Through the years, TWICE have distilled their ethos right into a feel-good and optimistic pop-driven narrative, including layers of complexity as they’ve grown as musicians and conquered international shores. As such, the arrival of ‘With YOU-th’ – the group’s thirteenth mini-album – feels well timed on all fronts, particularly as they arrive off their large ‘Able to Be’ world tour.
TWICE’s core pillars have at all times been centred round their very own private progress and the group’s collective bond with their followers. As they inch in the direction of a decade within the music business, it feels proper to return to their roots and reaffirm that bond – a continuing, enduring reminder that irrespective of the highs or lows, followers will at all times have TWICE. And enjoying proper into that promise is the album’s pre-release single, ‘I Bought You’.
A quintessentially TWICE launch, ‘I Bought You’ is tinged with synth-pop and uplifting reassurance because the nine-member group discover solace in one another out on stormy seas. “It doesn’t matter what you bought me, and I obtained you / And I wouldn’t need it another manner,” they sing on the right highway journey anthem, replete with shifting harmonies and hovering melodies that we now have come to know and love from the lady group.
The pure and speedy euphoria of ‘I Bought You’, although, overshadows title observe ‘One Spark’, which takes a few listens to be absorbed absolutely. Whereas the drum ’n’ bass music is decidedly attractive by itself – and in addition harks again to the vibes of older TWICE releases – it doesn’t assist that it comes sandwiched between the elegant ‘I Bought You’ and ‘Rush’, one of the memorable B-sides on the album.
The sound on ‘Rush’ – as soon as once more drum ’n’ bass, persevering with to be the sound of the season – flows like water, not solely sounding extra assured, but additionally much more polished and mature. The group’s comparatively softer vocal method works of their favour, creating an simply digestible and much more cohesive observe. Although, if we’re speaking about the most effective tracks on the album, ‘Bloom’ undoubtedly takes the highest spot.
The shimmery, summery observe washes over like daylight on a cool morning, drawing closely from analogies for spring because the group compares themselves to a flower able to bloom. The observe’s fluid digital drumming and breathy vocals add an charisma that heightens the underlying promise. “Twice the magic of the solar and moon / Simply you wait till you see me bloom,” Jihyo and Nayeon sing on the refrain, bringing all of it collectively in serendipitous concord as they shut it out with loops of the phrase “bloom”.
Additionally deserving a nod is ‘You Get Me’ – very clearly the counterpart to ‘I Bought You’ – one other serving of dreamy, dance-pop laden with melodic synths that paint TWICE’s promise of without end to their followers with rosy strokes. Because the closing observe, it really works each as a denouement, a relaxation cease on their journey and a cushty segue into no matter comes subsequent – of which we’re positive there’s extra.
The one time the album stumbles is on ‘New New’. Regardless of staying true to the high-octane power of the mini-album, the observe does little to face out amidst tracks that far outshine it by way of impression. It doesn’t have an effect on the general listening expertise, nevertheless – by the point you progress on to ‘Bloom’ and ‘You Get Me,’ we’re properly entrenched into the magic of TWICE but once more, able to mark a season of revelry.
Particulars
- Launch date: February 23, 2023
- Report label: JYP Leisure
