Oklahoma City-based band Blueprint Tokyo craft a nostalgic, emotional sound on their Cinema Sounds EP — ranging from the key-laden rock of “Say Anything” to the brassy ’80s atmospherics within “Sailor Girl.” Their sophomore EP was crafted alongside Grammy-nominated recording engineer Travis Ference, who helped channel a melodic and immersive sound that thematically captures “the realities of being human” over its three tracks.
Drawing on the personal experiences of members Kevin Dawson (vocals/guitar) and Andy Hale (guitar/synth/drums), the Cinema Sounds EP consumes with an authentic fervency. “Life has its ups and downs and we look at those sometimes tongue in cheek but always trying to be real with the stories we create,” Dawson says.
Versatility and soaring emotion is evident right away. The opening synths and murmured vocals on “Say Anything” quickly build to shimmering keys and bustling guitars, alongside escalating vocal emotion. “As we run, as we hide in the streets at night,” the vocals let out, capturing a sense of unbridled youthfulness even as the moon shines brightly.
The closing “Sailor Girl” shows shades of Psychedelic Furs with its brass-driven engagement and moody vocal allure. It’s an apt closer to a stylish and melodic EP from Blueprint Tokyo.
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“Say Anything” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup. The submitter accepted our content-based offer, which included financial compensation for our time writing, editing, and publishing this article.
