Cranes is a dream pop/shoegaze band formed by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw. They had a modest start in the late 80s on Bite Back!, a label based in their hometown of Portsmouth on which they released a cassette and a 12" mini-album. A bit later they would record a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show which led them to sign to Dedicated Records, home to influential acts such as Spiritualized, Chapterhouse, Global Communication, Hum and Beth Orton.

Their final ascent to stardom occurred following a world tour with the Cure in 1992.
Wings of Joy is the first of five studio albums Cranes did for Dedicated. Even though it's a few shades lighter than their 80s recordings, they have maintained their slightly gripping and unsettling edge, due in part to Alison's poignant, child-like vocals.[info sheet from distr.]