everything can happen. But I must tell you, I'm confused. I'm always confused because I can't understand people. I don't wanna tell you much about my experiences I've made but I don't understand them at all. Well, let's leave this behind and now I have to post this record.

If I speak about Cranes I will post their album which I first came in touch with this extraordinary band. I can still remember it very well. I was there with a new girl and we came very close and casually ran this record and as I was able to think clearly again, I asked her about it. That's it, long long time ago. Every relationship has its good. So at this moment I start to listen to Cranes and bought more stuff. Here's a small sample of info from their MySpace site: "Originally based on the south coast of England in Portsmouth, Cranes first album 'Self non Self' had a peculiar intensity which seemed all the more unusual at the time. John Peel picked up on the album right away, with the group recording a session for him in the album's first week of release. Some intense media interest followed and shortly afterwards the group signed to Dedicated-BMG (which also became home to Spiritualized and Beth Orton) and went on to record five albums. Cranes' is a blend of celestial atmospheric rock and metaphysical minimalist electronics, made instantly recognisable by Alison Shaw’s childlike vocals and Jim Shaw’s uniquely inventive compositions. 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: "Imagine a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with a background of grinding guitars" After the release of Population 4 in 1997 the band fell silent for a period of approximately four years and in 2000, the Shaws formed a new line-up and began writing music again and they're still active." - Cranes are a notable band and transport joy/love/yearning in your heart.

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CRANES - Wings Of Joy 1991

I'm a friend of the Cranes sound is nothing new and three previous posts (all re-upped) underline that and today comes #4: Wings Of Joy is the first full length studio album by British rock band Cranes, released in 1991 on Dedicated Records. This followed mini-album Self-Non-Self, released the previous year, and a limited cassette run, both on local indie label Bite Back!, and is seen as important to their growth as a band as it shows them 'continuing to expand their pallet', while the 'gripping, chilling atmosphere... hasn't moved an inch', hauntingly beautiful, mesmerizing, evocative! Here's an excellent review from another empathetic friend which will inspire you for the typical Cranes sound:

"From the quiet, descending strings and woodwinds at the start of "Watersong," which launches Cranes' first proper full-length album, things are at once in sync with, and far removed from, the deep murk of the group's earliest days. The gripping, chilling atmosphere that Cranes dwell in hasn't moved an inch, but in terms of approach, it shows that on the (very well) self-produced Wings Of Joy, the quartet has continued to expand its palette. One thing to note is in the album credits: Matt Cope may have been initially invited in for live bass playing, but it's Alison Shaw who plays the shuddering, ominous deep notes throughout, and effectively at that. Check out her opening work on "Living and Breathing." It's a simple enough pattern, but delivered in such a context that it immediately conjures up a nervous, threatening mood. Jim Shaw's relentless percussion, never overbearing but always moving with a stately, ritualistic tinge, and his piano and keyboard arrangements -- elegant and haunting at once -- set the rest of the tone. His guitar, along with Mark Francombe & Cope's credited work, adds everything from brisk, gently creepy acoustic touches to vicious electric snarl. Add Alison Shaw's almost too wistfully calm and sweet singing -- just missing out on easy interpretation, but suggesting so much via delivery -- and the result is what most goth music, or any music with a sense of shadows and doom, aims for but generally misses.

With songs like the epic "Adoration" and the gentler "Tomorrow's Tears" already signaling the careful variety that dominates the album thanks to their previous appearance on EPs, the new material takes center stage here. "Starblood" is the most flat-out disturbing track, with Jim Shaw's slow-paced, pounding drums and Alison Shaw's guitar wailing slammed up against cold slabs of feedback. The album as a whole is a beautiful, if unsettling, piece of work. (Ned Raggett, AllMusic)" - I'm sure, you're hungry now and be happy to know another fantastic band more, touch it!.

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CRANES - Adoration 7'' 1991

Now we take the tempo a bit down and come to a band that I really adore. Formed in 1986 in Portsmouth/England by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw, 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. Cranes are a UK band often remembered for touring the USA with The Cure in 1992. Since then they have acquired a loyal fan base around the world, who seem to find perfection in everything they do - whether it be fierce, sometimes stark guitar sounds of early albums like Wings Of Joy, Forever or folk-inspired Future Songs release. Cranes first album Self Non Self had a peculiar intensity which seemed all the more unusual at the time. John Peel picked up on the album right away, with the group recording a session for him in the album's first week of release. Some intense media interest followed and shortly afterwards the group signed to Dedicated-BMG and went on to record a lot of beautiful albums.

The band's music has been described as "gothic minimalism", although the band themselves disputed the 'gothic' tag. They have also been described as dream pop. In the early 1990s they were briefly lumped in with the "shoegazing" bands 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: "Imagine a small child singing lullabies at the bottom of the well with a background of grinding guitars".

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CRANES - Inescapable 12'' 1990

The first door in December I want to open with the excellent Cranes and depending on the season, we come to quieter sounds. All four tracks are non-album goodies and come out via Dedicated and I think you will dive into their beautiful dreamy sound like me.

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V/A - Skloom Al Komul! 2021

Well, as you can see, my old schoolmate Teddy is more than happy with his new girlfriend and he asked me to put some of his favorite songs together and share them with you. Of course, I would like to comply his request, even if I hardly find time and my computer soon crackes off, I have taken the trouble to create the following compilation from the extensive repertoire of his hard drive and now finally present it as the ninth release on WDM Records. He chose a healthy mix of old and new classics and I am very satisfied with his selection. I'm responsible for the artwork, which I think is excellent, and all this together makes this little musical composition another highlight on this damn uninteresting Blog. Wherever you are now, enjoy the days off, make the most of it and always remember, You're Not Alone!

1.Dream Within A Dream - PROPAGANDA

2.Tangled Up - CRANES

3.Alle Tage Sind Kein Sonntag - LINDEMANN & GARRETT

4.Fascination Street - THE CURE

5.Everything In Its Right Place - RADIOHEAD

6.Too Drunk To Fuck - NOUVELLE VAGUE

7.River - NATALIE MERCHANT

8.Young Folks - PETER, BJÖRN & PAUL

9.When It Rains - PINK TURNS BLUE

10.Last Caress - METALLICA

11.Strenges Mädchen - JOACHIM WITT

12.Johnny & Mary - PLACEBO

13.Coming Down - EA80

14.Los Paul - TRIO

15.White Rabbit - JEFFERSON AIRPLANE

16.Die With Your Boots On - IRON MAIDEN

17.Crystal - NEW ORDER

18.In My Life - THE BEATLES

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V/A - For Our Beloved Departed! [Special] 2014

Exactly one year ago, I lost my love - R.I.P. my beloved Girl, still missing you!

1.In A Lonely Place - NEW ORDER

2.Gone - DAVID HOLMES

3.Jewel - CRANES

4.Into My Arms - NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

5.The Sage - VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING

6.Nur Zu Besuch - TOTEN HOSEN

7.Kein Zurück - WOLFSHEIM

8.Der Tanz Der Schatten - THEATRE OF TRAGEDY

9.Where The Lights Won't Shine - PSYCHED UP JANIS

10.Atmosphere - JOY DIVISION

11.Roads - PORTISHEAD

12.Missing You - PINK TURNS BLUE

13.Let Your Fingers Do The Walking - SORT SOL

14.It's All Over - THE GOD MACHINE

15.Late Night - THIS MORTAL COIL

16.Exit Music - RADIOHEAD

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MORAL - And Life Is 1984

Just the right time to complete a lonely morning with this sound, and it's like a dream and one of my favourite SynthPop albums. Right now because I'm in the mood for, I know why .. Moral were from Århus and members are singer Hanne Winterberg, Guitarist Marco De Andreis and Keyboardplayer Ingolf Brown and what they here recorded is simply delicate. Hannes voice is so sweet and she takes you to any place in your heart. You might think I'm too romantic and yes, I am. Musically she is supported by driving minor keys and sawing guitars. Reminds me a bit of the English band Cranes which are also brilliant. Moral released their first songs on a tape called Dance Of The Dolls in 1981 and their second Whispering Sons in 1982 on Kubus Kassettes, two years later their only album on Arp Grammofon. 2007 came a sixteen song CD compilation on Karma Music out. I mean it's pity that only a few know this band and I unfortunately can't tell much about them but what I know is their music is heavenly and for me an oasis for a time-out from living. In this file are the whole album plus songs from the Whispering Sons tape. Try this.

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