Album Review: Ark Patrol’s GEM – A Journey Through Vulnerability and Resilience

Album Review: Ark Patrol’s GEM – A Journey Through Vulnerability and Resilience

Written By: Dan Eachus

Introduction

Ark Patrol, the moniker of Brandon Gomez, has been synonymous with a unique blend of alternative electronic music that deftly balances emotional depth with sonic experimentation. His latest album, GEM, is a testament to his resilience and creative evolution, encapsulating the highs and lows of his life journey while offering a reflective and introspective experience for listeners. Released on August 23, 2024, GEM marks a significant milestone in Ark Patrol’s career, both as an artist and as a person who has faced and overcome immense challenges.

The Genesis of GEM

Brandon Gomez’s journey into music was not a conventional one, but rather a path shaped by an innate connection to sound from before he was even born. His mother would put headphones on her belly, playing music for him while still in the womb, laying the foundation for a life intertwined with melodies and rhythms. However, it wasn’t until he was 17 that a crucial question struck him: “Do I wanna just gamble on music? Do I want to just go all in?” The answer was a resounding yes, and from that moment on, Ark Patrol has been on what he describes as a “rollercoaster of music.”

This rollercoaster ride, however, took an unexpected and harrowing turn in 2018 when Gomez was diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis was a stark reminder of life’s fragility, and the ensuing battle with the disease profoundly impacted his music. “There’s a survival instinct that kicks in when you think you’re gonna die,” Gomez reflects. This instinct fueled his creativity, leading to the release of his self-titled album in 2019, which was a cathartic expression of his experiences during that difficult time.

GEM emerges from this background of struggle and survival, representing both a continuation and a transformation of Ark Patrol’s sound. While his previous work, such as the 2020 album Geode, explored the euphoria of recovery with a playful and experimental approach, GEM delves deeper into the human experience, offering a more structured and emotionally resonant narrative.

The Sonic Landscape of GEM

From the opening track “You Know,” GEM immediately establishes its tone with a blend of ambient sounds and electronic beats that invite the listener into a world of introspection. This is an album that, while rooted in electronic music, transcends genre boundaries. It combines elements of alt-electronic, synth-pop, and even touches of R&B, creating a sonic landscape that is both expansive and intimate.

“Top Of The World,” one of the standout tracks, is a love letter to Gomez’s brother, who has struggled with addiction in Hawaii. The song is a poignant reflection on the ups and downs of life, set against a bouncy dance beat. The inclusion of a sample from a close friend saying “fuck you” adds a layer of raw, personal emotion to the track, highlighting the connection between the highs of viral success and the lows of personal struggle.

“Tomorrow Can Wait,” featuring FiFi Zhang, is another highlight of the album. The track’s ethereal quality, combined with a jittery, echoing beat, creates an atmosphere that is both innocent and otherworldly. Gomez describes it as having an “anime, cutesy feel,” but beneath the surface, it explores themes of longing and hope.

The album’s emotional depth is further exemplified in “Relief,” a collaboration with Lecx Stacy. The track’s stuttering, spiraling beats mirror the feeling of being lost, a sensation that both artists resonated with. This sense of disorientation is a recurring theme in GEM, reflecting the uncertainty and existential questioning that Gomez experienced during his battle with cancer.

A Narrative of Transformation

One of the most striking aspects of GEM is its narrative structure. The album unfolds like a story, with each track representing a different chapter in Gomez’s life. “Say,” for example, is a track that Gomez describes as a “genetically engineered sound” that transitions from chaotic to glistening as it builds. The song captures the moment of transformation, when everything feels like it’s falling apart, but there is still hope on the horizon.

“Too Far,” another ambient and beat-driven track, conveys the post-crash moment of exhaustion and resignation. It’s a song that encapsulates the feeling of lying down after a big rush, completely drained of energy. The track serves as a poignant reminder of the toll that life’s highs and lows can take on a person, both physically and emotionally.

The album concludes with “Estudio,” a textured, pulsating track that embodies the spirit of playfulness and experimentation that has always been a hallmark of Ark Patrol’s music. Inspired by Gomez’s fascination with reverb and sonic elements that he once felt compelled to use, “Estudio” represents the culmination of his journey. It is a track that showcases his growth as an artist, incorporating all the influences and experiences that have shaped him over the years.

Visuals and Artistic Direction

GEM is not just an auditory experience; it is also a visual one. The album’s creative direction, led by Anna Chandler, is a crucial part of its overall impact. Chandler’s visuals capture the essence of GEM‘s narrative, creating a world that is “huge, vast, and empty,” as Gomez describes it. The visuals add another layer of meaning to the album, reflecting the themes of darkness, recovery, and self-examination that permeate the music.

Conclusion: A Safe Space in Sound

For Ark Patrol, GEM is more than just an album; it is a “Trojan horse” that smuggles in real thoughts and feelings, disguised in a way that allows listeners to engage with them on their own terms. Whether it’s being played on a dancefloor or during a quiet moment of introspection, GEM offers a safe space for listeners to explore their own emotions. Gomez’s meticulous attention to detail in cleaning up the sounds of the album ensures that there is nothing to distract from its core message. GEM is, in essence, a crystal mirror—a reflection of the artist’s journey and an invitation for others to find solace in its crystalline structure.

In GEM, Ark Patrol has crafted an album that is not only a testament to his resilience and creativity but also a gift to his listeners—a space where they can sit with their own emotions and emerge with a sense of understanding and peace.