Maps And Territory. Juju

Interesting artwork. The kind that in a museum I would stop to look at and try to discern the deeper meaning of. Not that it has anything to do with maps nor territories at first sight.

During the spring I was alerted to Juju's mini album, but somehow it remained on my list of albums to check out. Mainly because the release date lay behind my working date, with a host of albums being released. So it was left behind. I decided to return to the album as remembered liking what I had heard in the first place.

Juju is Gioele Valenti, an Italian musician who works on the brink of modern folk, rock, African music and psychedelia. Everything that sort of washes up on Italy's long shore line. These rather wide and apart influences in Juju's music come together in a way that surprises as well as hypnotises. A groove can go on for quite a while the lead instruments may go off on a detour, sometimes even startling me out of my meditative state. Take 'If You Will Fall', the fourth song on the six song album. Over seven minutes long. A groove is kept up for a long time, not unlike the one in the second part of Soup's 'Sleeper' from the 'Remedies album (13 minutes long). It is the changes of course that make it so interesting and good listening. Given the fact that another song starts with an African melody and chant before taking a sharp turn (or two) later on in the song makes Maps And Territory intriguing and fun. Within the songs and as a whole. It is not a given for an artist to achieve this combination when experimenting with the listener's mood.

This combination works even better in 'Motherfucker Core'. The music is rock based. The singing psychedelic, the groove trans inducing. Again the song is long, 7 1/2 minute. The variations take care of capturing and keeping my attention. Juju is working towards a climax and dares to drop away before exploding, only to start building again.

Photo: Vicenzo Lo Piccolo

In a way it is a shame that Giole Valenti isn't a better singer (or hires one). Now the voice is hidden behind electronic effects. I can only wonder whether a "real" singer would have made the album better. My guess is yes, while at the same time this combination works for Maps And Territory and not only as a psychedelic effect. The benefit would lie in a better overall sound. There's no way of knowing of course.

'God Is A Rover' presents the hectic that is always present in Clinic's best songs. The driving, pounded piano and the high sounding cymbal are giveaways here. A lead guitar plays a strong role in the song.

'Arcontes Takes Control', the final song, starts out with saxophones and is pure jazz at the start. Remembering all the jazz rock albums my friends played in the second half of the 70s, I have heard enough for the rest of my life. So this spacey, jazzy outing is not for me. Juju plays what it will and five out of six is a good score for an experimental album.

Wo.

You can listen to and buy Maps And Territory here:

https://fuzzclub.bandcamp.com/album/maps-and-territory


or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g