Cranes Particles & Waves

(Dadaphonic Recordings/Manifesto)

The Cranes return with their fifth album since their debut, Wings of Joy, back in ’92, four years since their last release, Future Songs. Past career highlights include touring with The Cure and being invited to record with John Peel for his momentous Peel Sessions. Ali Shaw’s soft, haunting, mesmerizing childlike voice and innocence reminds me of Björk when she was with the Sugarcubes. Floating guitar chords, echoing in dreamy melodies as melancholic as Dead Can Dance, the Cranes have a such a subtlety to their music that impacts deeply, like the intense quiet that Yo La Tengo or Mogwai can create. Particles & Waves is so appropriately titled, and includes a bonus live performance DVD of four tracks from the album. —CQ