Best Korean albums you need to listen to: Feb 2019

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This month the albums being featured largely fall under the category of mood music. One revels in the melancholy of electronic-infused R&B, another embraces the solidarity that comes with soft crooning, and finally an incredible record that is literal joy translated into the form of music.

Cosmic Boy – Can I Love?

Genre: R&B, Electronic

Released: 18 / 2 / 2019

Korean R&B is an oversaturated scene of punchy 808s and muffled high-hats paired with slow ‘sadboi’ (and sadgurl) crooning. WYBH producer Cosmic Boy attempts to buck this trend by adding a slight electronic touch to it. Enlisting the help of an array of talents from singers such as Meego to rappers like areyouchildish, he injects a shot of variety into the record.

Though Can I Love? is ultimately still a mellow album, the many detours that Cosmic Boy takes are exciting looks into how experimental Korean R&B can still be.

Motte (모트) – Between (사이 )

Genre: K-Pop, Indie, Singer-Songwriter

Released: 19 / 10 / 2018

If Taylor Swift’s career shift was into soft pop instead of stadium pop, she would probably sound like Motte. Their vocal deliveries are far from revolutionary but what they can do, they do it exceedingly well. Motte’s brand of pop has an indie-like charm to it where more often than not, she takes a backseat to the production, coasting alongside it rather than staying in the spotlight.

There still are times that her individuality shines through though, like on the adorably catchy “Diving Into You”. There’s a subtle exuberance to her music. The perfect soundtrack to lonely nights in your room and also while lounging away with friends. Between is a record that can appeal to the inner introvert in all of us.

Essential Listen

Kiha & The Faces (장기하와 얼굴들) – mono

Genre: Rock, Funk

Released: 11 / 5 / 2018

One of South Korea’s most prominent rock bands, Kiha & The Faces have had a pretty illustrious career over the past decade. Though they unfortunately disbanded late last year, the band’s discography has left a lasting impact on the country’s indie scene. Primarily grooving over bouncy funk-inspired production, the band excels at the quirky aesthetic they’ve set for themselves. Mono is no different, as the record is literally glee incarnate.

The album is a fitting swan song for the band, choosing to engage in every aspect that made their music a hit amongst their fans in the first place. With lead singer Jung Kiha’s quirky vocals firing on all cylinders, while the rest of the members contributing with first-rate guitar riffs and moving drum beats; mono is a record that is the culmination of everything the band has done up till today.