Fuse

LP – Magenta Vinyl, Limited To 500 Copies

Cranes first emerged in 1986 with Fuse, a self-released and now highly sought-after cassette of demos..
Now, for the first time ever, Fuse is available on vinyl.
Remastered at Abbey Road in 2023, this edition also features a previously unheard track from the era, titled “New Liberty.”

Fuse was recorded in Portsmouth, their hometown, by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw.
It originally appeared as a cassette album in 1986 on the Bite Back! label.
With an initial run of only 200 copies, the album -instantly recognizable by its distinctive purple cover -has long been sought after by fans, often exchanging hands for more than £100

Fuse showcases a sparser, darker and more industrial post punk sound.
From the hypnotic allure and rhythmic intensity of the title track to the ferocious and challenging beats of Wrench, the songs remain as mesmerising as Cranes’ later, critically acclaimed releases

Recorded in a garage on a 4 track porta studio, the band spent months experimenting and became obsessed with the recording process.
Jim Shaw used an early sampling pedal to create all the drum sounds, each individually triggered.

The first and only industry figure to hear Cranes at this time was Martin Hannett (legendary producer of Joy Division and New Order).
While seeking unsigned bands for a new music TV show in Manchester, Ian Binnington of Bite Back! sent him a compilation tape featuring many Portsmouth bands.
Hannett singled out Fuse (original version) by Cranes, telling Ian the track was “fucking great”