Adrian Crowley - Long Distance Swimmer

FOLK

Adrian Crowley hasn’t received the level of attention bestowed on fellow Dublin troubadour Fionn Regan, but his sonorous blend of folk and blues deserves its spotlight. The content and style of this fourth album perhaps don’t reach the singer’s mesmerising live shows, but it is sporadically captivating.

Melancholic but lyrically vivid, songs like ‘Electric Eels’ and the title track are reminiscent of Smog and James Yorkston but somehow lack the single-minded drive of those contemporaries. When he cranks it up a little, like on the hypnotic drone of ‘These Icy Waters’, Crowley is more convincing, and overall this is definitely worthy of attention.