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February 1997, Q
Heaven only knows where 28-year-old Alison Shaw finds her voice, best described as possessing the childlike fragility of a four-year-old singing to amuse herself. Some will be irritated, others enthralled, as the fourth album proper from Portsmouth four-piece Cranes builds all of its soundscapes around this frankly weird singing style. From soft and floaty opening song Tangled Up to altogether more difficult material like On Top Of The World, Shaw dominates the mood, while brother Jim takes care of predominantly acoustic guitar accompaniment. Cranes sound like a pop band kicking against their natural inclination. Brazil is such a simple pleasure - rippling piano, lightly strummed acoustic, easy melody - that you wonder why they don't abandon their more esoteric, often dated, sounds and play it simple more often.
Star Rating: (2 out of 5)
Reviewed by Howard Johnson
© Q 1997
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