JESU

This album is somewhat of an enigma. It manages to combine breathtaking beauty and solemnity, and yet manages to miss vital chords when really needed. In short, only Jesu or post-rock/metal followers will probably appreciate this album; such sentiments are not born of snobbery or elitism (heaven forbid), but rather that the forces which shape the subjective aspects of 'beauty' here are wide open to individual contestation.

What all that nonsense means, is that Ascension is an intermittent album, a bipolar mash, a dualist work that swings between the dizzy heights of the upbeat 'Sedatives' and the crushing depths of 'Small Wonder'. Broderick's trademark production and dense layering is as dreamlike as ever, and the thick, bordering upon fuzzy drone is still there too. However, due to an unusual mix, things can be hit or miss. For example, the percussion sounds like it was recorded in a garden shed, and the vocals are hidden so far beneath the mix that all extraneous sounds wash over them with silencing waves of distortion. Now, I can see that the vocals were intentionally mixed low, giving them perhaps a forlorn, or weak vibe. This works surprisingly well on some tracks, giving them an almost Nick Drake fragility and atmosphere. However, they are too often lost beneath the monolithic layers of sound, making their comprehension an added difficulty and challenge. Mixing aside, the song writing is very one paced, and suitably depressing. The music is by no means crushing, but it does ooze melancholia, not in the forthright manner that many alternative artists attempt, but in a lyrically subtle and poetic way. While this doesn't save the album entire from the patchy recording, it pays to let the sound wash over you, rather than succumbing to the cynical and nit-picky ultra- clean Pro Tools user inside you.

When Broderick sings with a meek and atonal tone "only in dreams will we take flight" you can honestly feel his expression; it's just too bad Ascension seems to have been sabotaged by a patchy mix, for it contains some of the more tasteful and interesting music Jesu have created.

3.5 stars, rounded up to four, given the brilliance of a few movements.

In terms of what I was expecting from this 2009 Jesu EP, I pretty much got what I'd banked upon. It goes without saying to any fans of the 'genre', that a Justin Broadrick release will be drenched in drugged out, fuzzy warm tones and gleaming metallic edges. Indeed, 'Opiate Sun' is Jesu, right down to the drone-tempo melodic phrasing.

While there should be nothing here to offend listeners, it does to an extent come across as post-metal/whatever by numbers. It's more dynamic and visceral than your average drone, but it's hardly as pounding, nor 'pushy' as one may come to expect. Nonetheless, Broadrick's compositions are mature and well placed, not to mention characteristically dense. The only track to properly stand out beyond the melodious hum, is the closer 'Morning Light', which is assisted by a more dynamic and versatile approach. Indeed, it only highlights what Opiate Sun could have been - instead of adventurous, what we have here is graceful, mellow, melancholic music, that with a little extra spice could be otherworldly. And we all know Broadrick has it in him to deliver brilliance, so I'll await the next release to hopefully see this actualised. A solid, if a little underwhelming release. Along with this year's latest Earth release, drone looks set to prosper!

Progressive? Maybe, perhaps. Brilliant? Without a doubt. First let me adress this little issue, Jesu are not necesarily Prog and even I (a HUGE fan) am not sure that they belong on this website, they tend to fall more on the Shoegaze side of the spectrum rather than the Post/Prog side. Jesu are one of my all time favorite bands, and to me this is their definative work if this were not an exclusivly prog site I would not think twice to give this five stars, but this site constantly asks me not to hand out fives and I will comply. Now as for the music! I absolutely adore Jesus fuzzy distorted powerfull guitar, lumbering drums, crushing bass and evocative samples and on this EP they are at their best. Silver is a brilliant song it has perfect melody and warm fuzzy timbre that combines with the slow burning vocals and emotional lyrics to form my favorite all time feel good song. Whenever I am down and need a spritual uplifting track Silver is the song i reach for most often. I actually can not say enough good things about this song. Silver may be the weakest song on the EP, but even then it is still verry good. It is a little more upbeat wich gives it an almost post-hardcore or emo vibe but unlike most post-hardcore songs it has interesting insturmentation and great use of samples. The last two songs Wolves and Dead eyes really blend together to me forming a wonderfull suite of hypnotic fuzz and rythim that envelopes the listener and resonates with the mind. These two songs together put me in a mood that only the greates Post-Rock and Kraut can. The way in wich Jesu achieves this sensation is totally different though as they rely more on the counterpoint between the textures of synthetic laptop loops and the immediacy of fuzzy melting guitar riffs. These must be heard to be understood.

Again, I would give this five stars but in the realm of progressive rock I simply can not consider it essential.

Wonderful modern shoegaze.

Jesu's second album represents a brilliant blend of post rock, indie and shoegaze sensibilities. The sound here is unique and distinct, and works brilliantly within nearly pop-based song structures to create a maze of guitar chugs and lush vocal work. Jesu creates a near masterpiece full of spacey and open and flawlessly links distorted, downtuned guitar with octaved keyboard chords and heavy drummery.

The album is repetitive in parts, but is always incredibly beautiful even in its heavier moments; this is no mean feat, as many bands who work around guitar chug rhythms fail to create truly heartwrenching tunes like these without resorting to boring cliches and unnatural sounding emotion. What we are essentially given here is an hour of heavy post rock, with distinct textures and atmospheres to help define and separate this band.

This album is brilliant to space out to, featuring heavy use of delays and reverbs to create dense sound mazes. The opening track features a very post-rock sound, without reverting to the typical stereotypes many associate with the genre. Throughout it's 58 minutes, there are moments of beauty (Conqueror) great sadness (Weightless & Horizontal) and melancholy regret (Medicine). The lyrics on this album are incredibly noteworthy, memorable, beautiful and appropriate to the music. Take the lyrics from the longest piece, Weightless & Horizontal for example:

Try not to lose yourself I'm way past trying I'm way past caring I'm way past hoping

Try not to lose yourself You're always needing You're always hoping Wash away your tears

Try not to lose yourself

Truly poetic and beautiful, these lyrics are heartwrenching when combined with the brilliant melody and guitar work on this track.

Although brilliant in many places, this work unfortunately falls short of true greatness, and does not strike me as a masterpiece, but remains a brilliant modern album.

4 stars.

Would someone write a review for this poor album? I think I will.

Not the greatest piece of work I've ever heard but it still makes for a fairly pleasent listening experience. The almost ambient-metal this thing is really blew my mind first listen but second time (this is a flaw) it got boring.

The piece itself is a massive and epic piece of work which should recieve some credit for the sheer almost metaphorical willpower it displays. From doom metal vocals to slow ambient parts to heavy guitars that seemingly emanate into your ears, this thing trudges on for nearly 50 minutes on one wild trip.

Good recording, only problem:

First listen = WOW Second listen = Meh...

After hearing the album "Conqueror" I went to the "Silver" EP, as it's generally one of their most acclaimed releases. But I was disappointed, not only it remains exactly the same sound and style as "Conqueror" as the music here seems to be much more uninspired.

The EP kicks in with "Silver", the beginning with some kind of classic instrumental (I would give it a shot but I don't want to miss the target), making a very beautiful melody, well at first I didn't like this song, but it has grown on me and it's really really beautiful, although the chorus ("silver is just another gold") always in repeat ends boring me a little. My big problem with "Silver" comes next, "Star", is the last thing you could expect from Jesu. It is a upbeat and happy song and is driven by the most annoying and off-place drum beat ever! The melodies are also uninteresting and the songs seems totally off of the context of the EP, or even of the context of the band...

"Wolves" is next and comes back to the traditional sound of the band, although even slower than usual, it's a very pretty and minimal song, not outstanding but very good. And finally "Dead Eyes", it's a mostly electronic closer to the EP, interesting but it never really caught me...

It's a good release, but it seems lacking inspiration and "Star" really ruins it for me, however, even being in the same vein of "Conqueror" it is much more varied than that one.

The tags that are usually given to Jesu's music are usually, in my opinion, very wrong: Jesu is not post-rock, it is not drone and I can't really see where in the world could this be doom metal. I know, it's one of their releases and I haven't listened to the early works, but really, this is shoegaze, in its noisy and depressing tradition.

The first two songs are the most straight-forward ones, and they are quite good, the first few notes of the album are very gorgeous and build up very well. Then come the calmer songs, and my two favorite ones, both "Transfigure" and "Weightless & Horizontal" have achingly beautiful melodies and very dreamy instrumental, really delightful music.

The album is pretty regular and contains more beautiful music ("Bright Eyes"), but it doesn't vary a lot, I guess there's not too much to vary after all in this kind of music. Anyway, a beautiful album and definitely a must-ear for fans of depressive, sparse and dreamy music.