Out of ugliness typically comes magnificence. That concept has fuelled many tales and beliefs throughout cultures, from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy story The Ugly Duckling to the Buddhist story of the lotus flower. Every day, that plant rises out of the mud to bloom, reducing by the sludge to brighten its habitat earlier than submerging once more at evening. Very similar to the peaks and troughs in our lives, it’s in a relentless battle between survival and shining.
On their third mini-album ‘Straightforward’, LE SSERAFIM take up a place just like the lotus flower. Since their debut in 2022, the woman group have stood robust, embodying the mettle of their group identify – an anagram of “I’m Fearless”. They’ve made it appear virtually not possible that they’d ever really feel not sure of themselves or the world, presenting like 5 Okay-pop marvel girls whose rise has been easy. In actuality, they’re simply as human as the remainder of us.
That’s the reality that ‘Straightforward’ goals to focus on, however not in the way in which you may anticipate. That is no assortment of sombre songs bemoaning the uncertainties of life and the music business – they’re nonetheless LE SSERAFIM, and even once they’re breaking down their powerful facade, they’re going to take action from a place of energy. They use the discharge to acknowledge how straightforward their profession has seemed from the skin whereas spotlighting what they’ve gone by behind the scenes to make that so. Not that they appear to care what you consider any of this, with a take-it-or-leave-it angle that continues to feed into their typical daring vitality.
“Jealousy, doubt, distrust, now buddies of me, yuh / To the world I’m midway seraphim,” they sing on the title observe, referencing the angelic beings they share a homophonic identify with. If these cherubs are related to purity and light-weight, the five-piece delve into their shadows to color a extra well-rounded portrait of them.
‘Swan Music’ takes an analogous strategy, this time evaluating the ladies to sleek black swans “dancing to outlive” and diving by the water “even when I’m breathless”. “So many days, so many nights, so many tears / Generally I’m anxious,” they admit at one level. “Love isn’t sufficient; I crave for extra / I concern this greed will kill me.”
By all of it, LE SSERAFIM by no means lose their willpower. You may really feel that in ‘Good Bones’, the opening music that soundtracked this mini-album’s trailer and was impressed by a poem of the identical identify by Maggie Smith. It acts as an announcement of intent, every member exchanging narrations in Korean, English and Japanese wherein they vow to maintain going, it doesn’t matter what the world say. Every time they unite for a shouted chorus of “Straightforward, loopy, sizzling – I could make it”, their resolve and tenacity develop stronger, breathlessly escalating of their voices and the whirring riff that bolsters them.
‘Smarter’ may discover them selecting to be “the extra highly effective ‘villain’”, however ‘Straightforward’ isn’t all steely grit. It ends with ‘We Received So A lot’, a brand new tribute to their followers that was premiered in the course of the group’s ‘Flame Rises’ tour final summer season. After 4 songs of unravelling their under-the-surface feelings, it’s a reminder that every one that actually issues is the love that LE SSERAFIM each obtain and reciprocate. “We acquired a lot love / We gained’t take it with no consideration; we’re particular,” they sing softly. “We bloom inside one another.”
‘Straightforward’ presents a brand new evolution in LE SSERAFIM’s oeuvre, not simply thematically however musically too. As a bunch, they’ve by no means shied away from making an attempt new, globe-spanning sounds they usually proceed that pattern right here, increasing their sonic palette. The title observe bounces by a entice beat that makes commanding your consideration seem to be youngster’s play, whereas ‘Smarter’ boasts an infectious, sunkissed groove. ‘Swan Music’ and ‘We Received So A lot’ – which each characteristic songwriting credit for the members – float like gossamer, the previous twinkles and elegantly drifts whereas the latter is gently propelled by crisp synths.
These decisions of kinds solely serve to make the angle in ‘Straightforward’ really feel extra nonchalant and unbothered. If the entire report continued the laborious rock of ‘Good Bones’, it might probably amplify a way of angst. As a substitute, although, its extra feathery, gentle sounds reinforces precisely what LE SSERAFIM say they’re going to do – rise out of the mud and make this all look extremely, flawlessly straightforward.
Particulars
- Launch date: February 19, 2023
- Document label: Supply Music
