Puma Blue is back with his unique indie-pop and neo-soul sound in “Croak Dream.” Formally known as Jacob Allen, the artist dropped his new album on Thursday which featured a blend of beautiful melodies, abrasive sounds and a wave of euphoric nostalgia.
Coming off his previous album “Extchamber” released in 2025, which was an ambient and moody ride, “Croak Dream” kicks the dreamy sound into high gear. Quickly switching from loud electronic noises to beautiful jazz-inspired melodies, it feels like a daydream.
Allen dropped three singles from the album before its full release: “Desire,” “Croak Dream” and “Hush.” All three of these songs proved to be good teasers for what was to come, as they put into perspective what listeners should expect from Allen’s newest project. “Desire” was received well, with over 100,000 views since its release in late October 2025.
“Desire,” the first song, masterfully sets the tone for the rest of the album as an extremely moody song driven by a catchy recurring line that hooks you into a dreamlike state. The song is aptly named due to its focus on yearning and longing for a person. Slowly, the hook drowns everything out as it transitions into a pleading state; rather than a background adlib, it becomes the main focus, with Allen’s vocals enrapturing the listener until the end.
The album then utilizes a transitional song that hits the listener with a whiplash. Allen gives a monologue about uncertainty and being lost in the titular “Mister Lost.” The placement of this song directly after “Desire” adds to the dreamy sound he is known for, as listeners never know what is going to happen next.
“Mister Lost” transitions into the third song in the album, “Hold You.” Allen shows his creativity with electronic instrumentals, while slowly building up into a haunting crescendo to create an eerie and foreboding sound. Allen leans into his yearning and amorous lyrics about losing potential relationships.
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The song that uses Allen’s talents to their fullest potential is “Heaven Above, Hell Below.” Allen’s velvety vocals slowly open the song alongside a peaceful guitar melody. The instrumentals begin slowly, before the bass hits with sorrowful, serenading pleas saying: “When am I gonna die?” accompanied by the delightful melodies of the instrumentals. A beautiful juxtaposition of tragic vocals and melodic guitar, the track slowly fades out into Allen’s stylistically reversed vocals.
“Cocoons” is one of the most alluring songs in the album, exhibiting one of the strongest examples of Allen’s poetic writing. This track lulls you into an intimate embrace with lyrics like “Maybe that’s just where we’re supposed to be / Our bodies stinging ’til we fall asleep” to show deep connection and longing. Allen embraces the intimacy by using less abrasive instrumentals to engross the listener into the impression of not wanting to let go and cherishing the idea of physical touch..
Allen demonstrates his ability to diversify his own sound by not undermining who he is as an artist. Using the sound he has developed over the years of making music, he uses his own techniques well and doesn’t shy away from reusing and applying them differently.
In the album, Allen does a phenomenal job at ending on a cyclical tone. The final track, “Yearn Again,” enables the thoughts of fading relationships and how listeners are back in the position to desire and yearn for them once again.
Overall, the album is a wonderful listening experience and takes you on a blissfully tragic journey through heartbreak and yearning. From Allen’s angelic voice to his use of electronic sounds and soulful jazz instruments, he paints a portrait of who he is as an artist and displays it in full force for listeners to enjoy.
“Croak Dream” doesn’t stray too far away from what fans are used to, but carves out its own place in his discography. The 40-minute album is perfect for listeners who enjoy an ambient, dark and bewitching experience.
