Jesu - Why Are We Not Perfect

Rating

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RIYL

Kayo Dot
Pelican
Godflesh
Cult of Luna

Tracklist

1. Farewell
2. Blind and Faithless
3. Why Are We Not Perfect?
4. Farewell (Alternative Version)
5. Why Are We Not Perfect? (Alternative Version)

Users Rating

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3 ratings

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Justin Broderick is a musical genius in his own twisted, ambient way. Since the breakup of his former band Godflesh, he’s been creating ambient and experimental music under the title of Jesu. As Jesu, Broderick pours out thick and luscious textures and layers to create song after song of music too in depth to be ambient, too heavy to be shoegaze, and too mellow to be doom. This is background music for those who hate background music, or active listening background music, whatever you want to call it.

The songs contained within the plastic that creates Why Are We Not Perfect are oldies, but goodies. The record contains three songs previously released only on the Eluvium split and two remixes. Starting with a base of ambient electronics, Jesu slowly adds and adds, a heavy bass line, a smooth drum beat, soft distant and fading vocals, a high pitched key held down on a keyboard. It doesn’t sound like they fit together, and to some, they may not. To those who get what Jesu does, to those who buy into Justin Broderick’s personal and beautiful bastardization of musical form, Why Are We Not Perfect is a must have. It’s a chance to own tracks previously only available in vinyl format (which is where Jesu sounds truly the best anyways).

To make any attempt to explain what this band does wouldn’t do them justice. The title track off of this record, “Why Are We Not Perfect”, is a complete force. This song is as close to perfect as this type of music can get. It’s a smooth track -- six and a half minutes of genius. This EP is solid gold.

--Shane Matthew Stiles

Author

ShaneMatthew
Last updated: 09/29/2009 09:01PM

Comments

sir mix-a-lot
10/09/2008
05:49PM
Location
Sacramento, CA
this review should have nitpicked this album to death. for obvious reasons.

I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.

Originally stated by Scott Miller
It's like talking into a mirror!
Rick Gebhardt
10/09/2008
07:03PM
Age: 32
Location
Minnesota
Yeah, I will listen to pretty much anything Jesu, but this was a little ho-hum in comparison to the majority of the rest of their catalog.

Find me EVERYWHERE:




theDrivingSnow
10/10/2008
12:13AM
While "Blind and Faithless" is a great song, this release doesn't merit such a high score simply because it's just a repackaging.

Aside from the aforementioned song, the ones on the Envy split are soooo much better.

It's blowin' cool outside today...