Johnny Flynn has marked the announcement of his return with the release of an exclusive free track from his forthcoming new album.

Kentucky Pill is the first track to be taken from Been Listening, which is released on the 7th June via Transgressive Records.

While acclaimed debut album A Larum was couched in an English folk style, Been Listening spreads its wings further. Inspired by the primitive mystery of Blind Joe Taggart, the title track is inspired by an itinerant evangelist from 1920s Carolina who used a series of pseudonyms to play the blues, then considered the devil’s music, in the hope of fooling the Lord whose word he was meant to be spreading. Sweet William Part 2 is the latest chapter in an ongoing fable about a young man’s journey that is inspired by Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. And Kentucky Pill has an African, hi-life influence that is the result not only of Flynn’s own heritage (his mother is South African), but of a change in band personnel.

The new album was recorded with Johnny’s band The Sussex Wit in London, Washington and Seattle and effortlessly captures stories in songs with a universal resonance and with those musical influences ranging from Africa to America’s Deep South. It features collaborations with Laura Marling and Anna Calvi.

Pre-order from Amazon here.

Download Johnny Flynn – Kentucky Pill mp3 (from Been Listening)

See them live:

Sun 16 May,  Birmingham Glee Club

Mon 17 May, Leeds Cockpit

Wed 19 May, Manchester Academy 3

Thu 20 May, Glasgow Oran Mor

Sat 22 May, Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Sun 23 May, Bristol Thekla

Tue 25 May, Brighton Komedia

Wed 26 May, London Electric Ballroom