Release Date: April 17, 2017
Tracklist:
- Intro
- Hwi hwi
- Story Travel
- 빛이 되어줘
- 천지차이
Total Runtime: 00:12:46
Recommended for: Latte (LABOUM’s fandom name) and those who in general love girl group music.
NOT recommended for: Other type of coffee drinks, and uptight slash high-strung individuals.
LABOUM is back with their second (2nd) mini album (EP) “Miss This Kiss” with title track “Hwi hwi”. LABOUM continues to bestow their distinctive funky and retro mix sound upon us, this time around with six (6) tracks, including an intro and an instrumental.
Track Review:
*Track 1 (intro) and track 5 (Hwi hwi instrumental) will not be reviewed
Track 2 – Hwi hwi
I had a hard time reviewing this title track because I was watching the music video at the same time and their visuals caught my attention. So for reviewers out there, don’t watch the music video while writing or you’ll be distracted! Okay let’s get back to business. The track starts with joyful whistling that’ll become a recurrent hook throughout the song. Hwi hwi is a mash of retro (primary) and dance pop, with harmonized chorus to incorporate the main motif with the hook, which, in this case, is the whistling. The song is really fun in a way that you won’t miss a beat while bopping to it. We are off to a good start.
Track 3 – Story Travel
Story Travel is a neo-swing track, a sub genre that is becoming a norm within a plethora of b-sides offered by K-Pop girl groups. The instrumental encompasses rock-and-roll rhythm, with several instrument horn sections, such as trumpet and trombone. Accompanied by funky-like vocals, Story Travel is good at first listen but after a while the song falls flat and forgettable.
Track 4 – 빛이 되어줘 (Be the Light)
Easily my favourite track in this album. Be the Light is a pop ballad with some flavors from the 90s such as the arrangement and composition that’ll remind you of your childhood idols like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson (really?). I’m a child of the 90s so evergreen tracks like this will always get me.
Track 5 – 천지차이 (Difference between Heaven and Earth)
Difference between Heaven and Earth (why is the title so long?) is a mid-tempo synth-pop song which accentuates the instrumental before vocal. The song is short and there’s not much for me to say about it. Honestly this track is generic and you can say it sounds like a filler track, done just for the sake of having an extra track.
