Jo Dudderidge is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and serial collaborator who performs under the name Later Youth.

By Graeme Smith

If that name sounds familiar, you may know him from his role fronting Manchester’s The Travelling Band.

His latest solo release, The Wave, gives us driving, cantering rock with plenty of passion. A hooky chorus will have you moving and stick with you. The lyrics are charismatically delivered by the vocals, and tell a relatable story. A quiet lull sets up the crashing finale splendidly.

“[The Wave is] about that unnerving moment you unexpectedly cross paths with someone from your past—a former lover or someone who still holds some emotional weight,” says Dudderidge. “You see them on your street, in your world, and it throws you, but it’s also a strange opportunity to reflect. That feeling of: what happened in all the time since we last spoke? Who have we become?”

The track is a great introduction to Later Youth’s music for us. If you like BC Camplight, Father John Misty, or David Bowie, you’ll find a lot to love about it.

The Wave is out now and you can give it a listen below.