Johnny Flynn - He is the Wrote and the Writ

Johnny Flynn is one of those artist who get a special place in my audio anthology in my brain. I will pre-order ANYTHING he does and even buy the CD forever (as long as he doesn't get shit). So Been Listening IS COMING (you like how I did that?) on June 8th and so we are lucky enough to have a 5 track sampler to enjoy until then. HURRAH!

Johnny Flynn - Been Listening by cooperativemusic1

Kentucky Pill has a beautiful Phil Collins feel to it but DON'T let that put you off... Slightly more upbeat in feel that I was expecting, still ample use of strings (not fiddle. Strings). Continued usage of RICH (so easy to use this word in association with this man and the fruits of his loiny brain) harmonies makes me happy. Like the sunshine but more consistent and less likely to disappear everytime there is a public holiday.

The Water is JUST MAGICAL. The plink-plinking on the the plucked violins over slow, rolling and ebbing bowed arrangements basically refuses to let you ignore them. You got Johnny giving you sound of the woodland while Laura Marling offers a pixie-ish (give me another word for magic) ethereal balance that allows you to drift off to River Cottage and image the faery folk who live next to the brook living off Hugh's wild garlic. Lucky lucky fantasy people. I get the feeling that this is going to be highlight track. I'm EVEN more excited for the album now.

Churlish May - CHURLISH! TRUMPETS! *breaths deeply with a smile on face* ANY song that charts live and love directly against the Gregorian calendar is alright by me. This classic Johnny. Absolutely classic. Wonderfully dotted rhythm. Makes to want to upgrade from sawy to bob a little bit. AAAAAAAHAHAHAH love it. Summer's a-comin' people.

On the whole. Johnny is the UK's answer to many an American folk rock hero. Like everything done over here, there is less shouting and a'hollering, fewer people jumping on his bandwagon and probably will not have enough following from his target demographic to propel him to super-stardom as he might as the across-the-pond equivalent. He might not have a beard. He might not wear dungarees or marry Pamela Anderson but he is AWESOME. He can govern a mood. He will CAPTURE your curiosity. He WON'T fail you.

Go pick up his album at Rough Trade East and get a wristband for a mini gig in their store... But not before I get mine

There is growing scene in NYC at the moment spearheaded by the likes of ambeR Rubarth, Alex Wong, The Paper Raincoat, Alex Berger (look out for him in the London and the rest of the UK as he starts to promote his new studio album SnowGlobe - it is stunning... Did someone say Christmas Top 10), Vienna Teng and Ari Hest. If you even remotely like Johnny Flynn GO LISTEN TO THESE GUYS. Now. I'll give you my recommendations in a little bit fear not... just go have a look around yourself. These individuals and groups are what I would want any cross-Altantic pact to focus on. Blair and Bush got it wrong.