ARK PR
"Sailing against the tide of mediocrity..."
Johnny Dowd
‘That’s Your Wife on the Back of My Horse”
Mother Jinx Records
“Johnny Dowd is like some self-mutating virus of American music, restlessly
bringing fresh twists to old forms, absorbing influences.”
—The Independent
Time to dig out the bunting and start baking those celebratory cakes, the ‘master of the absurd’ Ithaca’s brightest, exploratory mind Johnny Dowd returns with a new album, ‘That’s Your Wife on the Back of My Horse’ set for release on Mother Jinx Records on March 9th.
For a musician forever pushing that envelope to new and exciting places, to turn the clock back and essentially return to the spirit and recording processes of his first album 1998’s Wrong Side Of Memphis’ seems a little surprising. Well, rest assured this is Texan-born Johnny Dowd we are talking about here, the arch mercurial sonic chameleon and adventurist not some everyday revivalist. For ‘That’s Your Wife On The Back Of My Horse’ Dowd is totally his own man, both literally and metaphorically.
Alone, holed up in the studio with only his 70’s drum machine, synths and the odd guitar for company besides the occasional visit of Anna Coogan to add counterpoint vocals, this is Dowd at his most vulnerable, experimental and uncompromising best. Dark,
humorous, deeply inventive and oh so god damn catchy, Dowd once again underlines why he is one of America’s true geniuses.
From the opening title track to the self-derogatory closer, “Teardrops” – “Once I was winner, I just couldn’t lose… a boy wonder” - this is Dowd channeling that dark, mischievous inner muse to stunning effect on a set of new songs that are totally unique yet instantly Dowd!
To support the album Dowd will be playing a number of UK shows as part of a full European tour in April 2015. The shows, like the album, will feature Dowd solo delivering a full-on sonic assault – drum machines, guitar loops, and synths – as only he can. A captivating combination of lo-fi meets high tech.
Johnny Dowd has released a number of critically acclaimed albums and featured on all manner of compilations over the years. His songs featured heavily in the cult musical documentary Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus and has worked alongside artists such as Jackie Leven, The Pine Valley Cosmonauts and Jim White.
What the press say about Johnny Dowd's earlier albums :-
“Brilliantly macabre, rib-tickling, poised and admirably raw dirty rock ’n’ roll from the shaded supremo..." DAILY MIRROR
"Dowd’s got all the swagger and star quality of acts a third his age.” - THE SUN
"It's weird, uncompromising and, compared with anything I have heard this millennium, certainly unique. 'A Drunkard's Masterpiece is a creative car crash of Americana, beatnik rock, poetry, prose, jazz rock, rap, screaming metal guitar, retro pop, spoken word and country noir..." - MOJO
"There's nobody quite like Johnny Dowd..." - UNCUT
For more information, interview requests, full biog or anything else please contact Del at Ark PR on 07759 528006 or email arkpr@aol.com