Later Youth Debut Album Released

Jo Duddridge Addresses Growing Up Pains.

Later Youth: Living History Album Review

Break up. Illness. Incapacity. Heartbreak. Death. Grief. Not necessarily in that order, but what can an artist do with all that? Such universal themes could be examined in a poetry collection, or if verse is not your thing, on an album, obviously. Jo Dudderidge has a lot to get through in this review of his early adult life.  We are all of course products of our own history, but the question is and challenge is whether we let the history dictate our current path, or learn from mistakes, difficult moments, events and move on.  In this album, Dudderidge does his best to excise, exorcise and excuse his past, with some hints at future wishes and dreams.

The album Living History is led by Jo Dudderidge, operating under the collective name of Later Youth.  Dudderidge, a Mancunian multi-instrumentalist, producer, session musician produces a report on the findings of a very personal mid-life self-appraisal, thus offering the listener some glimpses into his progress since suffering a serious bout of meningitis, as a young man in Australia.

It is often remarked that those who have experienced near-death experiences develop a more appreciative attitude to the mundane, push themselves to overcome inhibitions, step out of familiar ground to explore territory.  Has Dudderidge achieved that here?

Like another keyboard player, Anthony Sheils’ recent Glove Compartment album, Dudderidge, leads a beautifully produced LP with his fingers, which provide a deceptively bright soundtrack to his series of somber and sober self-reflections.  Being able to write songs in a wide range of musical styles allows Dudderidge to paddle his band, Later Youth up and back down several musical creeks.  This variety gives the album Living History undoubted listening interest as each song is presented in a different genre. Alt-country, pop ballad, soul, rock and blues are all utilized here as the foundation for the writer’s (and  co-writers’) lyrical musings. Does it work collectively as an album?  You decide. If you are familiar with the work of Billy Joel, you will undoubtedly love it.    

On The Missing is a really strong country duet. With the sweetest steel guitar part, the voices of Lissie and Dudderidge are strikingly suited.  I would have loved to have heard more of this magic across the album.

  

There is an element of 1960s / early 1970s rock and pop about the structure.  The album has McCartney-esque clever, Ray Davies / Kinks’ chameleon feeling to it.  I am a big fan of the Kinks, because of the contemporary story-telling that Davies was so good at, capturing a time and a sense of place. The lyrics to Living History do not ground the listener quite so firmly in place. Although we are taken to the Hotel Venezuala in New York, the songs travel through time, without setting the laments in any specific jurisdiction. There is a wistful, bitter taste to many of the lyrics, which makes me wonder whether Dudderidge has experienced much joy since his early brush with the Reaper.

In Make it Right the song concludes that making things right can be achieved by possessing the person who is subject of the song, which lands a little awkwardly.  Is this someone genuinely seeking rapprochement, or a person who is only happy if they are in control?

The staccato clapping introduction to the single Statuesque reminds me of a wonderful track on a late David Bowie release Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA). Statuesque is another clever piece of work by Later Youth and is a deserved single from this collection of songs. Although far from representative of the album’s sound, this is a rollicking good number, with some poetic obscurity in its lines for the listener to unpick and ponder.  It is a very strong single on all fronts.

This album is a curate’s egg to me.  There is nothing that can be faulted in its production, or the musicianship – all well-balanced and wonderfully executed.  In all this. Dudderidge has managed to show off the broad scope of his musical abilities, even if the “project manager of his own demise” draws on a somewhat prosaic lyrical pallet.

As I have repeatedly played the album today, it has struck me that the absolutely stellar quality of production and strength of each tune are unquestionable. The only element that deflects me from loving this album is the self-pitying tone of the songs where Dudderidge addresses past relationships.  The album sounds superb, but it doesn't have enough lyrical content for me to mark it as more that a nice collection of songs about getting slightly older. 

Living History was released on 4th July, 2025.  Go to the official website for full information about Later Youth, the debut album and live shows.  

Spencer Ide

23rd July, 2025