Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came, the new album from Jesu has been over two years In the making, partly for the passionate intent and adventure explored upon it and equally for the creative vehicles band main man Justin K Broadrick has been involved with. As always the musician has been heavily engaged with numerous projects since the release of previous album Ascension, most notably with the reunion of Godflesh as well as masterminding remixes for the likes of Mogwai and Cult Of Luna. The new album reveals that Broadrick has been no slouch with his own solo project and its evolution though, the Avalanche released Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came seemingly with a fresh appetite for the exploration of even darker intensive emotive depths but transferring that somber flight into a magnetically reassuring and potently hued closer to home provocation which initiates self-appraisal and reflective thought in experiences and shadowed corners of the psyche.
The dark adventure starts with Homesick, a rapaciously draining expanse soaked in melancholic intensity, where from within gnawing away behind the melodic temptation, riffs soak the ear and thoughts in drone spawned predation. It is an enthralling mix of raw yet measured rabidity and shoegaze mesmerism which intimidates and seduces simultaneously whilst its consuming breath ridden by the mellow coated vocals of Broadrick, permeates every pore of thought and imagination. As across the whole album there is plenty going on within the riveting textures and depths of the song; a wealth of open shadows and secretive light which unveil their presence with further ventures through the magnificent opener.
Comforter is a thick almost tempestuous flame of ethereal enslavement, though with hungry intensity and a snarling touch to its meditative brawl of warmth. Like its predecessor the track is an evolving exploration with a shifting emotional narrative and sirenesque presence, and at times as menacing within its smouldering discord wrapped ingenuity. The invention of the track is startling and in many ways such its uncompromising twists and ideas should not flow as magnificently and poetically as it does. As the track takes the mind deep into its provocative crevices the suggestion that this is the finest Jesu moment to date is loud and as the album continues to impress it is hard to raise much in the way of argument.
The moody resonating bass croon and metronomic beats which open up Everyday immediately seduce, a deepening of that hook secured with the post punk seeded guitar sonic colouring which adds its bewitching voice soon after to the wonderfully repetitive stroll of the rhythmic inducement. It is more of a stalking really which vocals and guitar taunt and skirt with their My Bloody Valentine/Joy Division like acidic beauty. It is a masterful entrapment for the passions with every hue and flavour of bait needed to solicit the imagination and ardour.
Exceeding seventeen minutes in length, The Great Leveller is an epic passage in its own right within the colossal emotional examination of Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came. Also featuring the bewitching skills of Nicola Manzan who provides a powerful stringed narrative across what seems a close and personal exploration for Broadrick, the orchestral guided evocation of emotionally immersive tides is a breath-taking landscape and sludge entrenched journey which only rewards as in a sense it suffocates the mind and soul into deep thought and investigation. The song is arguably overlong though it feels like its presence is far less than it actually is, but that is down to personal reactions rather than the track labouring at any point, a preference which would have conversely preferred Homesick to have stayed around longer. The extensive track is ultimately a masterful experience, in craft and effect which only elevates the album to another exhausting plateau of satisfaction.
Closing with the entrancing yet menacing Grey Is The Colour, another irresistible search of thoughts and emotions, Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came is a sensational encounter which only time and numerous travels fully reveals all its remarkable depths and incitement. Broadrick maybe be back with Godflesh to stir up the psyche but right now there is here a more eager appetite for Jesu.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justin-K-Broadrick/
9/10
RingMaster 23/09/2013
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