John Francis Flynn
I Would Not Live Always
[River Lea Recordings]
Dublin Traditional scene staple and multi-instrumentalist John Francis Flynn is the latest emissary of the domestic folk renaissance to find a home at Rough Trade offshoot River Lea Recordings.
Flynn’s arresting debut shines for its ingenuity and unfettered invention as droning tape manipulations, gurgling analogue synth passages and jazz squeals shine in conversation with traditional songs, arrangements and approaches.
For all the instrumental mastery on display, Flynn’s rich vocals stand apart, the deeply felt empathy in his delivery lending the songs their own kind of gentle authority. Mesmerising.
Words: Danny Wilson
