Jesu Sun Down / Sun Rise
Aurora Borealis ABX011 April 23, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Justin Broadrick is a very obsessed man. Thankfully his obsession is to the benefit of us all, Faithful Reader. Conqueror has grown on this writer throughout the year, revealing its sublties slowly. The limited split release between Jesu and Eluvium was just unleashed. Later this year, we are to expect another split, this time between Jesu and Battle of Mice. If that is not enough, an EP with none other than Jarboe is slated for late autumn. And yet here in this review, we look upon another EP from earlier this year, Sun Down / Sun Rise. Comprised of only two songs, yet totaling more than half an hour in length, Sun Down / Sun Rise simply cements Jesu[s standing as one of the more important bands to have emerged within the past few years.
Fans of Jesus self-titled album will be pleased. Both Sun Down and Sun Rise are nothing like the pop-oriented music of Silver or Conqueror. Both are built upon repetition, bringing to mind songs like Sun Day (a possible connection?) or perhaps even Friends are Evil. Also, like the self-titled album and Heart Ache, the vocals are secondary to the music. Forget the pop-like lyrics from the previous outings. The voice is an instrument built from emotion here, nothing more.
Sun Down is the better of the two sterling tracks, pulsing its way to the halfway mark, until giving way to a lush melody that will take you to the end. Sun Rise begins beautifully with a repeating melodious line, backed by constant distortion. By the time Broadricks vocals become part of the song, you most likely have already been mesmerized by beauty.
There really are no complaints to be made, though it would be nice to perhaps have these songs on digital format, so as to listen to them whilst driving towards that grand horizon. Sun Down / Sun Rise is Jesu at their best. The perfect music for a wondrous sunset or dawn.
Official Jesu Website
Official Aurora Borealis Website
Aurora Borealis ABX011 April 23, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Justin Broadrick is a very obsessed man. Thankfully his obsession is to the benefit of us all, Faithful Reader. Conqueror has grown on this writer throughout the year, revealing its sublties slowly. The limited split release between Jesu and Eluvium was just unleashed. Later this year, we are to expect another split, this time between Jesu and Battle of Mice. If that is not enough, an EP with none other than Jarboe is slated for late autumn. And yet here in this review, we look upon another EP from earlier this year, Sun Down / Sun Rise. Comprised of only two songs, yet totaling more than half an hour in length, Sun Down / Sun Rise simply cements Jesu[s standing as one of the more important bands to have emerged within the past few years.
Fans of Jesus self-titled album will be pleased. Both Sun Down and Sun Rise are nothing like the pop-oriented music of Silver or Conqueror. Both are built upon repetition, bringing to mind songs like Sun Day (a possible connection?) or perhaps even Friends are Evil. Also, like the self-titled album and Heart Ache, the vocals are secondary to the music. Forget the pop-like lyrics from the previous outings. The voice is an instrument built from emotion here, nothing more.
Sun Down is the better of the two sterling tracks, pulsing its way to the halfway mark, until giving way to a lush melody that will take you to the end. Sun Rise begins beautifully with a repeating melodious line, backed by constant distortion. By the time Broadricks vocals become part of the song, you most likely have already been mesmerized by beauty.
There really are no complaints to be made, though it would be nice to perhaps have these songs on digital format, so as to listen to them whilst driving towards that grand horizon. Sun Down / Sun Rise is Jesu at their best. The perfect music for a wondrous sunset or dawn.
Official Jesu Website
Official Aurora Borealis Website
