Johnny Flynn - Been Listening
Review by Jack Foley
HAVING won widespread acclaim for his debut album, A Larum, Johnny Flynn has got even more ambitious with sophomore session, Been Listening.
Whereas A Larum was couched in an English folk style, Been Listening spreads its wings further.
Inspired by the primitive mystery of Blind Joe Taggart, the title track is inspired by an itinerant evangelist from 1920s Carolina who used a series of pseudonyms to play the blues, then considered the devil’s music, in the hope of fooling the Lord whose word he was meant to be spreading.
Sweet William Part 2 is the latest chapter in an ongoing fable about a young man’s journey that is inspired by Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha.
And Kentucky Pill has an African, hi-life influence that is the result not only of Flynn’s own heritage (his mother is South African), but of a change in band personnel (in the guise of drummer Dave).
And yet, there’s also a very Irish and Celtic folk feel to other moments, which makes it an enjoyable craic in places to listen to.
Given Flynn’s lofty ambitions, though, and some of his influences, it’s little wonder that certain tracks require a few listens to properly appreciate… and some may never win you over.
Of the more instantly amazing material, though, the aforementioned Sweet William Part 2 is a slow-builder of immense ambition, that relays its coming-of-age tale in compelling fashion, complete with marching-band style drum beats, rapid-fire fiddles and a really fascinating set of lyrics (culminating in the chorus “will you pick up your fiddle, young Willy”).
The outro, at around the 4-minute mark, is also likely to have you jigging yourself into a frenzy… it’s utterly inspired and inspiring! And it’s not even the album centre-piece!
That belongs to The Water, a dusky slow-burner that features a mouthwatering duet with Laura Marling (one of the artists of the moment). It’s a great meeting of minds that yields a terrific mix of vocal styles.
Further highlights come in the form of the upbeat, violin-laden Barnacled Warship, which also drops a kick-ass back-beat and relays another gripping tale, and album opener Kentucky Pill, which adds a fantastically vibrant brass movement into the mix. Both songs provide evidence of Flynn’s greater songwriting ambition.
Churlish May, likewise, builds from a stirring brass movement and a very African percussion style that provides a fascinating mix of musical styles.
I have to admit to not being too partial to the more stripped down offerings, such as Amazon Love (which took too long to get going), or Agnes, which paled a little by comparison to the more rousing folk-rock workouts currently being delivered by the likes of Mumford & Sons.
But in the main, this is a highly rewarding listen that marks a major step forward for Flynn. It also adds credence to the argument that the folk movement is one of the more diverse, vibrant and exciting genres of the moment.
Download picks: Kentucky Pill, Churlish May, Barnacled Warship, Sweet William Part 2, The Water, Howl
Track listing: