Jute Gyte - Noctis Labyrinthus [Jeshimoth Entertainment - 2013]Missouri based Jute Gyte have never been a project that fits into any one musical genre box- their past work has dipped down in: progressive ‘n’ unbalancing polyrhythm lined black metal, wonky ‘n’ unhinged IDM/ electronica, doomed guitar work-outs, digital and analogue fed harsh noise, and beyond. With “Noctis Labyrinthus” the projects trying it’s hand at yet another genre- wavering & desolate medieval space ambience. This pro CDR release features eight tracks in all, which last between the six minute mark to just shy of the twelve minute mark. And each of the eight tracks are slow/woozy sonic soups that utilizes murky guitar drone textures, vibe like electronics, dreamy yet melancholic banks of synth work, and waveing lute like pluckings over stark yet spacey backdrop- & all often Medieval sounding melodies & vibes fed through them. To me the whole thing could be an soundtrack to some strange & dreamily surreal European 1980’s movie about a medieval civilisation sudden finding it’s self unexpected in space. Or maybe a recording of a group aliens trying their hand at playing a spaced out take on medieval music, as they slowly twist & melt in a psychedelic haze through space & time Most of the tracks here drift & haze along in a decidedly wavering & out-of-focus manner as melodies & textures are stretched & pulled out to a blurry & bleakly spaced-out manner. In the past this project has touched on more droney/ambient moments on some of their release, but as far as I’m aware this is the project first all out 'ambient' release, and on the whole it’s rewarding & quite distinctive in it’s feel & unfold. A few tracks here do seem a little too shapeless & free roaming for their own good, but really most of it is worthwhile & if your after something a little different that mixes up a spacey & medieval tinged ambience “Noctis Labyrinthus” is well worth a look. Roger Batty
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