Review Summary: Taking K-Pop to new heights.
Since their debut in 2014, Mamamoo have taken the entire K-Pop sphere by storm. From their odd personalities, use of Retro sounds, and combination of genres from Jazz and R&B to Rap and Choral Pop. After releasing three EP's since their debut, many fans were poised for the day they would release their debut album. In February, it came in the form of
Melting. Of course, Melting features a heavy combination of Rap, R&B, and touches of Jazz-Fusion. The key here is in the talent of Mamamoo's members. Hwasa maintains the more adult mannerisms of the group, and is their primary Rapper, with Moonbyul following behind with her jumps between rapping, singing, and... well, being Moonbyul. The main singers are Wheein and Solar, with Wheein's soft vocals giving needed boost to Solar's powerful crescendo's.
The biggest strength in this album is, as usual, the tracks. From slow, sensual, Jazz tracks like
Words Don't Come Easy, to Soft-Techno tunes like
Friday Night; which contain excellent guest vocals from teen heart-throb Junggigo.
Friday Night is eclectic in its foundation, featuring orchestral parts with small DJ rips in-between vocal pauses.
Emotion starts with a old-timey static that eventually bursts into Solar's eloquent vocals and some beautiful synths. The main piece that emphasizes the track is the fact that the singers are never obscured by the instruments. Rather, they simply apply a boost to already amazing vocal performances.
Mamamoo is also known for being a bit weird, combining sensual tracks with hints of comedy and goofball lyrics. Tracks like
Cat Fight are produced like a musical taking place in the 1920's as Moonbyul jumps in with random quips every now and then. I listen to this track any longer I will end up doing the charleston.
Funky Boy is a heavy throwback to 70's Pop, featuring retro synth's, trumpets, and bombastic vocal harmonies.
Taller Than You Is by far the weirdest track, and my personal favorite. Most of the song is the Mamamoo troupe making fun of each other over how tall (or short) they are. Wheein and Solar take over most singing duties, with Moonbyul and Hwasa running through with some hilarious rapping; especially when Moonbyul starts bragging about her height. Instruments tend to change rapidly over the course of the song, and its g-funk style of Hip-Hop makes it even more hilarious.
As a debut, this isn't just solid, it's excellent.
Melting is vast, varied, brazen, and eccentric; and the four girls that make this album what it is show off their talents with reckless abandon. With this debut album, Mamamoo aim to diversify themselves from commercial juggernauts like Red Velvet, but also want to be top-dog over new acts like KNK. By far, it's David/Goliath sentiment makes itself known with how brilliantly this album was put together. For many K-Pop acts, the sky's the limit. For Mamamoo, they're already in space.
