Lost in the Cedar Wood

Lost in the Cedar Wood
Studio album by
Released14 May 2021
GenreFolk
Length41:35
LanguageEnglish
LabelTransgressive
ProducerCharlie Andrew
Johnny Flynn chronology
Sillion
(2017)
Lost in the Cedar Wood
(2021)
The Moon Also Rises
(2023)

Lost in the Cedar Wood is the fifth[a] 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

[edit]

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.[2]

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.[4] 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".[6]

Reception

[edit]

The album has a score of 76 on the review aggregator Metacritic, signifying "generally favorable reviews".[7] 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".[4] 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.[8]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane

No.TitleLength
1."Ten Degrees of Strange"4:30
2."The World to Come"3:56
3."Gods and Monsters"3:36
4."Bonedigger"3:28
5."I Can't Swim There"4:31
6."Nether"2:51
7."Flood in the Desert"3:35
8."Tree Rings"2:47
9."Enkidu Walked"4:00
10."Home and Dry"3:20
11."Ferryman"4:57
Total length:41:35

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Lost in the Cedar Wood
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 65
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] 2

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Not including a live album and film soundtrack.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane - Lost In The Cedar Wood". The Drift Record Shop. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Rathe, Adam (17 June 2021). "Emma Star Johnny Flynn On His New Album, Lost in the Cedar Wood". Town & Country. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. ^ Cairns, Dan. "Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn on their album Lost in the Cedar Wood". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane – 'Lost In The Cedar Wood' review: folkies look on the bright side". NME. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Johnny Flynn, Robert Macfarlane - Lost In The Cedar Wood". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. ^ Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane - Ten Degrees of Strange (Official Video), retrieved 27 July 2021
  7. ^ Lost in the Cedar Wood by Johnny Flynn, retrieved 27 July 2021
  8. ^ Lost in the Cedar Wood - Johnny Flynn | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 27 July 2021
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2021.