Blue Era Odyssey

PRE-ORDER: tapes ship to arrive on or around the release date of 3/3/2026

TOMC’s Blue Era Odyssey is a rhythmic exploration of the exhilaration and curiosity sparked by journeys into the unknown, capturing the transformative experiences they bring. Inspired by the rhythm-ambient hybrids pioneered by artists like Space Ghost and Khotin, and the indie rock crossover efforts of Sam Wilkes and Jack J, this conceptual album pushes into uncharted territory.

Reflecting TOMC’s extensive career as a writer, DJ, and radio curator, the album is built on a sprawling network of genre crossovers: Balearic beat, 2-step/UK Garage, New Wave, House, Madchester, Shoegaze, as well as Yacht Rock and oldies-style vocal harmonies. These sounds are interwoven with TOMC’s signature polyrhythms, artfully expressing the expectations, anxieties, and deep exhilaration that emerge during journeys. In the age of post-generative AI, such hybridized genre-blurring and rhythmic experimentation stand out as a form of creativity that resists easy replication.

Moreover, motifs of oceans and waterscapes—drawing from TOMC’s travels to locations such as peninsulas and island nations across Korea and Taiwan, the Ganges basin in India—meld with the familiar waterfront landscapes of Tokyo. This fusion captures a constant sense of motion and the fluidity of time.

The title Blue Era evokes the “Blue Period” of Pablo Picasso’s melancholic early works, yet TOMC reframes the concept, interpreting our current age as inherently “blue.” Within this context, the album focuses on the journeys and adventures unfolding amidst its challenges. The midsection evokes a sense of melancholy and solitude, but the narrative gradually ascends, culminating in a radiant and celebratory finale.

For TOMC, "Blue" symbolizes a restless youth, an enigmatic era, and the vast possibilities of the open sea. This album is perfectly suited for long drives by the water or moments of introspection when grappling with life’s complexities, offering glimpses of hope shimmering like light on the waves.

Produced + mixed by TOMC*
*Except "Sazerac" mixed by Tatsuro Murakami

Mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama
Art + design by Yudai Osawa