The Washington Post determined that "the Cranes' balladeering may be a little bland, and even irksome when A. Shaw's voice is at its most little-girlish, but it's actually more appealing than the group's harder side".[2]
Ned Raggett of AllMusic called Wings of Joy "a beautiful, if unsettling, piece of work" and found that in comparison to Cranes' earlier work, "the gripping, chilling atmosphere that Cranes dwell in hasn't moved an inch, but in terms of approach... the quartet has continued to expand its palette."[7]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Alison Shaw; all music is composed by Jim Shaw
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Watersong"
3:51
2.
"Thursday"
4:23
3.
"Living and Breathing"
3:30
4.
"Leaves of Summer"
3:44
5.
"Starblood"
3:35
6.
"Sixth of May"
4:39
7.
"Wish"
3:58
8.
"Tomorrow's Tears"
3:59
9.
"Beautiful Sadness"
4:04
10.
"Hopes Are High"
2:59
11.
"Adoration"
5:27
Total length:
44:09
UK limited CD edition bonus disc
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Inescapable"
2:45
2.
"Dada 331"
3:11
3.
"I Hope"
4:00
4.
"E.G. Shining"
3:46
Total length:
13:42
UK limited LP edition bonus disc
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Starblood" (remix)
3:38
2.
"Fuse" (original version)
3:32
3.
"Self Non Self"
2:15
Total length:
9:25
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]