Blueprint Tokyo – Blue EP

“Blue” is the latest release by Blueprint Tokyo, an outstanding indie duo based in Oklahoma City. Consisting of five exceptional songs, this marvelous extended play arrives right after “Mission Control,” an excellent single that served as an announcement of this material. For those stumbling upon this outstanding duo for the first time, Blueprint Tokyo combines all the vital elements of indie rock and indie pop sound with some of the finest properties borrowed from synthwave, synth pop, new wave, and alternative rock. You may also notice sonic ingredients taken from post-punk or dream pop along the way, lurking around and uplifting this material to new heights. As usual, these highly experienced musicians deliver an otherwordly sound where cleverly assembled instrumentation and cathartic ambiance collide harmoniously. Therefore, this EP will unquestionably suit even the pickiest fans and beyond. With the initial notes and beats, Blueprint Tokyo showcases all their songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities. Each composition arrives with a wisely constructed structure, adorned with detailed segments and fascinating instrumentations. They even thought about the tiniest details and nuances, ensuring that every listener enjoy while embarking on this epic sonic journey.

“Blue” EP commences with “Odysseus,” a beautiful opening track where all the orchestrations shape such a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal atmosphere worth repeating over and over again. The lead vocal performance immediately takes centerstage, commanding attention and guiding listeners from scratch to finish. The impressive vocal range seamlessly balances low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing each segment and instrumentation with such precision and finesse. The synth leads, themes, melodies, harmonies, ambiances, and other sonic maneuvers reign supreme here, as they provide a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. You’ll also hear how catchy, memorable, engaging riffs, chord progressions, and various accentuations delivered on heavily distorted guitars complement these synth maneuvers while providing more depth and complexity to an already profoundly detailed song. Blueprint Tokyo also incorporated expertly assembled low-end and equally complex rhythmic sequences that undoubtedly uplift this composition to an entirely new level. Each instrumentation plays a significant role in this sonic equation, making “Odysseus” a pleasant listening experience. It’s such an energetic opener that immediately showcases what you might expect from the remainder of this material.

“Only Hearts” is another standout of the “Blue” EP. Once again, Blueprint Tokyo demonstrates its knack for writing and composing emotional songs where fascinating vocal harmonies perfectly match cleverly arranged synths melodies, themes, and leads. This harmonious collision guides the listening apparatus through a comprehensive collection of intricate segments, thoroughly planned orchestrations, and marvelous lyricism. The fine blend of many different but complementary music genres like indie, synthwave, post-rock, and alternative works is vividly hearable here, as the band incorporates some of the best ideas you’ll hear in a while. The combination of half-time and more upbeat rhythmic patterns works to the advantage of this song. The entire amalgam of excellent, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics provides more than the necessary backbone while the equally detailed basslines offer more heaviness, heftiness, and clearness while binding drums with the remainder of the instrumentations. The synths and guitars intervene seamlessly, providing a perfect soundscape where vocal harmonies levitate easily. It’s a perfect song with so many beautiful moments and unquestionably a standout of this EP.

“Closed Door Drama” showcases the other side of Blueprint Tokyo. This particular composition carries some of the finest post-punk, post-rock, and goth rock elements, expertly combined with synthwave and new-wave aesthetics. Their love for the eighties and nineties music is more than evident here, but you’ll also notice how they included some modern sonic maneuvers, making “Closed Door Drama” such a masterpiece worth revisiting every time you need cleverly composed and flawlessly performed music. Blueprint Tokyo created a perfect foundation by incorporating complex, well-accentuated, half-time rhythmic sequences that keep the remainder of the instrumentations in line while steering the sonic direction. Once again, the synths reign supreme, but the guitars also offer some of the finest instrumentations you’ll hear on this material. The entire amalgam based upon subtle melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, riffs, and other virtuosities will force you to fall in love with this song.

On “Mission Control,” Blueprint Tokyo floats more modern indie and alternative rock waters. The vocal harmonies, back vocals, and singalongs sound divine here, and the band paid so much attention to these details. Each segment arrives with an entire barrage of impressive vocal maneuvers while the guitar interplay shapes a perfect backdrop for them. You’ll hear how the catchy regular and palm-muted riffs resonate on one side while the other shines with impressive leads and themes. In the meantime, the synths contribute to the complexity with equally good melodies, harmonies, ambiances, and other orchestrations while the precise rhythm section propels this song to new heights with many wisely assembled low-ends and beats. “Transfer” nurtures a similar ambiance but also leans towards an alternative rock sound. The guitars sound more powerful, heavier, raw, and aggressive, but there are also layers of melody included along the way. These sonic maneuvers perfectly match the outstanding vocal performance which is especially notable during the memorable choruses. “Transfer” continuously levitates between modern alternative and nostalgic eighties and nineties indie sound. It’s a perfect closure of a marvelous EP release.

Blueprint Tokyo poured heart and soul into this material, and their efforts resulted in five mindblowing compositions that will immediately become your go-to tracks whenever you crave synth-driven indie rock music. Their experience, knowledge, skills, and talent are on full display here, as all the vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuvers shape an otherwordly listening experience, rarely heard or seen on the contemporary music scene. Blueprint Tokyo created a masterpiece and you should check it out as soon as possible. “Blue” EP is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!