Expectations are a fickle thing. Tomaga has been accompanying me since 2021. Their LP »Intimate Intensity« is a light-footed showpiece amongst fragile compositions. Yet, I’ve never listened to their back-catalogue – until now. The re-issue of their debut EP proved to be a welcome opportunity to dive into their beginnings. Additionally, »Sleepy Jazz for Tired Cats« is a phenomenal title. It promises exactly what I need right now: an album to melt into.
Well. I’ve been, quite possibly, bamboozled. »Sleepy Jazz for Tired Cats« is neither sleepy, suited to fall asleep, nor, generally speaking, Jazz. The EP consists of for noisy pieces that take cues from the sound of early Industrial. Instead of supine melodies we are dealt rattling drones, instead of relaxed drums we get metallic beats. A disappointment? Far from it. It’s quality stuff. The vignettes are unmistakably bearing Tomaga’s mark. They are playful, kittenish, and filled with tendresse. They snuggle up to coarse sounds, not unlike a cat. For most of music’s history, noise has been a means of disruption. It’s usually used to mark ruptures or outright violence. But in the hands of Tomaga, racket becomes an expression of endearment. The EP leaves me feeling warm. Discovering a band’s first releases is like getting to see old photos of new friends. Frequently, you wouldn’t recognize them. But at the same time, they’ll feel strangely familiar.
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