The band released their first album on vinyl, Self Non Self in July 1989. The intensity of that album garnered very good reviews and caught the attention of John Peel, who picked up on the album right away, with the group recording a session for him in the album's first week of release. Shortly afterwards they signed to the label Dedicated (which also became home to Spiritualized and Beth Orton) and went on to record their EP "Espero" in 1990, with the album "Wings of Joy" following a year later. The release of "Wings of Joy" caught the attention of Robert Smith of The Cure who picked the Cranes to open for them on their world tour in 1992. They then went on to record the albums "Forever" (1993), "Loved" (1994), "La Tragedie d'Oreste et Electre" (1995), and "Population Four" (1997).
After a 4 year break, Cranes re-emerged on their own independent label Dadaphonic to release "Future Songs" (2001) and "Particles & Waves" (2004), which saw the band heading in a more electronic direction while retaining the trademark sound of previous releases. In January 2007 the band released a download only album, "Live at Amsterdam Paradiso," originally recorded in 1991. The show captures the darker, heavier days of the early Cranes and is available only via www.dadaphonic.co.uk.
In 2008 Cranes albums "Wings of Joy', 'Forever' and 'Loved' were re-issued by Cherry Red Records, www.cherryred.co.uk as part of their series of 'influential artists' re-releases.
In October 2008 Cranes released their self titled album 'Cranes', to which they did a supporting tour. After that there was the odd performance here and there up until 2012 after which Cranes fell silent again.
In 2022 they re-emerged with several newly opened social media accounts to which the purpose soon became clear: Cranes have reformed in their original nineties line-up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the "Forever" album with some gigs in the UK (see events) and they are currently rehearsing.
In June 2023 they also released a 'new' album: their previously unreleased "Peel Sessions 1989-1990" which you can get on their Bandcamp site (see Linktree below) both digitally and on CD/Vinyl.
Current members
Alison Shaw – vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Jim Shaw – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums (1985–1997, 2000–present)
Mark Francombe – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, spanner (1989–1997, 2022-present)
Matt Cope – guitar (1989–1997, 2022-present)
Former members:
Kevin Dunford – lead guitar (1988–1989)
Paul Smith – guitar, keyboards (1995–1997, 2000–2012)
Manu Ross – drums (1996–1997)
Ben Baxter – bass guitar (2000–2012)
Jon Callender – drums (2000–2007)
Jon Mattock – drums (2008–2012)
Cranes official Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cranesofficial
Fourteen
Cranes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is green
Our love is like...a summer breeze
Alive and free, alive and free
You can be what you want to be
I close my eyes...and try to see
The things I always thought I dreamed
Come alive in front of me...
Summer breeze, summer breeze
I close my eyes...and try to see
A sunset now, with all its gleams
Of summer hopes and summer dreams
Alive and free, alive and free
Our love is like...a summer dream
I close my eyes...and try to see
The things I always thought I dreamed...
The lyrics to Cranes' song "Fourteen" speak about the beauty and freedom of love, likening it to a summer breeze that is "alive and free." The song begins with the refrain "The sky is red... The sky is green" which may be interpreted as a metaphor for the different emotions and states of being that the singer experiences within the context of love. The next lines "Our love is like... a summer breeze" evoke a sense of lightness, ease, and naturalness that is associated with love in its initial stages.
The lyrics go on to speak about the imagination and the ability to create our own realities: "You can be what you want to be... I close my eyes and try to see... Colored gleams come alive in front of me." The singer is able to transcend the present moment and visualize a world of possibilities, of hopes and dreams that can be realized with a little imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is red...
The atmosphere is charged with intense energy
The sky is green
The world is full of possibilities
Our love is like...a summer breeze
Our love is light and refreshing, like a cool wind on a hot day
Alive and free, alive and free
Our love is unburdened and unrestrained, allowing us to truly live and be ourselves
You can be what you want to be
You have the power and freedom to pursue your passions and dreams
I close my eyes...and try to see
I imagine the possibilities and potential of the future
The things I always thought I dreamed
The ideas and goals that have always seemed out of reach or impossible
Colored gleams, colored gleams
The bright, vivid possibilities that fill my mind's eye
Come alive in front of me...
These dreams and possibilities become real and tangible
Summer breeze, summer breeze
The refreshing and light feeling of freedom and possibility
I close my eyes...and try to see
I focus my attention and intention on my dreams and aspirations
A sunset now, with all its gleams
The beauty and majesty of the natural world that inspires and uplifts
Of summer hopes and summer dreams
The potential and optimism of a bright and warm season
Our love is like...a summer dream
Our love is like the best and most hopeful aspects of summer - bright, warm, full of potential
I close my eyes...and try to see
I visualize the possibilities and potential of our love and future together
The things I always thought I dreamed...
The aspects of our love and life together that have always seemed too good to be true
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
laura valentina
Beautiful song
mixcoyotl
Bah, you beat me to the upload. And you used the picture I always use lol