Customer Reviews

PARTICLES & WAVES

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Long-time Cranes fan here. Since 1990. I've run the gamut with them, definitely. Years of music, changing styles, etc. But this album ranks as one of my favorites by them; and I dare say it may make it into my top 10 of all time. A simple, honest, straightforward shot of songs. It's a mysterious and enthralling musical landscape that I enjoy roaming with each new listen. It's innocent and often eerie explorations of outer space-ness, and all the forces in our world we can't see yet we know are there (like wind, or the stars in the daytime) are magnificent. Highlights: "Here Comes The Snow", "Particles and Waves" and "Far From the City." Cranes fans will adore it, and new listeners will as well.

Jim Shaw reveals a strong Geir Jenssen influence in many of the new tracks in Particles and Waves. For those familiar with Biosphere, this will come as good news. For those still longing for the good old rock and roll of the Cranes' earlier work, this will sound the death knell. Not that there isn't some bounce in the CD, but most of that is limited to the title track, which is sung in French and has more of a pop sound that their great grinding guitar signature of songs like Wish, Starblood and E G Shining. No, this is more trance/mantra, incredibly well done. Ali is in great form, and Jim's singing (limited to one track)has improved since Population 4, thank goodness.

This was actually my first Cranes album; I bought it knowing that it was supposed to be different from their many other previous works...After hearing those later, I can see what everyone means.

I love this new direction as much as the old, but in a totally different way...It is much like the snowflake on the cover...it's an album that's like riding on a snowflake, and the gentle songs are like waves of secretive emotions. Guitars and various strings make it sort of airless in their softness and it's rather hard to describe. But whatever words are used, this is definitely a delicate gem.

Cranes have created a very distinct music over the past fifteen years. The sound of Alison Shaw's voice is one of the most recognizable voices in recent music history. I saw them play live by chance when I went to Boston in 1997. I knew nothing about them and was shocked by their unique ability. I was amazed and entertained. They have released about five albums now. Early on they toured with The Cure, so that gave them sort of a goth following. But like most of those bands that get labeled early on, Cranes are not very goth. They have went from being a band with songs to a band that creates an atmosphere and a mood. They have more in common with newer bands like Broadcast and Boards of Canada. It's a shock to hear Jim Shaw sing lead vocal on "Every Town." I compared them to some country acts a few years ago, and that seems like much more true of the spirit of this record. This record explores the moods first discovered on the last release, Future Songs. This CD also includes a DVD. It is called "Live in London" and it features some older songs. This is like a celebration of Cranes. It's hard to get some of their earlier records in America. This might be a good places to start checking them out. This is one of those bands that was championed by John Peel years ago. Their records have always excited me. They are one of those bands that have been floating around on the edges, and maybe should be given a second chance.