Mark McDowell performs a set of songs featuring material from the forthcoming ‘Freedom Tapes’ album released on through the artists bandcamp 25/2/2022. The albums song cycle features processed cassette loops running through the sound producing hypnotic drones.

Mark McDowell is an electronic folk artist from Bristol.

Mark McDowell’s 6th studio album Breakthrough was released on Fruits de Mer Records ‘Friends of the Fish’ imprint in 2020. Recording as Mark McDowell and Friends – it builds on the sonic palette of 2017’s acclaimed Dark Weave LP. The nine tracks encompass free flowing instrumentals, West-coast sunshine pop, acid folk and electronica.

Reviewers have praised the album's integrated mix of analogue synths and range of acoustic folk strings as well as arrangements that balance verse-chorus structure with exploratory improvisation.

The album recieved radio support with plays on BBC 6 Music’s Gideon Coe show, The Late Junction as well as regular plays on the California ‘Ocean Sunrise Blender’, Offbeat Novumf.de, ‘Rogers Imaginarium’ and key underground stations worldwide.

Reviews

Terrascope

Breakthrough, a steady motorik rhythm allowing the synth plenty of room to fracture off into the atmosphere, great track this, ace. This is an excellent album pretty much a perfect mix of electronics and acoustics.

(Andrew Young)

Shindig! Issue 103

‘the rumbling acid-folk of the title track that gradually evolves into a behemothic headfuck. 'Starstreamer"s droning hi-tech raga is equally impressive while 'Sit 13' balances out the elements into a proper song like a lost '60s gem from a Perfumed Garden comp.

(Johnnie Johnstone)

Louder than War Magazine

Mark McDowell And Friends‘ excellent Breakthrough album…. the title track is a fine free flowing, mind-bending, trance-like instrumental while Sit 13 and First Light are pure 60s shimmering folk-tinged pop.

(Elyfn Griffith)

Entry requirements: — Read more — Read less