| Daffodils & Dirt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Sam Morton | |
| Released | 14 June 2024 |
| Recorded | January 2022 – January 2023 |
| Studio |
|
| Length | 43:17 |
| Label | XL |
| Producer | Richard Russell |
| Singles from Daffodils & Dirt | |
| |
Daffodils & Dirt is the debut studio album by Sam Morton, an English music duo consisting of singer Samantha Morton and record producer Richard Russell. [1] It was released on 14 June 2024 through Russell's record label XL Recordings. [2] It received universal acclaim from critics. [3]
In 2020, Richard Russell heard Samantha Morton on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs . [4] Russell reached out to Morton, hoping to sample her spoken passage for his collaborative project Everything Is Recorded. [4] They then began making music together and formed the duo Sam Morton. [4]
In 2023, Sam Morton released two vinyl-only singles: "Hunger Hill Road / Ghosts Are Dancing" and "Supplication / Headbouncing". [5] In 2024, the duo released "Cry Without End", their first track that has been made available digitally. [5]
Daffodils & Dirt includes a rendition of Johnnie Ray's song "The Little White Cloud That Cried". [6] UB40's Ali Campbell provided guest vocals on "Broxtowe Girl". [6] The album also features contributions from Alabaster DePlume, Laura Groves, and Jack Peñate. [7] The album's cover art is an archive photograph taken by Nick Waplington. [8]
Samantha Morton directed the music videos for "Cry Without End" and "Let's Walk in the Night". [9] [2]
On 18 May 2024, Sam Morton performed the song "Let's Walk in the Night" on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland . [10] [11]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100 [3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Hot Press | 9/10 [8] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 [12] |
| MusicOMH |   [6] |
| The Observer | [13] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Daffodils & Dirt received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 from 5 critic scores. [3]
Shaad D'Souza of The Observer commented that the album "captures the uncanny prickliness innate to all the best trip-hop while folding in elements of dream-pop and no-wave, resulting in an unnerving, intoxicating listen." [13] He added, "It's eclectic and, by its skyward-looking spoken-word end, surprisingly invigorating." [13] John Murphy of MusicOMH called it "one of the most startling albums of the year." [6] He added, "Hopefully, Sam Morton won't just be a one-off collaboration, as chemistry like this is rare to find: a second instalment would be most welcome." [6] Matt Young of The Line of Best Fit stated, "Daffodils & Dirt is an album that exudes an overwhelming sense of light, casting out the shade and destroying the darkness." [12]
Daffodils & Dirt was included on the list of 2024's best record sleeves at the 20th Best Art Vinyl awards. [14]
All tracks are written by Samantha Morton and Richard Russell, except "The Little White Cloud That Cried" by Johnnie Ray.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Highwood House" | 1:28 |
| 2. | "Hungerhill Road" | 4:16 |
| 3. | "Purple Yellow" | 4:23 |
| 4. | "The Little White Cloud That Cried" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Kaleidoscope" | 4:10 |
| 6. | "Cry Without End" | 3:44 |
| 7. | "Broxtowe Girl" | 4:10 |
| 8. | "Let's Walk in the Night" | 3:58 |
| 9. | "Greenstone" | 3:23 |
| 10. | "Double Dip Neon" | 4:28 |
| 11. | "The Shadow" | 2:15 |
| 12. | "Loved by God" | 3:16 |
| Total length: | 43:17 | |
Credits adapted from liner notes. [15]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [16] | 61 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [17] | 17 |