A loopy lead guitar, relaxed vocals, and a consistent snare rattling softly in the back, Tokyo Tea Room’s latest single, “There’s a Place,” is the perfect lo-fi and dream pop head swayer. With all the fixings for a dreamy soundscape, I am reminded of Crumb and Men I Trust. Time to go dance around my room like I’m draped in technicolor scarfs.
I cannot exactly make out what is being sung in every line, but it’s safe to say the “place” is most likely a feeling or that person who makes you feel safe, someone who you can’t quite let go. And it isn’t always about hearing what the singer is saying, but feeling what the music brings you. After hearing this song, I think it would be weird if Tokyo Tea Room brought you anything besides calmness.
With a transcendent, chill, and undeniably zen vibe, the Mangat, UK-based group crafts the perfect soundtrack for those moments when you’re ordering a latte in a plant-filled café that seems custom-made for studying. It’s the kind of music that lulls you into a dreamy haze—the bass lines hefty enough to pull you into a daydream, while the synths either have you staring off into space or honing in on your work. Basically, it’s your ideal zone-out playlist for productivity… or just zoning out. Their next album, No Rush, comes out in January 2025.
