Ten Years Ago: Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit - Been Listening

In the Ten Years Ago series, we take a look back at the ten most brilliant releases of 2010 which are celebrating their first decade this year. Next up is the folk classic ‘Been Listening’ by Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit.

The Nu-Folk scene (so christened by the independent music press) was beginning to make increasing noise at the time Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit released their debut album ‘A Larum’ in 2008. The album, with its collection of quirky and upbeat rolling folk, found the band join the company of peers Laura Marling, Mumford and Sons, and Noah and the Whale, as the leaders of the artists reviving folk and reinventing its sound for listeners of the 21^st century. Lead single ‘Tickle Me Pink’ created real momentum for the band (formed to record and play the songs of leader Johnny Flynn) and they quickly gained critical acclaim and an army of fans.

Flynn is an artist through and through. When not performing his music, he has also established a highly acclaimed career as an actor on both stage and screen, and will soon be portraying a young David Bowie in a forthcoming feature about the late icon’s life. His theatrical upbringing and profession has certainly influenced the sound of his music, and he has become well known for tying together thoughtful observational lyrics with meandering folk driven melodies.

Releasing a sophomore record is a well-known struggle that many bands face. Many lose their way as they try and repeat the success of their first album (and the significant time many of them had to write the songs on it) whilst not simply replicating it. Thankfully, ‘Been Listening’ suffers no such crises of confidence and, is in fact, a more rounded and polished effort than ‘A Larum’ with the band building on the foundations of that debut to create something more self-assured.

Launching with opening track, and lead single, ‘Kentucky Pill’, the album is instantly filled with warm and clever multi-instrumentation. Indeed the opening track feels so rousing and upbeat, that it nearly masks some of Flynn’s more macabre lyrical reflections. The kaleidoscopic instrumentation flows throughout the record and it is the clever use of horns that is one the most pleasing aspects. ‘Churlish May’ is powered along by a weary horn section that suits the dragging melody perfectly, whilst the horn solo on the epic ‘Howl’ is so powerful it nearly makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

The string accompaniments are equally as enjoyable. They provide a touching melancholic air to the verses of the stirring nautical ballad ‘Barnacled Warship’ ,before going on to make its chorus perhaps the warmest of the entire collection. On ‘Sweet William Part 2’ ,they provide the perfect foil to Flynn’s rattling lyrics and it finds the band sounding like a ragtag group of street performers. It is on the title track ‘Been Listening’ however, that they are used to the best and most powerful effect. This stirring and heartfelt ballad is the jewel in the crown of the album. Here the emotive string section sits alongside a guitar riff so full of angst and reflection that it matches Flynn’s weary tender vocals perfectly.

Flynn’s vocals are powerful and well balanced throughout, and his lyrical observations remain cleverly delivered through thoughtful and poetic prose. It is the album’s heartfelt ballads that best suit him, and the harmonies between him and guest vocalist Laura Marling on the stunning ‘The Water’ is another of the album’s finest moments. Praise must also be given to Lily Flynn for her beautiful harmony infused backing vocals peppered throughout the collection.

Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit would go on to release further well received records (2013’s ‘Country Mile’ and 2017’s ‘Sillion’) as well as record the soundtrack to BBC comedy ‘The Detectorists’. It is 2010’s ‘Been Listening’ though, that remains their finest hour and true masterpiece. The collection of thoughtful, stirring and harmonic ballads have the sounds of folk at their heart, and this record should be an essential for any lover of the genre!