Rarely, these days, do I chance upon a new name to fill my heart with such glee, with most new music seeming always to be revisioned reworkings of old. Sure, I love some old, but get, sometimes, a little bored. Plus, I like to pretend I have pretty eclectic taste, and scour the blogs and mags for what I might like. The old warhorses, Unshod and Mopo, devoured each month, produce, in their new releases, little much more than a couple of pointers each, and I have usually already been sent those, for review purposes. This month I came across a brand new favourite, in Adrian Crowley. He is 8 albums into a career, seemingly bypassing my attention, despite even making a duet album with Lal, sister of Norma, Watersons, which ought to caught my attention. But it didn’t, that coming through an unusual release, The Grief of the Sea, re-released today, first out a year or so back. A various artists selection of songs from and about the Irish diaspora, particularly the transatlantic hulk ships that transported those fleeing the famine, seeking greener grass in the new world. It’s a grand album, with the likes of Cathal Coughlan to the fore. But also this fella.
The obvious comparisons might be Tindersticks, Roddy Woomble, Willard Grant Conspiracy even. So all good stuff. I am now hoovering up his back catalogue.
Anyone had a recent new epiphany?
Adrian Crowley; new to me. And fabulous.
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Lost at Last, from his latest solo release:
I won’t say epiphany just yet, but I went to see Bright Eyes in Dublin last night and I was very impressed with the support act, as it would seem, were many others in the audience. William The Conqueror, a three-piece from Cornwall were strangers to me until twelve hours ago, but I picked up a couple of their albums at the merch table. Anyone going to Bright Eyes in the UK over the next few days would be well-advised to arrive in time for the support.
Bright Eyes were also excellent BTW. Well worth the travel and time.
You may possibly remember the singer/guitarist/songwriter in WtC as Ruarri Joseph, when he was a sensitive acoustic sort.
No, I think he evaded me then as well. But I am very impressed with the songs and he appears to be a very good electric guitarist.
That’s two new to me acts I’ll have to investigate. I’ll be back.
I think you’re confusing Watersons, Retro – he made an album with Marry, Lal’s daughter.
Corrected correctly; I thought the pairing a tad odd, Marry making far more sense.
You wait months for a thread where one Waterson gets mentioned…
The moment was waiting for Bright Phoebus, and here he is now, roasting us all.