JuJu is the latest ritualistic incarnation of Sicily-based Gioele Valenti (Lay Llamas, Herself). Through the music, JuJu tells the legend of a continuing exodus from Africa that more often than not ends in ignored tragedies at sea, ‘a total defeat for humanity’, in a hybrid of modern influences rooted into a dark, enchanted form of primal music...

JuJu’s self-titled debut album is a ritual and is ignited by Afro groove rhythms, Kraut repetition, drone-fuzz coated psych riffs, Manchester scene shoegaze synth, prog-infused astral folk vocals and organs and almost tribal rock atmospherics. All the while with this is underlined with an ever apparent mythical, Mediterranean neo-paganism.

The end results speak for themselves - an otherworldly, mysterious vibe permeates the LP making it an almost hypnotic listen. The album contains 7 tracks (41 min, 25 sec), with personal highlights including the beautiful score like 'Dance with the Fish' and the hypnotic 'Sunrise Ocean'.

It's an interesting album that's certainly worth investing some time on. It's probably not one where you'll instantly warm to all the tracks, but they'll all gradually grow on you the more times you play them.

8

Nick Smithson