Concentration on the essential, precision of expression: what Julian Braun alias Jules Ahoi succeeds in doing on “Melancholic Dreamwave” is the preliminary culmination of his development as author and composer, musician and singer. Music has accompanied him since he was three years old. He learned piano, drums, guitar, rummaged through his parents” record collection with an adventurous spirit of discovery, and began writing his own songs quite early. His new album is the eighth he has recorded as a singer/songwriter. Thanks to the reduction to what is absolutely necessary from an artistic point of view, it contains the essence that makes Jules Ahoi so unique as an artist: compositions between classical song writing and delightful experimentation; lyrics
fed by his own experiences and adventures that become interesting for the listener
as they deal with big topics that concern us all - and they do so in a coded and powerful enough way to pose riddles, trigger associations
and initiate trains of thought
even on repeated listening.
The use of old drum machines from the 70s runs through the entire album, forming its musical backbone. “Melancholic Dreamwave” is not a concept album in the prog rock sense, but it forms a unit. Nothing occurs by chance. “U Bloom, Still” being followed by “To Make A Heart Beat”, a potential hit with subtle pop appeal, makes it just as effective as the dramaturgy of the last third of the album. The record really picks up speed with “Lost In The Light”, a homage to The Police, Ahoi’s favourite band, before it closes with the title track. The ulterior motive: even a wave has to build up first.
“Melancholic Dreamwave” refers to the gyroscopes of thought that drag you down and prevent you from falling asleep. In keeping with the subject matter, Jules Ahoi has conceived the song as a stream of consciousness, another example of the artful interplay of content and form. It is the final exclamation point of an album full of wonderful melodies and clever decisions that is endlessly enjoyable to listen to providing you with plenty of food for discovery and thought. Over and over again.
