Heartache reviews

Former Godflesh mastermind runs amp back to 11

For a moment it seemed like it was all over. When Justin Broadrick dissolved Godflesh after Hymns' faltering sign off in 2001, it was scarecely a fitting end for someone who had consistently forced superweight guitar obvlivion into submission for thirteen years. And however rewarding his forays into the electronic abyss with Techno Animal and Final proved, it always felt like an unfinished business as far as the propagation of the Seismic Riff was concerned.

Evidently Broadrick agrees, as he's embraced the power of the amp once more with Jesu, his first post-Godflesh rock outing. As the granite crush heaves its way out of the speakers, this is familiar territory, but crucially one that's not rooted in the past. Instead, Jesu is something of a rebirth. The heaviness remains, but the desperate rage and sense of self annihilation have given way to more melancholic, redemptive leanings, finally allowing Broadrick's ideas to breathe.

Eschewing track divisions for two separate twenty-minute movements, Heartache is a celebration of sound both technically and creatively. It's massive, clear and saturated - things Godflesh never quite achieved - and it sounds fiercely beautiful. Broadrick's contemporaries have long managed to harness the aggression and density of his six-string assaults, but there has always been far more depth and color to his palette. And Jesu is a vision of rock music as strong on the symphonic, the minimalist, and the skull-shatteringly heavy. Long live the new flesh.

by Markku

Upon hearing Jesu, the first thing in mind is, that the whole career of Broadrick since the beginning of Godflesh, has consciously or not, been an attempt to express all the undefinable, wordless emotions that he has, that we all have. Emotions that go deeper than the words "love", "hate", "sadness", "hope." Emotions born from the sheer existence. Whether it has been a drug-induced paranoia, love or anger, that has driven him in his work, emotions created by his music are collective, shared and primal and yet divine, insane and noble, all at the same time. Truly communication in all languages.

Broadrick has always been good in creating unique emotions, sounds that reach deep into listeners subconscious. With Jesu, he has grown even more powerful in this art, and yet more subtle. I personally hope that this ep is close in sound to the actual album, for the way this ep sounds, is what I hoped to hear from Godflesh. It's no suprise that the two projects that Broadrick is focusing now are Jesu and Final, since they seem to be the one's that deal with these undescribed emotions the best.

Music moves with a great timing, constantly changing subtly. There has been some speculation with some listeners at the first spins that music sounds bit "cut/paste", but I didn't notice it. In my ears, it moves smoothly and with great sense of style and time. Production is crystal clear and what I noticed instantly, was Broadrick's voice. Perhaps it's the production, or effects, or maybe not, his voice sounds more stronger than ever, and his singing has improved.

Music itself is deep, emotional, powerful and psychedelic in it's own special way. What more can I say? This is music that will be remembered.

I have become a believer, for I have found Jesu.