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Elly Roberts reviews
Tin Angel Records
- January 2008
- Rating: 6/10
Home-made wonder: literally.
We normally associate music recording in some lavish studio. Not this one.Dog-sitting at his sisters house in Dublin for a week, Adrian Crowleychose to do Long Distance Swimmer DIY style.
A fortress of mattresses (built especially to soundproof the living room, so hesays) enabled him to crack-on undisturbed, though it must have been quite astrange sight. This low-key beauty has a heart warming charm and simplicitythat ushers in 2008. This is a real musos album which richly deserves a biggeraudience, and may well do, if its picked up by the right people at thenations radio stations. So come guys.
Some reviewers have called him miserable. Damien Rice gets the same treatment.Nevertheless, Crowley does a pretty good job here. His hushed vocal style andeasy paced music is a, sort of, hybrid of Richard Hawley and fellow DublinerRice, without the Orbison comparisons, drama and deep deep melancholy. Itsmore of an Elliott Smith and Nick Drake affair really. Its not big on laughs,but music and singing are perfectly matched.
Starting with the gentle intro of Bless Our Tiny Hearts, it flutters byand its sweet stuff too, despite his characterless vocals. The pace quickenson These Icy Waters which means hes stretched more in the signingdepartment. This song reminds me of a ’80s hit, which escapes me right now.
Then its back to the acoustic guitar for the Americana-tinged Star Of TheBarbour: sweet melody in abundance. A similar template ensues forTemporary Residence with splashes of horn to perk it up. Jewel in thecrown is the minimalist and gorgeous Victoria, again treading onto Hawleysvocal bag.
For Harmony Row, Crowley seems to break sweat, though you wont see muchperspiration. Interestingly enough this could be right out of Beiruts masterpieceFlying Club Cupof 2007, with again, a dash of restrained brass for effect.
Dropping into snooze control, its yet more minimalism on Leaving The Party.Even the string-bending is kept to a minimum. Drums (and a beat) opens a statelyBrothers At Sea, but as expected, its all under control.
As it began, Crowley leaves us with more sweetness soft jangly guitar andstrings providing the background for him to drop in yet more characterlesssinging. Despite its predominantly one dimensional trip, it never becomesboring, which is quite an art.
File under: Album number 4. Understated gem.
Weblink:tinangelrecords.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Bless Our Tiny Hearts
2. These Icy Waters
3. Star Of The Harbour
4. Temporary Residence
5. Walk On Part
6. Victoria
7. Harmony Row
8. Theft By Starlight
9. Electric Eels
10. Leaving The Party
11. Brother At Sea
12. Long Distance Swimmer
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.