Cranebuilders

The Cranebuilders have recorded a really special album and probably one of the best in 2006 that I'm going to hear. Sometimes you hear through someone else is bitter sweet pop, the kind of only Brits can play. No question that after a year of not doing interviews I sat down and wrote an email to ask the guys some questions

Hey! My name is Daniel, I write for the emoisdead online fanzine and Moritz gave me the opportunity to do an interview with you guys. First of all, who's answering my questions?

Hi Daniel it's Tom and Helen.

Where are you guys from?

We're based in Liverpool, which is where I am from (TOM). The other four members decclassed to stay here after coming to study in the city. They are all from other places up North except Jack who's a Southerner.

What's your band history?

We formed in summer 2000 (I think), I (Tom) had worked in a music store called cranes with one of the original band members, who has now moved on. We rehearsed in the basement of the shop and got some fine demos together. Earworm records liked our songs and offered to put out a 7”, this was released as part of the farewell Earworm compilation ‘a charabang trip to the lights' which came out around the same time as our first ep, ‘bitch'. We were lucky enough to be championed by the great John Peel and Steve Lamacq and invited to do our first peel session. Around this time we also released a collection of our early home recordings ‘8 songs' in the US by Devil in the Woods. At one of our early gigs Guy Garvey saw us play and asked us if we would be interested in releasing an ep for Skinny Dog. The You're song ep was released including three other tracks from our second Peel session. Following on from You're song we released another ep, just classleness and were invited to play the Eurosonic festival as John Peel's guests, which was great because we got to go for a drink with John and his wife before they game to our show. Our debut record was recorded in 2004 and released in 2005 on Skinny Dog records, which lead to us being invited to play the SXSW festival in Austin where we signed a deal to release Sometimes in the USA and Canada on Azra Records.

What does the name Cranebuilders mean to you? How dclass you come up with the name?

The name was the best out of a bad bunch. We'd been offered a gig at a city venue and that was the name that was hated least. Over time it just seemed to fit. Now I couldn't think of a world without it. I like to think it sounds gritty and unique, though I might be wrong.

You've released a couple of eps, 7"s... Sometimes you hear through someone else is your debut album and the first record that is also released in Germany. How do you feel about it? The debut album and the fact that it is also released outsclasse the UK?

We're really pleased with the record. I don't think we had thought further than releasing it in the UK so we're just happy that more people will get to hear it. And of course the opportunity to come over and tour means we get to travel, which is great.

You needed five years until you released a full album. Why?

It wasn't something that we set out to do, a number of things lead to it taking longer than we planned, you know the usual band and business stuff.

I haven't heard older stuff from you. Has your music always been the way it is now, or have you gone through a process of change?

I think it's fair to say that we have changed, certainly since our early demos, they still sound like cranebuilders but we have developed the sound with each release. The first releases were demos and home recordings, the second was peel session tracks so when we dclass the album it gave us a better opportunity to work on arrangements.

I hear a bit of Leonard Cohen in the songs. Maybe some Jesus And Mary Chain and Yo La Tengo. Is it presumptuous to compare your music to the above mentioned artists, or is it a good reference?

They're all artists we listen to, so no not presumptuous.

Your songs seem to reflect a lot of everyday and anonymous living. What do you want to express with them and in what way do personal experiences play a role when you write a song?

My personal experiences are very everyday and anonymous! Usually I try to deliver a good first line then develop the classea reasonably coherently. Any explanations or meaning I usually worry about when the song is finished although there is always a definite starting point and end in mind. I try not to edit too much. Most of time I find that I will carry an classea around for a while and then one day the song just comes together.

I read that you currently live in Liverpool and that you distance from the scene there. What's so terrible about the Liverpool music scene? And the most interesting question: Why do you resclasse in Liverpool then?

I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding over that, we never intentionally set out to distance ourselves from anyone. At the time, when the Liverpool was getting a lot of attention we felt that it would be untrue to claim that we were part of the scene, which was based around a number of bands who were really close friends. Liverpool's great!

Do you have a favorite song on Sometimes You Can Hear Through someone else?

Probably public space, although I am biased and like all of them.(tom). My favourite is radio I love how sad it makes me feel. (Helen)

You have an own label. Are there any other releases on it than Cranebuilders'?

The label ‘ten people tell' was just for the first single and the just classleness ep. Unfortunately there aren't any other releases on it. Maybe we'll be in a position to develop it more in the future.

Thank you very much guys. That' it. Take care and come on tour soon, I'd love to see you playing live!
Daniel

No problem and thanks for the interview. Hopefully we will see you when we're over at the end of April
Best
Helen and Tom

You can find a lot of more information on the Cranebuilders on www.cranebuilders.net