Jodie Lowther and A.R.C. Soundtracks - The Blow Volume 4
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 14 / 1 / 2019

Label:
Front and Follow
Format: Tape
intro
Fourth in cassette only electro acoustic split release series from groundbreaking Front and Follow label, which features ethereal singer-songwriter Jodie Lowther and North of England experimental act A.R.C. Soundtracks
Unreciprocal by nature, the Blow Series tends to melt together sounds from two participants, preferably in juxtaposition to each other, but occasionally not such as now. On Volume 4, Jodie Lowther occupies Side 1 with twelve snappy workouts and her counterparts enter on her last track before moving on to their own twenty-eight minute composition 'Taken Up & Dissolved' which might just as well have been a radio play for BBC4. Alas Britain, unlike Germany where one Ergo Phizmiz has curated hours of radio plays, still isn't ready to grant time and space to adventurous music such as that in the Blow Series. Jodie Lowther makes jingle bell excursions through space with her twelve tracks which mostly seem to defy gravity. One of these, 'Dream of the Melting Plane', reminds me of the subtle piano chords of Erik Satie, halted by quirky backsteps. More than a puzzling radio play, Jodie Lowther's 12 tracks build a fantasy of sound. On Side 2, A.R.C. Soundtracks stick to one piece. 'Taken Up & Dissolved', which lasts for half an hour and takes the listener again through a play, but with a more evocative and sinister narrative. A.R.C. Soundtracks also reference Erik Satie's works in their music. Minimalistic and yet profound, Front & Follow present this series in proud tradition, in which soundscapes go awash and mere noodlings become genuine compositions. An accomplished collaboration to say the least.
Track Listing:-
1 The Trees2 Hall Of Faces
3 Red Key
4 Sea Fret
5 Tourmaline
6 Dream Of The Melting Plane
7 Delirium Sea
8 Spiral Ascending
9 Peacock Ore
10 Cornered
11 Fish Eye
12 The Occasional Sleeper
13 Taken Up & Dissolved
Label Links:-
http://www.frontandfollow.com/https://www.facebook.com/frontandfollow?_rdr=p
http://frontandfollow.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/frontandfollow
bandcamp
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025John Philip Shenale - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Vapors - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Waeve - Club Academy, Manchester, 18/3/2025
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Mystery Fix - Life to Life
Permafrost - The Light Coming Through
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart