hydra head splits with temporary residence

i'm sure anyone who even randomly keeps plugged in to current trends in music would know exactly the kind of talent that both hydra head and temporary residence horde these days. they've started a really great idea that has seemingly gone rather well so far where they are pairing up artists from both labels to do split EP releases.

mono/pelican SPLIT

the first is a split between mono and pelican. both are amazing post-rock and post-metal bands respectively. both are instrumental. both have a very worthy back catalog of releases. there is no reason to not listen to this.

jesu/eluvium SPLIT

the second, and most recent, release from this series of cross-label splits is between eluvium and jesu. while eluvium crosses a deserted field of grunge and dirt with the most beautiful and romantic cinematic themes imaginable, jesu has taken that same field and thrown in the ashes of discarded and lonely shoegaze pop bliss. the mixture of these two makes for one very satisfying listen. for me personally, this is the best material released by jesu since the silver EP was released in 2006. the three jesu tracks are gritty, dirty but accessible and absolutely wonderful at the same time. the single 20 minute track from eluvium is what you would expect. a shimmering journey into the atmosphere between reality and the unknown, courtesy of drones and sounds washing over you ever so gently. the ghostly piano notes creep into your mind just as you are becoming uncertain of where you are, comforting your inner being. although you become satisfied with the comfort level that the piano establishes, soon enough a thicker, more sinister wash of sound begins to overflow and a sense of drowning begins to settle in just before the track disappears into the air.