free download: jules born’s ‘memorybilia’ ep finds strength in nostalgia and beauty in defeat #soundcheck

Beneath a wave of reverb, electro-soul synth wobbles are corroded by distorted drums and guitars. Jules Born’s smooth voice and the wide open liquid chords with the aggressive guitars give the impression of looking at the remains of an ancient sea battle a mile beneath the water. That’s the picture of Jules Born’s latest EP ‘Memorybilia’. It’s beautiful, it’s haunting, and it screams of mortality, pain, and regret.

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

From the washed out synths of ‘7:30 AM (Intro)’ to the mutated pianos of ‘Ask Someone’, Jules Born’s songs are an exercise in ambiance overwhelming and short circuiting his neo soul inclinations. On ‘All I Know (Got To Be)’, it’s hard to hear the chorus of ‘This is all I know / It’s got to be love’, set in front of a backdrop of chaotic synths and distorted bass, as anything other than ironic. Or at least the overwhelming chaos belies a semi-self-destructive definition of love.

The one-two-punch of standouts ‘They Love To Shoot Us’ and ‘Missouri Loves Company’ glance sideways at recent tragedies, but always viewed through Jules Born’s memory haze. “They say misery loves company / I’ma hide in the sky till it comes for me” is the irresistible urge to retreat in the face of unfathomable bullshit. This ocean swept, sun stained EP finds beauty in defeat, and strength in the overwhelming pull of nostalgia.

Download the EP for free via Jules Born’s website. (http://julesborn.com/)