G-FRIEND - 'SNOWFLAKE

Track List:

1. INTRO (Snowflake)
2. Rough
3. Say My Name
4. Luv Star
5. Someday
6. TRUST
7. Rough (Inst.)



Rookie group G-Friend had a successful year as rookies in 2015, and now they're back with the seasonally titled 'Snowflake.' From their debut, they've established a reputation for a softer, effervescent sound, sugary sweet, girly, and all fun. They retained this sound in their second release. 'Snowflake,' their third mini-album, contains some surprises... �

INTRO ("Snowflake")
Starting with a ticking clock, it finds its footing as an epic-sounding orchestral composition, with echoes of the title track in the vocals. It sounds great, but the feelings it evokes remind me of anything but a girl group.



"Rough"
They've leveled up here and offer up a more mature-sounding tune than what we've heard from them before. The title track is still upbeat dance pop, but the song is more satisfying than the light, fluffy pop confections that comprise their usual output. I like how the ticking from the intro continues at the end. It's a full-bodied departure from their previous sound. Obviously, the song is all about how they like a guy and it's hard to take.

"Say My Name"
Also different, this song is a strong one that has the girls demanding the guy's attention. Powerful synth slams and throbbing bass punctuate their point. The voices aren't as high-pitched and are a bit more commanding here. The girls indicate they have a time limit and reference some nice imagery with moonlit foggy nights and sandcastles worn away in the waves.



"Luv Star"
Marks a return to the light pop that we've come to expect from the trend set by their previous two outings. It's got more of a dance aesthetic to it, which I relish. A pounding beat, loud synths, and a guitar keep the time, and the overdubs give it some punch. The girls compare their guy to a brightly shining star.

"Someday"
This song has has that A Pink vibe to it. Cute and catchy, but its also got great instrumentation. With synth slams and electric guitars, there's a lot going on here. It's what I would have ended the EP with, but they didn't ask me. The girls are addressing a boy, telling him that he's "the only one on their mind," and that someday they'll see him smile.



"TRUST"
Is the ballad on the album. With honey harmonies and dulcet tones, it's also got some bass. It's a somber tune, about a breakup that happened because he betrayed their trust. It doesn't distinguish itself from the countless ballads you've already heard, but it's pretty enough.

This is a smooth, polished album. I like how they've taken their synthpop sound and added some soul to it. This was my main complaint about their earlier release. I felt like the bored conductor saying "once more, with feeling." It's almost as if the producers listened to me, and put together some joyous, uplifting tracks with some artistic heft to them. The girls not only put some emotion into it but also some of them have some developing powerhouse potential. Not only is this on repeat but also now I'm looking forward even more to their next comeback.

MV REVIEW

The girls play students who part and reunite in "Rough."

Continuing the schoolgirl concept they've cultivated through their career, a mini-drama plays out, as various members walk the grounds and halls, peering into rooms and taking in the sights. Turns out they're visiting years later and reminiscing. There's a trite, if cute, ending to the whole thing. As they dance outside, (fake) snow falls.

While watching this, I kept thinking their legs must be frozen. Turns out that they had hot packs under their clothes to keep warm. But the outfits for the most part are bog-standard schoolgirl, though there are three or four different ones the girls change into throughout, and they look adorable in them.



The choreography is actually pretty good. Those girls have some great moves this time around, and everything is in sync. I love the drops and the sweeping gestures, and did anyone else get chills when they mimicked the movements of clock hands near the end?

I like the sound in this, though, as they incorporated that exquisite intro into the MV at the end, when they reunite with SinB, and charming scenes follow. �



This is a nicely put together MV. It had a plot, without being too convoluted. And the moments, while they could be wistful and melancholy, were reframed as delightful, feel-good moments. Some of the cinematography was interesting, using light as a framing device. The school, hardly thought of as a pleasant place, even had a part to play, almost watching over them when they danced outside. Definitely a thumbs up.��

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