Jensen-Zero One ‘Redux’ (EP)

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 January 2014 20:49 Written by Pagan Hel

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Artist: Jensen

EP Title: Zero One ‘Redux’ 5 Track E.P

Label: Armalyte

Released: January 27th, 2014

From: Leeds

Genre: Melodic Electronic Punk

Press release:

Stadium-sized choruses clashed with undercurrents of rage and self-loathing, all central themes of the discordant Being championed by the likes of Kerrang!, Rock Sound and Big Cheese, and securing support slots with such high profile acts as The Blackout, Funeral For a Friend and Gallows, it appeared that Yorkshire scream-core outfit Ourfamous Dead had their ascent through the rock stratosphere all mapped out. Except that these kinds of things don’t necessarily go to plan. Following the release of their ‘Claws at the Door’ single, which received extensive airtime on Kerrang! TV at the time vocalist Andrew Jensen knew it was time for change, and took the difficult decision to transform Ourfamous Dead into something greater. Returning to the studio to work alone, Andrew focussed on tracks that had long lain dormant, which, with the aid of some studio wizardry, soon sprang to life in the form of bold audio sculptures, nuanced with depth and shadow.

The fear of failure combined with the sense of loss and despair at having potentially made a massive error of judgement was channelled into something that would become much greater than he could ever have conceived, noise that was soon to escape. Jensen emerged into the light with the three completed tracks – ‘Ghosts’ , ‘The Corruptor’ and ‘Stars’ - originally released as the ‘Zero One’ EP in early 2013. Determined to bring the songs to life beyond the studio, a live band has been recruited consisting of former Our Famous Dead members: Vier Jennings, Simon Green and Robin Speight. With Jensen now a fully-fledged outfit, rehearsals are currently taking place for a string of live dates in early 2014. In addition, Andrew Jensen is also currently in the process of recording the debut Jensen album at his own studio, The Hellion Corporation, Leeds.

To celebrate Jensen joining the ever-expanding Armalyte roster, their ‘Zero One’ EP has been fully re-mastered and supplemented with two additional tracks; a cover of Duran Duran’s explosive ‘Wild Boys’ plus a remix of the track ‘Ghosts’ by acclaimed Scottish maths/electronica retro-futurist duo I!. Retitled ‘Zero One [Redux]’, the E.P will be available as a free download from Monday 27^th January, to coincide with the release of a new promo video for their ‘Wild Boys’ cover.

Ghosts

Tagged as melodic electronic punk, I think this sums them up perfectly as the music does create a melodic feel, and certainly that electronic pounding is ever present. However the distortion on this track does get rather irritating as it takes away its intensity and does not allow it to breathe, but rather chokes it.

The Corruptor

This track possesses a positive response to its muscular melee, but again far too much overshadowing distortion lessens its ferocious intensity. It does however contain some serious ambiance in its wake which in turn does carry a lot of intrigue making the listener aware that something is going on that is worthy of further listening.

Stars

Sculpted with an engaging vocal that has more than a hint of punk attached to it and this is where the punk feel ends and the electronic expanse takes over. It spawns a catchy chorus, but again far too much distortion masks its rawness.

Wild Boys

This track taken from Duran Duran is smothered in familiarity as you would expect, providing you have heard the original and again cloaked in hideous distortion so unable to enjoy it properly in all its glory. It is like listening to the band through a wall whilst in another room.

Ghosts (I! have a Ouija Board Remix)

Gives off an eerie rampage of ghostly sounds with notably less distortion which allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in its flames of passion. Although a riveting track, I feel it has now come too late on in the E.P.

To Sum up:

That was a little disappointing truth be told, but only due to the ample distortion displayed on four of the tracks, that do not allow the band to represent themselves fully. If you can listen past that, then what the band have created is imaginative and they have made that Duran track their own with thundering riffs and towering electronic rhythms.

I wouldn’t give up on Jensen yet though as I feel they do have potential but would say that hiding behind a lot of distortion is a very bad idea. Whether it was done intentionally I have no idea, but no matter how much you turn the dials on your speakers nothing seems crisp, so it just bombards the aural with fluffy edges that take away from the true intensity that I am sure the band wanted to create.

Rating: 7/10

Take a listen:The Corruptor