Jesu
Pale Sketches
Avalanche Inc. (2007)
Pale Sketches is the second full-length that Jesu has released this year, and it marks an important step for Justin Broadrick. Broadrick started recording new material following the demise of his long running group Godflesh that would become Jesu. Over time he amassed quite a bit of songs and other musical pieces. Earlier this year, he decided to release the leftover material following two full-lengths (2004's Jesu and Conqueror from earlier this year), four EPs (2003's Heart Ache, 2006's Silver, Sun Down/Sun Rise from earlier this year, and the recently released Lifeline) as well as two split releases (one with Eluvium earlier this year on Temporary Residence/Hydra Head and another to be released sometime in the near future with Battle of Mice on Robotic Empire). The result of this clearing of the reserves is Pale Sketches, which Broadrick chose to kick off his resurrected Avalanche Inc. record label. This is a surprisingly strong collection of songs for a bunch of "throwaway" tracks and unfinished ideas. Yes, the songs tend to be simple but that simplicity seems to work in its favor; Pale Sketches sounds more relaxed and reserved than Jesu normally does. The album opens with the surreal "Don't Dream … Read more
Bark Bark Bark
Haunts
Retard Disco (2007)
Jacob Cooper, the solo man of Bark Bark Bark, is quite an ambitious fellow. Though, I regret to say that … Read more
