Epik High - Lovescream

Despite Tablo's recent penchant for threatening to quit, Epik High stays present and productive with their second release of the year, the mini album Lovescream. In case the very pastel cover isn't already a tip-off, Lovescream is a comparatively softer release revolving around the theme of "love", but the "scream" part of the story ensures things never get quiet. Relying less on electronic programming and more on piano and strings accompaniment, Lovescream pitches a cleaner and clearer sound overall than Epik High's last few releases.

Somewhat similar to Be from Pieces, Part One in terms of its dramatic mood-setting role, opening track butterfly effect from Tablo lays down strong beats and English rhymes, but the rap portion of the song is actually fairly brief. The strength of the track is in the atmospheric music and programming, from the moody keyboard and bass interlude to the pulsating heartbeat to the analog fadeout.

Exactly the kind of song that has endeared Epik High to mainstream listeners, fallin' layers strong beats, fast rap, and a too-catchy repeating refrain over classical piano and strings accompaniment. Lucite Rabbit's Jo Ye Jin both softens and strengthens the song with her childlike backing vocals on the refrain. If you're looking for the signature Epik High hit, then it'd have to be "1 Minute, 1 Second" (Track 5) which jumps from the sound of piano and ocean waves into a perfectly pop layered refrain featuring Taru. Interestingly, the song then steps on the brakes, and slows back down to piano and free-flow conversational rap, setting an effective contrast and bridge between the verse and refrain sections. In another great collaboration, Ha Dong Kyun pitches in on "Habits" (Track 5) weaving his husky lilting voice around Epik High's steady mid-beat rap. Lovescream floats to a whispering end with the short and moody rap number 1825 (paper cranes).