As musicians, the girls of Red Velvet are known to push the boundaries when it comes to their sound and their recent EP dubbed ‘The Red Summer’ is certainly no exception to that claim.
The SM Entertainment quintet showed of their chops in an action packed album combining everything from tropical house to a smooth ballad and everything in between.
‘Red Flavor’ is the first single out of all the five tracks featured on the album and it is described as an upbeat dance song.
Featuring a booming percussion, expertly inflected synths and melodic vocals, the girls sing about a summer love that’s sweet and refreshing like perfectly ripened fruit.
Leader Irene and maknae (youngest member) Yeri in particular make the peppy track extra vibrant thanks to their rapid fire rapping while Seulgi and Wendy belted out silky smooth vocals that played well with Joy’s coy, youthful tone.
The second track ‘You Better Know’ is their promoted B-side and is a soaring, house-influenced EDM song that would fit perfectly alongside label mate f(x)’s sound.
All five girls shine in the mid-tempo single and in particular, the cheerleader-like delivery in the latter half of the chorus makes this song an audible treat for K-Pop fans and newbies alike.
‘Zoo’ capitalizes on the current tropical house sound popular in both Western and K-Pop with primal vibes similar to Red Velvet’s debut single ‘Happiness.’
Similar to such popular acts such as KARD, NCT 127, and BTS, the marimba and steel drum-inflected backtrack combines hazy synthesizers and hushed vocals that slowly build to an explosive chorus.
The dreamy, somewhat saccharine fourth track titled ‘Mojito’ seems quite out of place in comparison to the warmer sounding songs on the EP but just like the drink, it’s a crisp and clear song that certainly grows on you with each listen.
‘Hear the Sea’ is the fifth and final track off ‘The Red Summer,’ which is a chill R&B influenced melody that beckons imagery of sunsets by the beach and warm gentle breezes.
Joy and Yeri fit the song especially thanks to their sweet and bright vocals that transcend the melody to new heights.
While some fans may find the recent release to be quite tame in contrast to previous albums such as ‘The Red’ or ‘Rookie,’ Red Velvet’s trademark quirkiness and pep lives on with a grown-up twist that’s guaranteed to make ‘The Red Summer’ a classic.
Have you listened to ‘The Red Summer’ yet? Let us know what you think of Red Velvet’s new EP in the comments below!
Written and Edited By: Julie Tran
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