Cranes & Crows

“Wrecking Ball“
from the album Blame Winter
2008
iTunes

As a direct result of a failed band and an indirect result of a web of connections that has its roots deep in the formative years of high school, Eau Claire based singer-songwriter Paul Brandt has emerged onto the local scene in many forms throughout the last year and a half. At a mere nineteen, Brandt has found time between manning his duties at the keyboard for such bands as Meridene, The Gentle Guest and now-defunct Fine to create his own project under the name Cranes & Crows. Originally meant to be nothing more than a recording project, it became evident that the songs being put to tape were meant for more than just demo status.

After six months of writing, recording, rehashing, naming, and renaming, Brandt with the help of some friends created an album — a collection of ten chilling and carefully crafted songs. This debut, entitled Blame Winter, is a portrayal of loss during the harshest of seasons. With each song, listeners are brought closer to understanding a longing felt for someone nearby, but distant in every way, and the hope that can shine through the cold frost of a Wisconsin winter.

Blame Winter‘s sound seems to pick up right where Brandt’s first and former band, Fine, left off. Acoustic guitars and pianos are prevalent throughout, with the occasional banjo and upright bass anchoring most of the tracks. Recorded in bedrooms, basements, and churches, the album has a comfortable, lived-in quality that compliments the instrumentation.