"Abby Helasdottir has been creating music since 1995 under the name Gydja (an Old Norse
word for 'priestess'). Initially, the aim of the project was to create music that could be used for
magickal and shamanic purposes. Some of the earliest ideas involved using field recordings,
and basing whole pieces on these sounds in a largely unprocessed way. This is still a
concern of Gydja, but with more emphasis now being placed on abstracting these sounds so
that, whilst they retain a sense of their original source, they become something else entirely.
The current style of Gydja differs from the initial intentions of the project, with music of both
a mundane and magickal nature being created. And whilst the music is usually linear and
could be defined as a soundscape, it is also not necessarily always dark ambient in style,
embracing electro-acoustic and experimental techniques. Works designed specifically for
magickal use sit alongside explorations of sound for sound's sake; and in a third tier, some
exploration of sound contain magickal themes, even if there is no practical magickal
application intended.
Consisting of two long tracks and clocking at about fifty minutes, Helchemy is Gydja's latest
full-length work at the time of writing, and we're happiest to release it as part of the AFE
catalogue. The album title is a portmanteau combining the name of Hela, Germanic
goddess of the dead, and the art of alchemy. As such, it considers the way in which imagery
associated with alchemy can be related to Hela, particularly the motif of a venomous black
toad that is found in many alchemical tracts. Beginning with synthesized soft atmospheres,
the opening 'The Spirit of the Earth With Venom Intoxicate' gains an aquatic feeling in its
first movement. Pads are paired with ring-modulated effects and then the music evolves into
a more mysterious cauldron filled with ritual percussions and bells. A gentle melody -
resembling a plucked guitar or another string instrument - emerges for a while in the middle
section before disappearing in synth bubbles. A flute theme is briefly introduced and then
reappears later as the track is constantly transformed until reaching its final stage. 'The Black
Sea, The Black Lune, The Black Soll' starts in a simple percussive way with various bell-like
sounds layered on synth flows and more unclear background micro events. Slightly distorted
elements are added to the mix and the music seems to get aggressive for a while, before
returning to a more reassuring mood. Water samples, field-recordings and other sounds
resembling animal activities guide the listener through another transformational process.
Music gets darken as percussions return and more sound effects create a disquieting
atmosphere. A human voice suddenly appear to introduce the last movement, a more
minimal ending filled with morbid synth lines and assorted percussive sounds.
As an album concept, Helchemy is something that the author has explored for several years,
creating a version of the release based on cassette experiments in the late nineties. Nothing
of this version appears in the current incarnation, but the themes which first initiated the idea
are there." (AFE)
word for 'priestess'). Initially, the aim of the project was to create music that could be used for
magickal and shamanic purposes. Some of the earliest ideas involved using field recordings,
and basing whole pieces on these sounds in a largely unprocessed way. This is still a
concern of Gydja, but with more emphasis now being placed on abstracting these sounds so
that, whilst they retain a sense of their original source, they become something else entirely.
The current style of Gydja differs from the initial intentions of the project, with music of both
a mundane and magickal nature being created. And whilst the music is usually linear and
could be defined as a soundscape, it is also not necessarily always dark ambient in style,
embracing electro-acoustic and experimental techniques. Works designed specifically for
magickal use sit alongside explorations of sound for sound's sake; and in a third tier, some
exploration of sound contain magickal themes, even if there is no practical magickal
application intended.
Consisting of two long tracks and clocking at about fifty minutes, Helchemy is Gydja's latest
full-length work at the time of writing, and we're happiest to release it as part of the AFE
catalogue. The album title is a portmanteau combining the name of Hela, Germanic
goddess of the dead, and the art of alchemy. As such, it considers the way in which imagery
associated with alchemy can be related to Hela, particularly the motif of a venomous black
toad that is found in many alchemical tracts. Beginning with synthesized soft atmospheres,
the opening 'The Spirit of the Earth With Venom Intoxicate' gains an aquatic feeling in its
first movement. Pads are paired with ring-modulated effects and then the music evolves into
a more mysterious cauldron filled with ritual percussions and bells. A gentle melody -
resembling a plucked guitar or another string instrument - emerges for a while in the middle
section before disappearing in synth bubbles. A flute theme is briefly introduced and then
reappears later as the track is constantly transformed until reaching its final stage. 'The Black
Sea, The Black Lune, The Black Soll' starts in a simple percussive way with various bell-like
sounds layered on synth flows and more unclear background micro events. Slightly distorted
elements are added to the mix and the music seems to get aggressive for a while, before
returning to a more reassuring mood. Water samples, field-recordings and other sounds
resembling animal activities guide the listener through another transformational process.
Music gets darken as percussions return and more sound effects create a disquieting
atmosphere. A human voice suddenly appear to introduce the last movement, a more
minimal ending filled with morbid synth lines and assorted percussive sounds.
As an album concept, Helchemy is something that the author has explored for several years,
creating a version of the release based on cassette experiments in the late nineties. Nothing
of this version appears in the current incarnation, but the themes which first initiated the idea
are there." (AFE)
artist: GYDJA
title: Helchemy
label: AFE
country: Italy
format: CDR
title: Helchemy
label: AFE
country: Italy
format: CDR
