Since they first emerged in 2009, rising from the ashes of One More Grain, and to the joy of penmen at this publication, Gyratory System have developed quite a reputation for innovative electro wizardry, straddling boundaries left, right and centre to widespread critical acclaim. ‘Utility Music’ is their third long-player, and it just may be that the trend has finally caught up with them – or at least there’s a wider market amenable to their off-kilter style.
Granted, ‘Utility Music’ is a little less frenetic, and consequently a little more accessible than its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean it’s by any means straightforward. Spaced out, far out and kaleidoscopic, ‘Utility Music’ sees Gyr atory System working to their strengths while continuing to develop in all directions, not least of all drafting in Katharine Blake, formerly of Miranda Sex Garden, to contribute vocals to a number of tracks.
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Atmospheric but with a definite sense of groove, the album lays down layers of interweaving synths, melding analogue fuzz with a crisper digital edge. ‘AAA’ brings space-age jazz together with flavours of far-eastern mysticism to weave magic on a third plane of consciousness. Jittery synths oscillate wildly in juxtaposition with a smooth sax and strolling funk-edged bass groove on ‘Thorney Island’, and the final track, the squelchy Kraftwerkian bibble of ‘This could be your party’ spirals and doodles for over 10 minutes. It’s certainly my kind of party. A cosmic groove sensation.
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