'I'll Be Alright' Review: Tomemitsu's short, sweet and immersive EP is a groovy, cinematic treat
The closing of one door can often lead to another shining, golden opportunity. When the creators of the highly-recommended HBO series 'High Maintenance' were unable to get the rights to a Grizzly Bear track for one of their episodes, they turned to the equally dreamy, synth-pop infused music of Martin Roark, better known as the young LA-based artiste Tomemitsu.
Much to his credit, the two songs from his first album 'M_O_D_E_S' that featured on the series rapidly increased his fan following around the globe. But Tomemitsu isn’t the kind to rest on his past accomplishments. His latest EP, 'I'll Be Alright', which releases on May 29, is a peek into his high-quality, lo-fi musical mind and all the wonderful magic tricks he can pull out of his creative hat.
With the opener, 'Up, Up, Up', Tomemitsu has you mellowing down and waking up to a sublime dream state. The minute-long instrumental is ethereal and supremely comforting, with Tibetan singing bowls and Tingsha bells performed by Lisa Sonoda (a fellow dreamy LA-based musician), elevating it to an almost spiritual state. This first track is an ideal musical mood-setter for what is to follow.
The title track, 'I'll Be Alright', can be heard as an acoustic-only on his first album but it has now got a seven-year sheen to it. Breezy and melodic, the song shifts gears after the one-minute mark and has you yearning to nod along to this on a shimmering beach, with your hair blowing the wind. The bass-line adds that extra bit of groove to get your body moving. With this song, Roark has us reassured that no matter how things get, with his sunny disposition and an unfading smile, he's gonna be alright.
He keeps the tempo going with Strange Vibes', an extremely groovy jam much in the vein of The Smiths or The Smashing Pumpkins' '1979'. This song is the perfect example of "bedroom dream-pop", a phrase Tomemitsu feels best describes his musical sensibilities. The bass and guitars, coupled with exquisite vocal harmonies by Tomemitsu and Mara Connor, bring out that distinct nostalgic feel that only '90s music can convey.
'Secrets' sees Tomemitsu fusing his lo-fi, shoe-gaze sensibilities to an older track from an earlier EP, 'The Cave'. The song has gotten a major rework as it now unravels and builds on many mesmerizing, immersive layers. The synthesizers and guitars on this one perfectly accentuate his dream-like vocals. This is another happy walk down a sunny memory lane, except in song form.
Tomemitsu closes things off with another surreal, instrumental vacation 'Boa Noite', which means "good night" in Portuguese. The track also features some trippy inputs from Sonoda once again, and this could easily be the standout magnum opus of the 'I'll Be Alright' EP. Roark masterfully uses his ambient drone reflections to craft the ultimate dream-like soundscape for you to lose yourself in.
Channeling his influences that range from Thelonius Monk and Brian Eno, Tomemitsu paints a bright and vivid sonic picture that is sublime, meditative, and highly cinematic. With 'Boa Noite', Roark also tips his hat to his family — his father is a jazz pianist who undoubtedly had his own special influence in his music, while his mother hails from Brazil (where Portuguese is commonly spoken).
If this lovely and entrancing EP isn't enough to sate your Tomemitsu appetites, there are other places to get your fill. Roark can often be heard playing shows with his band in the LA music scene, where he collaborates with numerous artistes like Basement Babies, Eagle Scout, Cossack, Atriata, Instrument, Daystillsummer, So Many Wizards, Seaweed Salad and let's not forget his recent split-EP with Alexei Shishkin.
With most of us, having lost sense with how great and comforting the outdoors could be, this is a great set of tracks to put on while you dream of sun-kissed exotic locales. For fans of Tomemitsu’s dreamy, shoegazey textures, 'I'll Be Alright' is a welcome gift, with the promise of a lot more groovy, cinematic music in store for us.