Boddy, Ian

Artist: ARC
P: 2024
DIN 89
LTD 1000
Live albums have always been a big feature of the DiN imprints output, with many of its releases featuring performances by label boss Ian Boddy either solo or in conjunction with other artists. Seven such albums have been as the duo ARC with Boddy alongside his friend and musical collaborator Mark Shreeve who sadly passed away in 2022.
Their show at E-Live in The Netherlands from 2007 was the only concert of theirs so far unreleased and hence ‘Chronicle’ is both here to fill that gap and to provide a reminder of the power this duo could create in a ‘live’ setting.
This concert was unusual in that ARC used it as a chance to showcase their recently released album ‘Fracture’ and indeed the duo constructed their set around the five tracks from that album, interlinked by short ambient passages. Underpinning the rhythmic elements of each piece is the huge Moog modular utilised by Mark over the years to such sensational effect, not only in the ARC project but his band Redshift. In creating that “Berlin School” sound, this system is the real deal and under his skilled sequencing the pieces have an organic life that breathe and can grow from a tiny staccato rhythm to a huge growl in seconds. Over this structure Boddy and Shreeve layer atmospheric effects, warm chordal motifs and blistering solo lines.
The concert culminates in the sensational twenty-two minute epic track ‘Rapture’ which begins with spacey, drifting atmospheres before chordal Mellotrons add a sense of the grandiose. This just lulls the audience into a sense of calm before those sequencers thunder in to produce a truly hypnotic and incredible sonic climax.
‘Chronicle’ is a testament to the music of ARC but more particularly in remembering Mark Shreeve, who left us all way too early.

Artist: Ian Boddy, Klaus Hoffmann-Hook & David Wright  
P: 2010    
The 'Trinity' of Ian Boddy, Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock and David Wright present melodic instrumental, electronic music in the classic space music style, with infectious rhythms, glorious themes and loads of atmosphere, The music and indeed the entire performance, is all imbued by a strong sense of the three individual musicians.
However, the music is expertly disciplined to present a strong sense of the collective 'Trinity' and will not only appeal to fans of the three individual musicians, but should find favour with all fans of instrumental music with substance and style. Featuring stunning new takes on classic tracks from the extensive back catalogue of all three musicians, plus the awesome collaborative title track, this is electronic music to savor and enjoy! Recorded at the Festival of September 2009 at the Derby Guildhall, the music has been eq’d and digitally mastered with only minor edits to the actual performanc

Artist: David Wright, Ian Boddy, Robert Fox & Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock
P: 2009
"Sines of Life (Vol. 1) is David's 20th solo CD release in a career that spans more than 20 years and the album has been something of a labour of love, as explained in the informative 16 page booklet.
It contains new studio material alongside imaginative live re-workings of classic David Wright  compositions from concerts during 2007 and 2009 featuring guest musicians, and it's no understatement to say that it's a majestic tour de force of instrumental new age electronica.
The perennial favorite "Walking with Ghosts" is replayed as a brand new arrangement that is simply sublime and features another UK synth luminary Ian Boddy on keyboards and German guitar legend Klaus Hoffmann Hook, who also plays the Memotron.
Another beautiful reworking is "Beyond Paradise", this time featuring Hoffmann-Hoock on electric sitar, while "Just an Illusion" and "State of Bliss" are again completely new imaginings of the original album tracks that here feature stunning cosmic guitar work from Hoffmann-Hoock.
The remaining songs include the atmospheric piano based title piece, a previously unreleased live track featuring Robert Fox & Nigel Turner-Heffer titled "3 a.m." and a new interpretation of David's popular epic "Cassini" recorded at his 2007 USA concert.
The production is superb and with a running time of over 78 minutes this fitting anniversary album provides both quality and quantity. If you're already familiar with the work of David Wright, then this album really is a "must have" because the reworked live tracks are significantly different from the originals to differentiate this set from a traditional "Greatest Hits" compilation. If you're not and you're into good quality, melodic and emotive electronic music, then "Sines of Life" has more than enough quality to warrant your investigation and ensure your interest.
An album that's destined to run and run and a terrific addition to an already impressive catalogue.

Artist: Ian Boddy & Andy Pickford  
P: 1995    
Boddy's first collaborative release with fellow UK synth musician Andy Pickford. A real powerhouse of an album it was premiered by the duo at the third EMMA festival, Sheffield in 1995. The typicall melodies of both musicians together with an atmosphere like Mealstrom and interesting sequences and rhythms of both artists! Wow, what a release!

Artist: Ian Boddy & David Wright
P: 2009
Two of the UK's foremost electronic music artists join forces to present a sublime album of gently rhythmic, melodic electronic music. Multi-textured soundscapes of chilled electronica that occasionally nods gently in the direction of Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Vangelis while always remaining true to the individual styles of Boddy & Wright, and more importantly, to the unique new sound this terrific collaboration has produced.

Artist: Ian Boddy  & Erik Wollo
P: 2018
DIN 54
LTD 1000 Copies
“Meridian” is the third collaborative project between DiN label boss Ian Boddy & renowned Norwegian composer & guitarist Erik Wøllo. Their previous project was the duos debut release,“Frontiers” (DiN39).
Both Boddy & Wøllo are prolific composers and they bring their wealth of experience to bear on this sophisticated, cinematic release. Playing like a travelogue to an undiscovered land the album opens in suitably haunting fashion with “Uncharted” with it’s fog horn effects shrouded in mist. The next two tracks then emerge from this atmosphere and create what will be the template for this album, a pair of uptempo, melodic pieces interspersed with reflective, slow ambient interludes. The duo effortlessly mix the analogue synth & string textures of Boddy with the intricate interlocking patterns of Wøllo’s guitar, that at times sound like delicate sequencer patterns. The rhythmic tracks slowly build in intensity throughout the album via the charmingly folk inspired tones of “Golden Times” to the climax of “Rescue” with it’s thundering Berlin School inspired bass sequence. The album ends as it began in a cold swirling mist as the fog horn returns to close the album in a suitably mysterious manner. Once again Boddy & Wøllo show their mastery of their craft both as composers and musicians to produce a stunning album full of sonic imagery and beautiful harmonies.

Artist: Ian Boddy  & Markus Reuter
P: 2013  
DIN 43
LTD 500 Copies
"Colour Division" (DiN43) sees DiN label boss Ian Boddy once again collaborating with German composer and guitarist Markus Reuter. They were both there at the birth of the DiN label, with their inaugural album, "Distant Rituals" (DiN2, 1999). Since then both musicians have grown in stature and widened their appeal, whilst periodically combining their musical talents on a series of further DiN releases such as "Pure" (DiN17, 2004) and "Dervish" (DiN33, 2009). Aficionados of the DiN label will be familiar with Boddy's musical exploits. They may not be fully aware of the plethora of work that Reuter has been involved with, including his extensive international touring with Stick Men (alongside Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto) and The Crimson ProjeKCt. Most recently he has overseen the world premiere performance and recording of his 60-minute masterpiece "Todmorden 513" by the Colorado Chamber Orchestra. "Colour Division" sees these two skilled musicians effortlessly continuing their sonic dialogue over seven mesmerising tracks. Several of these use one of Reuter's trademark guitar looped soundscapes as a starting point over which Boddy paints a glorious ambient tapestry of sound. His distinctive, singing Ondes Martenot style ambient lead lines call out on the opener "Borderlands", soon to be joined by a myriad of Reuters guitar tones. This strong initial piece builds to quite a climax with heavy electronic percussion and an exciting Moog solo from Boddy. By contrast the next track, the title piece "Colour Division", features a beautifully emotional guitar solo from Reuter. The more leisurely legato tracks such as "Crescent" and "Reveal" are like reflections of the duo's first DiN outing "Distant Rituals". Boddy's love of analogue modular synths sees distinctive bass lines and sequencing on the muscular "Fulcrum" and the more laid back "Beacon" which are overlaid with an incredible variety of fuzz tones and textures from the instrument that Reuter is no doubt a master of, the U8 touch guitar. Finally the album comes to a beautiful last passage with "Slowfall", with Boddy's restrained production complementing Reuter's sparse, crunchy guitar chords.

With a beautiful cover image by Polish photographer Szincza and an elegant digipak design this limited edition DiN release is yet another high quality, eminently collectable offering from the DiN label.
 

Ian Boddy:
Serge & Eurorack modular, Moog Voyager, Kontakt & Alchemy

Markus Reuter:
Guitar, guitar synth, loops & soundscapes