Some stories are simply too strange to be forgotten. “Quinn the Adventurer”, the new single by Bring Your Own Hammer and performed by Irish singer/songwriter Adrian Crowley, brings one of those unbelievable stories back to life, turning a forgotten chapter of Irish history into a beautiful and atmospheric song. The story of James Quinn, a young Irish Catholic who left Belfast in 1920 and travelled across North and South America before ending up in Hollywood, is already fascinating. Working as an extra in silent films alongside Charlie Chaplin, getting arrested for exhibiting Amazonian shrunken heads and then escaping before serving his sentence, Quinn sounds more like a character from a movie than a real person. And yet, this really happened. Adrian Crowley is the perfect voice to tell this story. His deep, distinctive baritone gives the song a mysterious and almost cinematic feeling, while his restrained delivery allows the lyrics to remain at the center. There is a strong sense of travelling and discovery throughout the song, as if we are following Quinn across the ocean and into another strange chapter of his life. What makes “Quinn the Adventurer” especially interesting is the way Bring Your Own Hammer connects historical research with contemporary songwriting. This is not simply a history lesson put to music. It is a living story, filled with adventure, danger, escape and reinvention. With its haunting atmosphere and excellent storytelling, “Quinn the Adventurer” is a memorable introduction to “From the Tombs”. History has rarely sounded this alive and melodic.
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
