Whenever you lookup inaekkum on Spotify, you’ll be greeted by this:
Earlier than trying up the lyrics, I might have merely described “Earlier than Dawn,” the primary observe of the band’s album Tender Natural, as a sunny, driving to the seaside tune. To be clear, it nonetheless seems like that, however after watching their visualizer/lyric video on YouTube, I came upon that the lyrics offered a unique image.
“Outdated males, please don’t battle
If you understand your home and would possibly
Outdated me, please don’t steal
We’re watching youOutdated males, please don’t shout
If you happen to don’t wish to be shot
Or perhaps that’s what you need
It’s in your palms”
Maybe, then, it’s driving to the seaside, however extra like after setting somebody’s home on hearth. A distinct sort of carefree sunniness than the one you’d anticipate.
The music of inaekkum, in line with their Spotify introduction, is “characterised by profound, poetic lyrics and unadorned vocals…with every tune like a confession.” The band claims to mix J-rock with Brit rock, which I felt a bit, however not constantly by the album.
Tender Natural looks like a mixture of totally different influences, with a superb chunk being in a mushy pastel palette akin to wave to earth and the opposite songs being of a brighter, extra energetic selection.
After opening with “Earlier than Dawn,” the band takes a slight pop punk angle with “Noise,” a tune that features a crowd singing in a kind of name and response within the refrain. From “Noise,” the sound turns into each blurry and shiny in “Karman Line” with a grittier guitar and bass chugging alongside as shiny synths sparkle within the background.
Karman Line refers back to the line marking the start of house, which makes me suppose that the glittering synths are purported to replicate the celebrities.
The house theme continues in “Gentle” in each lyrics and sound. The sound warms up because the band swaps out a glittering synth for one thing extra shimmery whereas the singer repeats a promise to their lover.
After which the album reaches “Breath” and “Sophie,” each of which really feel like softer, night rock. It’s the kind of music that will be standard amongst buskers in Seoul, sitting subsequent to “RomanceYouthLove” by ESEGYE and “for lovers who hesitate” by JANNABI.
However proper earlier than gently laying us to sleep, the tempo picks up considerably with “Looove,” after which drops again down with the ultimate observe, “Sisley.”
This left me with the impression that maybe the band is attempting to dwell in a extra mellow house. It really works, certain, particularly with the vocalist who sounds quite a bit just like the bands that excel within the softer rock house, however it additionally makes me a bit confused about how I ought to really feel in regards to the band.
Clearly, they’re keen to poke enjoyable at politicians and may also do brighter songs effectively. Then once more, that is solely the band’s first album and it could possibly be determining the way it desires to form its sound.
Per my private style, I wish to see the band play extra with the soundscape of “Karman Line” and music the place the lyrics distinction the sound, like in “Earlier than Dawn.” Certainly a band that’s keen to place “fxxx u politician” on their artist web page can prepare dinner up one thing equally cheeky and snarling? However I suppose we’ll should see if the band is keen to faucet into that power extra or in the event that they’ll work on perfecting the right evening-picnic-by-the-Han-river tune.
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Ashley J Chong
Ashley J Chong is a Korean American poet musician almost definitely scribbling a to do checklist or a brand new thought. She’s a glutton for making playlists and is right down to take heed to just about something trigger perhaps she will pull a tune or poem thought from it. You may join along with her on Instagram and Twitter @ashtree39 and he or she additionally does music @saenabi.music.
