Lost in the Cedar Wood explained

Lost in the Cedar Wood
Type:Studio
Artist:Johnny Flynn
Cover:Lost in the Cedar Wood - Johnny Flynn.jpg
Released:14 May 2021
Genre:Folk
Language:English
Label:Transgressive
Producer:Charlie Andrew
Prev Title:Sillion
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:The Moon Also Rises
Next Year:2023

Lost in the Cedar Wood is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Johnny Flynn, released on 14 May 2021 through Transgressive Records.[1] The album is a collaboration between Flynn and British nature writer Robert Macfarlane.[2] [3]

Background

Flynn and Macfarlane collaborated to make Lost in the Cedar Wood beginning in the first half of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] In an interview, Flynn noted that much of the writing was done separately, with communication with Macfarlane via WhatsApp, due to COVID lockdown restrictions.

The album is loosely based on the Epic of Gilgamesh, aiming to compare the themes of the ancient work with the modern world in the context of the pandemic. The album was recorded in a solar-powered cottage in Hampshire, England.[5]

The track "Home and Dry" was released as a single, entitled "Home & Dry (For the Fishing Industry Safety Group)" on July 7, 2020.

A music video animated and directed by Lynn Tomlinson was released for the track "Ten Degrees of Strange".

Reception

The album has a score of 76 on the review aggregator Metacritic, signifying "generally favorable reviews". NME gave Lost in the Cedar Wood four out of five stars, comparing it with the "joyful sound of spotting sunshine in the darkest of times". Clash magazine gave the album a rating of 8/10, calling it a "barnburner".[5] Timothy Monger, writing for AllMusic, rated the album 4/5, praising the collaboration between Flynn and Macfarlane.

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane - Lost In The Cedar Wood. 2021-07-27. The Drift Record Shop.
  2. Web site: Rathe. Adam. 2021-06-17. Emma Star Johnny Flynn On His New Album, Lost in the Cedar Wood. 2021-07-27. Town & Country. en-US.
  3. News: Cairns. Dan. Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn on their album Lost in the Cedar Wood. en. 2021-07-27. 0140-0460.
  4. Web site: 2021-05-10. Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane – 'Lost In The Cedar Wood' review: folkies look on the bright side. 2021-07-27. NME. en-GB.
  5. Web site: Johnny Flynn, Robert Macfarlane - Lost In The Cedar Wood. 2021-07-27. Clash Magazine. en.