Siblings Alison and Jim Shaw formed the band Cranes back in 1989. They recorded several successful albums, including 1991s “Wings of Joy” and 1994s “Loved”.
After releasing their first EP “Fuse”, Cranes expanded to a four-piece band and recorded “Self-Non-Self”. The increased textures and drum slams showing their improvements. The dark sounds are a combination of industrial and post-punk music. “One From The Slum” is an instrumental piece and one of the highlights of this versatile record. Alison Shaw’s lonely voice is setting the tone on this breathtaking album.
Cranes, put out “Self-Non-Self” in 1990. Originally only six tracks, including a dramatic, stronger re-recording of “Fuse” itself, Dedicated added a further two upon its re-release in 1992. The rough, spooky sonics from the band’s earliest days were there in force, but evidence of the increased texturing and powerful arrangements started to surface as well. Certainly Jim Shaw’s original fascination for groups like Foetus and Cabaret Voltaire wasn’t hard to detect in the full-bodied drum slams and rough brass blasts on songs like opening instrumental “One from the Slum.” The distorted electronics on other cuts like “Heaven or Bliss” also give it away, but the punchy, carefully arranged nature of the music is just as strong.
There’s a lot of space and echo throughout, and the band knows how to work with it for better effect, something that would become even more common with time. “Beach Mover” is especially effective, its echoing percussion and weird, droning guitar notes rising through the murk. Alison Shaw’s singing is already fully in place as the lost, lonely voice later releases would make all the more familiar, though at times, as on “Focus Breathe,” she has surprisingly deeper tones in comparison.
The re-release bonus tracks include a live song called “Reach,” a strong, surging piece, and “Nothing in the Middle, Nothing in the End,” a murky little number with a rough snare drum rhythm and doomy bass. “Self-Non-Self” is definitely one for the fans most of all, but anyone interested in the shadowy early start of the band is recommended to hunt this down.
The Fat Angel Sings 