British singer-songwriter and producer Jo Dudderidge, best known for fronting Manchester indie-folk favorites The Travelling Band, is back with his solo project, Later Youth. After over a decade leading the much-loved band through four acclaimed albums, the now London-based multi-instrumentalist has since established himself as a sought-after collaborator, writing and performing with an array of talented artists, including Victoria Canal, Rose Gray, Stephen Fretwell, James Walsh, Joyeria, Ren Harvieu, Bette Smith, and longtime cohort Lissie.
With Later Youth, Dudderidge steps back into the spotlight, with his unmistakable voice and signature Wurlitzer electric piano driving the sound. His music blends dry, heart-on-sleeve lyricism with modern spins on classic rock, soul, blues, and alt-country.
There seems to be a revival of Southern soul bubbling in the genre’s busy underground, and Dudderidge’s side project is crafting some pure, modern examples of it. “Arcane Love” is a lighthearted ballad with infectious melodies that come in the form of bright pop, dense blues, and stunning soul. The new single is structured in waves of lush, nostalgic soul that wash over the listener, drowning you in jazzy undertones. That’s when the simplicity of the verse’s instrumentation pulls you from the depths and sits you in front of Dudderidge’s cinematic songwriting. In the songwriting, we find the artist facing the end with a sort of relaxed nature, as if losing it all brings a sense of relief. The nuanced darkness of the songwriting can easily get lost as acrobatic guitar solos crash around Dudderige’s honed yet freeing approach to the art of melody-making. “Arcane Love” is an all-encompassing outing that places Dudderidge amongst some of soul’s most pure revivalists while showcasing the artist’s refreshing twist on the scene.
