Whilst the band is the first to admit there was no conscious decision to theme this 6-track EP around a single idea, on reflection, a message of determination, of staying the course, of seeing things through to the end connects all the songs here. I guess that sometimes you only see the full picture in hindsight, that your subliminal thoughts bubble to the surface even without you consciously engaging with them.
Although very much driven by no small amount of rock energy, it is the other sounds, styles, and ideas that Blueprint Tokyo adds to the mix that give Dark New Days its signature sound, one that perfects a balance of both familiarity and freshness.
Take opener “Orange Tiger” for example: a heady, hushed blend of drive and late-night vibes, pop-aware moves, and polished rock-and-roll grooves, which proves a great way to set the scene for what is to follow.
For all the swathes of gritty guitar and driving bass that is the engine room of “Here’s Your Story,” the edge-softening synths and ornate sonics keep it out of the realms of the obvious and push it into a wonderfully liminal space where the big meets the clever, where the artistic dances with the anthemic.
“Art of Betrayal” uncovers a slight new wave post-punk pop influence just as readily as it reveals the sort of songwriting chops that compare favorably with the likes of The Killers or Kaiser Chiefs, and “Nite Valerie” rounds things off with a soft and synth-infused, yet quietly brooding, in both the sonic and sentimental sense, slice of brilliance.
Blueprint Tokyo walks an interesting line, one between the cultish and the commercial, between the infectious and the intelligent, between the musically powerful and the sonically poised. Not a bad place to find yourself, if you ask me.
Website
Facebook
Bandcamp
YouTube
Instagram
