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: ARC
P: 2017
DIN 53
LTD 1000 Copies.
“Fleet” (DiN53) is the seventh concert album by the duo ARC (DiN label boss Ian Boddy and Mark Shreeve). This fact alone should tell you how popular this musical partnership is in a live setting where they continue to dazzle audiences with their mix of live electronics underpinned by huge slabs of analogue sequencing. “Fleet” was recorded to multitrack at the E-Scape Electronic Music Festival in Halesworth, Suffolk on 13th May 2017. On returning to the studio this allowed Mark Shreeve to mix and master the resulting performance in fine detail to produce a stunning, dynamic album that preserves all the power and richness of their live show. The seven tracks, complete with enthusiastic audience ambience, spans almost 78 minutes for the next best thing to actually being there! What is most evident on this ARC album are the richly harmonic themes, most notably in the opening title track which builds and grows through a series of gorgeous melodies to it’s climax. Tracks such as “Soar” are more delicate in nature with distant mellotrons overlaid with intertwining sequencer patterns whereas “Crux” opens with a spooky ambient section before ramping up to a live sequencer fest that lovers of Berlin School electronica will lap up. ARC always like to leave the  stage with a bang and for the last couple of years they’ve finished with the track “Cherry Bomb”. Well the duo have outdone even that blockbuster with the encore track “Howl”. Starting with a whisper it finishes the album off with a real sledgehammer of a track that will surely become a favourite for ARC aficionados.

Here the last copy!

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 & 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.