Almost a year after 新世界, Seoul Magic Club returns with a new EP and a changed member roster. Kim Dahyun is now the vocalist and the band is down a guitarist and second vocalist making the band a four-piece. But even with these changes, the Seoul Magic Club core remains the same.
It’s sweeping and tumultuous waves of shoegaze. Kim Dahyun proves she’s a fit. Her vocals mold into the crushing audio, giving you the necessary guidance. “Angels Love” is an intense introduction to MAD99 and Kim Dahyun. To me, Seoul Magic Club doesn’t need to prove anything in their music. They have a core and signature that consistently impresses.
The soaring themes of “Angels Love” are twisted in “Devil Cat” with the plodding verses and extended ideas. It’s shorter than “Angels Love” but is a more compelling story. Nabin is excellent on the track, providing the right accents and embellishments on the drum kit.
With a lack of shoegaze bands, the remaining ones are really helping guide the direction of the genre. On “Star and Fog,” I hear old Modsdive. But it also improves upon the genre’s foundation elements. “たいせつ taisetsu” is the signature track that you might hear from a genre sampler. It carries all the basic elements by presenting a chapter-like experience through the almost seven-minute track time.
In the end, there’s nothing I can complain about with MAD99. It’s a solid addition to Seoul Magic Club’s discography. I think 2022 Bless and Peace were highlights because of what the two opposing EPs did, but like 新世界, MAD99 is a self-contained operatic experience.
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Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.