Pussygutt

Pussygutt is a two-piece ambient droning doom outfit. Well, not exactly but a more accurate description may be given as Pussygutt is a group that works their magic with two actual members and a revolving cast of collaborators as its two masterminds (Brittany McConnell and Blake Green) see fit. She Hid Behind Her Veil is the third album from the group and is one in which Pussygutt further pushes the envelope of their sound by laying out a single forty-five minute track while still incorporating elements that the band has traversed in the past.

She Hid Behind Her Veil shows a great deal of promise initially with sheets of guitar noise combining with some eerie guitar tones to create a tense listening experience; the amount of low end bass sound is particularly exquisite when one’s stereo system can handle the rumbling and sub-harmonics. The keyboard sounds add a texture to the piece that acts as an excellent counterpoint to the rumble of the low end growl, but the keys also provide a soothing salve to the ears for some of the ear splitting high end guitars. Although there is no traditional percussion evident on the record, Pussygutt somehow manages to still provide percussive moments that the other instruments rally around from time to time. The tempos which the group puts to use throughout She Hid Behind Her Veil are not as lethargic as I was expecting, and this aspect of the group keeps the composition moving pretty well in an almost narrative manner. The use of stringed instrumentation provides some highlights during the track and is definitely worth hearing how Pussygutt incorporates them into the textures, which they build up on the record.

Traversing a sonic territory not unlike Sunn O))) and other drone outfits, Pussygutt surely gives listeners quite a bit to dip their ears and minds into with She Hid Behind Her Veil, and while the band may not be completely original, they do offer sonic textures and use methods that does give them a bit of a unique voice. The strings that Pussygutt use add a particularly large jolt to the overall quality of the music as they provide a virtually plaintive quality to the sound, which is a huge bonus and something that drone outfits almost never attempt (at least none that I have heard yet), bringing a welcome new aspect to the genre.

7.9 / 10 — Bob