Jesu-Why Are We Not Perfect?

So the new Jesu EP has appeared on the heels of two other releases just this year: splits with both Japanese hardcore-turned-post-rock legends Envy and post-metal supergroup Battle of Mice, on Daymare and Robotic Empire respectively. Clearly, if there's one thing mastermind Justin K. Broadrick is known for it's being prolific. But in actuality the new one contains Jesu's three contributions to the now-oop split with Matthew Cooper's Eluvium project, put out by arguably the best extant label, Temporary Residence Limited--Warp boasts an impressive resume as well, but isn't as diverse--along with two alternate versions thereof.

I had neither heard the Eluvium split's songs--I guess the similar album artwork should have tipped me off--nor knew what tracks comprised this album. And after being elated at the brilliance and much-welcomed tempo variation of the Envy split's tracks, and subsequently underwhelmed by the Battle of Mice effort, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Well, unfortunately after one listen to Why Are We Not Perfect? it seems that Broadrick should have spent less time putting this split together and more either on the Battle of Mice tracks or on a longer upcoming release of new material. It's just that what made the Envy compositions so striking was that they substituted IDM beats for the usual drone percussion. All but one of the tracks are definately pleasant enough to listen to, but they don't depart much from the sound explored competently on Conqueror and Silver, and in my opinion don't achieve the transcendence of Jesu's best work to date--the aforementioned Envy songs. The second track, "Blind and Faithless," however, is essential; although you won't get quite the electronic vibe of the tracks on the Envy split I keep gizzing over, you will get to witness Broadrick remain uptempo while doing his best My Bloody Valentine impression--instrumentally at least.

So, you can either download "Blind and Faithless," "download the Eluvium split, or download this split and delete the other tracks--assuming, of course, that you share my opinion. I would both tell you to go for the Eluvium option and not to bother with the Batte of Mice one, but I can't do that because I dig both those bands/haven't listened to their splits' material yet.