Country Mile (Johnny Flynn album)
Country Mile is the fourth full-length album by Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, released in 2013. The album was announced in conjunction with a tour and the release of a single 'The Lady is Risen'.
Reception
In his review for Allmusic, critic Timothy Monger wrote "What sets Johnny Flynn apart from many of Britain's better-known new folk-revivalists is his knack for timeless, literate songwriting. Delivered with the confidence of a seasoned Shakespearian actor and the severity and humor of a young Richard Thompson, Flynn's songs come from a more arcane place in the English idiom, managing to seem both profound and conversational at once."[1] Holly Williams of The Independent wrote "Flynn’s language and cadence can be quaintly archaic; his wandering-minstrel lyrics poetic, and apple-sweet."[2] John Murphy of musicOMH wrote "Flynn remains one of the country’s most overlooked songwriters and Country Mile is a good reminder of his skill with a well-crafted song."[4] Matthew Horton of NME was less enthusiastic about the release, writing "Johnny Flynn moonlights as an actor, and it shows. His folk-rock has always felt a bit forced, and album number three is rootsy like the Chelsea Flower Show, blooming with mega-twee lyrics... There’s even a song called ‘Tinker’s Trail’, for Christ’s sake. If things get any more contrived his next album will feature a duet with a cow."[5]
Track listing
All songs composed by Johnny Flynn
|
| 1. | "Country Mile" | 3:36 |
| 2. | "After Eliot" | 4:45 |
| 3. | "The Lady Is Risen" | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Murmuration" | 2:52 |
| 5. | "Gypsy Hymn" | 3:44 |
| 6. | "Fol-de-rol" | 3:33 |
| 7. | "Einstein's Idea" | 5:49 |
| 8. | "Tinker's Trail" | 3:26 |
| 9. | "Bottom Of The Sea Blues" | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Time Unremembered" | 4:08 |
Personnel
- Johnny Flynn – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonium, mandolin, piano, organ, violin, trumpet, Wurlitzer, flugelhorn, percussion
- Spencer Cullum – pedal steel guitar
- Adam Beach – bass
- David Beauchamp – drums
- Joe Zeitlin – cello
- James Mathé – backing vocals
- Lillie Flynn – backing vocals
Production
- Mark Ospovat – engineer
- Giles Barrett – engineer, mixing
- Simon Trought – engineer, mixing
- David Holmes – engineer, mixing
- Guy Davie – mastering
- Luke Montgomery – cover photo
- Lisa Piercy – art direction
- A.G. Brooks – design
References
[1]