Feux, the newest offering from the French jazz collective Theorem of Joy, led by bassist, composer, and arranger Thomas Julienne. And it is not merely a new album, it is a statement of artistic evolution, an act of borderless musical storytelling that deserves to be heard before the flood of fall releases crashes upon us like a sunlit wave cresting across the ocean.(...)

And yet, Feux marks something of a turning point: a project that feels not only sophisticated and finely honed, but also emotionally resonant and daringly open.(...)

At the heart of this latest project is the extraordinary voice of Raphaëlle Brochet, whose artistry alone could command a stage. Her vocal versatility and radiant originality allow her to move effortlessly between genres, infusing each piece with both technical mastery and poetic intuition. (...)

What Feux offers is more than a listening experience; it is an auditory cartography of modern uncertainty and wonder. Every track acts as a terrain of thought and emotion, where doubt meets hope, where light contends with shadow. The album invites introspection, yet remains remarkably accessible. Its multiplicity of influences doesn’t fracture the sound, it enriches it, embodying a genuinely global aesthetic. The musical bridge it builds between Europe and the Maghreb, between jazz tradition and contemporary exploration, is deliberate and defiant. In an era marked by retreat into insular identities, Feux speaks the language of openness.(...)

With this project, Thomas Julienne proves once again that he is one of the most thoughtful and singular composers of his generation. Tireless in his work ethic, unafraid to challenge form, and continually evolving, Julienne crafts albums not as products but as worlds unto themselves.(...)

It is, in this sense, a radical album, not for its aggression, but for its grace. It dares to believe in a world where borders can be musically dissolved, and where complexity can be beautiful rather than overwhelming.