While he released his debut album back in 1999, Adrian Crowley is only now receiving the more widespread attention he richly deserves for his music.

That album, 'A Strange Kind' was recorded in a Dublin house and each of Crowley's records has an interesting story to complement the superb music on them. He recorded the follow-up 'When You Are Here You are Family' in Chicago with Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, Page & Plant, The Frames) having telephoned the legendary producer to see if he was interested in working with him - as it turned out Albini had already heard Crowley's music. The flights to Chicago were funded by the Arts Council and the album was recorded and mixed in five days.

For his third album, 'A Northern Country', Crowley set up the mics in his own house and his sister's - who was about to move home and had emptied out all the furniture. Having enjoyed US support on the label Ba Da Bing! '.Northern Country' was released on Misplaced Music in the UK, where Crowley shared catalogue numbers with such luminaries as HOOD and Low.

For 2007's 'Long Distance Swimmer', Crowley was back at his sister's new house, recording with up-and-coming Dublin producer (and Halfset member) Stephen Shannon. While the songs were captured within a week the duo had spent nearly a year working on the record. And it shows - 'Long Distance Swimmer' is intricately crafted and a thing of beauty at the mic and at the controls.   

Since its release Crowley has been nominated for the Choice Music Prize, figured in many end of 2007 lists and found himself gracing the 'Other Voices' stage. According to his Myspace page, he has 3,146 friends. And a lot more to come.

Harry Guerin

www.myspace.com

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