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6th June 2001, Starblood.org
It is early June 2001. Cranes have been in the wilderness for many years since following the release of Population Four in 1997 and their subsequent split with Dedicated. But now Cranes have found themselves again - a new album, a new label and the beginnings of their largest European tour for four years. With so much happening for the band right now, you're lucky if you can find a Crane for love or money. Fortunately, I was able to catch up with Paul the day after their warm-up gig in Northampton (UK).
Starblood.org: So then Paul, it's been a long time. how does it feel to be "back"?
Paul: It feels good. On the day the new album was available for sale I went around to Jims and we sat in his garden in the sun. The album was finally here and it felt a little strange because after all this time, all the waiting and missed deadlines we finally had the finished thing in our hands. And now we would just have to wait and hope that people were going to like it.
Starblood.org: Why has it been such a long time between albums?
Paul: There are several reasons why it has taken so long. The first reason is that we came off of Dedicated, and that was a big step. For a time there was interest from other labels, such as RCA, and some songs were recorded as demo's for these companies ('Here Comes the Day' being a prime example). It never really came together and there was, at one time, talk of whether Cranes were going to continue as a band at all. After a lot of discussion and exchange of ideas it was decided that Cranes still had things to offer and it would be best to put out our next record ourselves so that we would only have to please ourselves in the music that was written. Once all of this was decided the writing and recording could begin (but of course Jim had not, at any point, stopped writing music). The result of this was a lot of ideas, completely finished music and partially finished projects. Jim is always writing, and I mean fucking always. As to the missed deadlines . . . there is no excuse. If it wasn't going to be absolutely and definitely finished by a certain date it should never have been said that it was. That was really bad and the main people that suffered were the fans. I still feel bad about that especially the last time it happened and it was quite clear the record was not going to appear and yet there was no statement made . . . hmmmm, bad. But that is behind us now and the record is here, at last.
Starblood.org: How has Cranes music style evolved since Population Four, and how do you personally rate the new songs?
Paul: I think, firstly, that because this album had no outside producer it meant that Jim would once again wear the producers hat. I think Jim is a brilliant producer and that Population Four lacked his individual finesse when it came to the atmosphere of the record as a whole. When you listen back to songs like 'Paris and Rome', 'Far Away', 'Adoration', 'Heaven or Bliss' etc. just the sound of the songs are incredible. Population Four, I think was a much straighter record in terms of production. Future Songs has gone forward in terms of writing AND has Jim back to carve the landscape out of sound. A good combination in my opinion. I like the new songs a lot and the more Jim is left unhindered and undistracted, the purer and more focused the material becomes. Personally, the primary reason that Population Four sounds so different from the other records is the fact that Jim was not the producer. But of course that is only my opinion.
Starblood.org: I hear there were some songs that didn't make it onto the new album, 'Here comes the day' is a prime example. Does this mean we can expect even more new songs as b-sides to possible singles? Tell me we're talking vinyl too :-)
Paul: There was talk of a single but I have no idea if or when one will appear. If there is a single there will indeed be new songs as b-sides . There were quite a lot of songs that didn't make the album. We've already mentioned 'Here Comes the Day'. Another that we played at two shows was code named '007' and that one didn't make the album either. I have no idea why. '007' was actually one of my favorites and I was quite surprised to not see it on the finished album. I don't think 'Here Comes the Day' is ever going to see 'The Light of Day', and I don't know why either, maybe '007' has sent it on an undercover mission and they are both prisoners of war . . . I quite liked that one . . . But such decisions are out of my hands. As for the vinyl . . . There could well be a vinyl pressing of Future Songs. It all depends on how well the sales go for the CD's.
Starblood.org: What about Jim's instrumental album - is that still on the cards for a future release? Also, anything further on the possibility of the video release? And will there ever be plans to release an official "live" album?
Paul: Jim has a lot of instrumental/orchestral material. We may even see an mp3 of one of them at some point. Once, not so long ago, in a sleepy lane that ran beside a whispering brook, Jim narrowed down SOME of his instrumental tracks to around two hours worth of music. I think, at the moment, he is more concerned with Future Songs and it's portrayal in a live situation. Or should I just say 'gigs'. I really hope he gives the idea some serious thought because there is a lot of good material there. Perhaps when dadaphonic.com is up and running people could e-mail and ask about Jim's instrumental album. It may just do the trick. As far as I know, Dedicated still own the rights to Cranes videos and record companies, even when they don't exist any more, can be complete bastards.....allegedley
Starblood.org: You've literally just got back from North Hampton (UK), the first of your live shows since the release of Future Songs. How was the gig?
Paul: The show was OK. There were not that many people in attendance and we did have a couple of technical difficulties. It was the first time we'd played a few of the songs but I think they went quite well. The opening band 'Snow Pony' did a brilliant job but unfortunately Debbie had a migrane and they had to leave directly after they'd finished playing. I hope she's ok for Saturday at the Astoria as they'll be opening again and well worth seeing.
Starblood.org: How did the crowd react to the new songs? what are your personal favourites to play?
Paul: I think that the crowd liked the new songs. It's always difficult
when a record is so new. My favourite songs from the new record to
play live are 'Sunrise', 'Flute Song' and 'Future Song'.
Starblood.org: I've noticed from the few shows I've been to that you seem to be a jack of all trades in what instruments you play. Are there any that you prefer, and what makes of equipment do you use?
Paul: Yes, that is correct, I play guitar, keyboards and bass in Cranes. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I prefer one instrument over another, they all have their plus and minus points. I've always loved piano's though, from a very young age . . . and guitars came soon after. At the moment the main guitar I use on stage is one I totally re-built from an old smashed Washburn which I named 'Blue Meanie'. I also have with me a Gibson Les Paul and a Hohner Telecaster. These guitars go through a rackmounted tuner, into an Alesis Quadraverb GT and finally into my Messa Boogie guitar amp. Bass guitar is a Fender Precision and the keyboard setup is just a Roland W30 which is where all those fantastic piano and string sounds live.
Starblood.org: So you've got the london gig coming up in a few days, a handful of festivals in Europe, and if the rumours are true a whole load of live shows in the autumn. How does it feel to be touring properly again? What sort of venues are you going to be visiting? Also do you ever take requests for the live sets?
Paul: The Autumn shows, when comfirmed, will be when we start touring properly again. Hopefully that will be September/October time (he says, fingers and toes crossed because, of course, there is not a single show booked as part of a tour as yet). Not that the shows we are doing now are diminished in any way but they are relatively few and far between. I love playing. I love the shows, the audience, the instruments... it is truly great. I have no idea of the sort of venues we will be playing, if I was to guess I would say venues around the same capacity as was played on the Population Four tour. But that is only a guess. Requests for live sets are not usually taken although I could maybe give a fairly representative performance of most Cranes songs on a single instrument such as a guitar or piano. Not that it would ever happen ha ha ha. But no, setlists are decided by higher powers than myself.
Starblood.org: A large number of Cranes fans live in the US. Would you like to tour there again and are there any plans to do so?
Paul: I would love to tour the US again, absolutely. If we can get
distribution for the States we will tour there. It is as simple as
that really. And if and when we get to Jessie's town she will be top
of my guestlist with a backstage pass . . .
Starblood.org: How do your support bands get chosen? Do you have much choice over who they are, and would you consider support from a fan's band, local to the place you're playing?
Paul: Actually that is a very good question. I think for the two most recent shows the live agent booked Snow Pony to open. I'm pretty sure there was no discussion on the matter. I'm glad they are a cool band. On the European leg of the Population Four tour there was a band called Silkscreen supporting. They were also on Dedicated at the time and I think we had no choice but to have them as support. See what I mean? Record companies can be fuckers. On the US leg of the Population Four tour we had Rasputina as support and they were a phenominal band. I watched them from backstage virtually every night and I still regularly play their records. I don't know how they got to open for us but I bow to the person who made that decision. I think if I had absolute choice over support acts I would choose carefully. I don't think a fan's band would be totally out of the question but it would depend on what they sounded like and what sort of music they played.
Starblood.org: What do Cranes do when they're not being Cranes?
Paul: Jonny teaches sound engineering and various drum and percussion
workshops at college level. I have done a little web design and have worked in recording studios on both sides of the desk. Jim works on Cranes music and sometimes eats before returning to... err...... more music. Alison has been attending drama college in London.
Starblood.org: Is there anything Cranes fans can do to help out (besides buying the albums!)
Paul: No, they do enough as it is.....Thank you to all Cranes fans.
Come and see us live.
Starblood.org: When is the next album coming out? We expect one a year once Dadaphonic gets going! :-)
Paul: Jim is working on the next record right now. He said to me that he hopes there will be an album a year and there's no real reason why there shouldn't be.
Starblood.org: What do you think of the new Starblood.org?
Paul: I think that the new look Starblood.org is fantastic. The site design and implementation is superb and well thought out. The content is extremely comprehensive, which comes in useful more often than you may realise. The site is for Cranes fans and when I am not actually playing shows or rehearsing or whatever, I am a fan of Cranes as a band. With so much activity (for Cranes) over the internet , I am glad that there are sites like Starblood.org and people with enough dedication to help spread the word.
Starblood.org: What advice would you give to other would be bands or musicians?
Paul: You must play your instrument. Play it, play it then play some more. I don't mean you must learn all the scales and what key signatures are relative to other key signatures. You must play and you must listen. Above all you must express yourself through your music. We are all individuals so BE individual and believe in yourself.
Interview made by Scott
© Starblood.org, 6th June 2001.
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