1. My Flower
2. Galaxy *Title
3. Chaconne



17 months after the tragedy that claimed the lives of members RiSe and EunB, Ladies' Code is back with a new single album, 'Myst3ry,' featuring three hot-off-the-press tracks produced by the Mono Tree team. This is their first album as a trio.

The album starts off with "My Flower," a ballad, dreamy and lush, with soaring vocals and a fusion of synth and orchestral instrumentation. Bells echo alongside string instruments and create the illusion of space. The lyrics are melancholy metaphor, wishing that both their flower (a loved one) and they themselves could bloom again.



"Galaxy" is a sweet taste of electronica, as synths waft lazily and lonely vocals float. The chorus gives us that familiar R&B that they're known for, but it too is very different, being more akin to Deep House, Ladies' Code-style, trading horns for washes and blasts. The vocals on this track are a touch of heaven. The song itself is about being attracted to a guy, using celestial imagery in the lyrics:

"Rising stars shine on me
Oh hi you there, they recognize me
I'll climb a hill, I wave my hand and smile
Please save me
Stars that split the moon and a dancing heart..."

As much as the first two songs are a departure from their style, so too is "Chaconne," but in an entirely different way. The chaconne is a short, repeating harmonic progression or bass line, used in the Baroque period. The song begins with one such progression, and then transitions to a folk violin, French style, while a Spanish guitar plays. It's a pretty ballad that calls to mind rustic villages and moors. It has an extremely fragile feel to it. And the vocals fit it perfectly, the three girls really killing it here. The lyrics contain dynamic imagery and describe how they can't forget their lover.



This is amazing and oddball at the same time. Electronica is starting to become more prominent in K-pop, but this is a little different from what we're usually treated to, and a giant departure for Ladies' Code.  It's almost as if they've taken their pain and channeled it into this album, churning out something far different from their usual R&B styles. Contrast this with "Pretty Pretty" to know exactly what I mean. The album is mature and reflective, and obviously the result of careful crafting. I don't know if this is a reboot or something else, but the result is quite magical. Welcome to the new Ladies' Code, proving once again that the secret to their popularity is no 'Myst3ry.'

MV REVIEW

Check out the girls of Ladies' Code in their brand new MV "Galaxy!"

The MV is plotless, but chock full of meaning. There is tons of triangle imagery, whether they're playing a game of Tri-Chess or the number or shape is superimposed against walls, in patterns, common items, and even baked goods. It probably has something to do with the "3" in their album's title.

There's precious little dancing here, though I can tell you that the movements they do have a purposeful, sweeping and expansive gestures during the main verses, and tighter and faster movements during the more beat-laden chorus.



The tone is almost somber, but the girls don't languish in melancholy or listlessness. You don't see the trio smiling, though. They sport none of the welcoming grins we saw in previous MVs, instead displaying almost detached expressions. The effect is not unsettling, though, (unlike "Hate You") perhaps because of the music or the symbolism, I'm not sure.   
 
I like how they made this video relevant to the album without being slavish to the concept. It's not necessarily expensive or cheap, but they put a nice glossy coat of cinematic paint on it to hide the true cost. Is there any more that needs to be said? Two thumbs up.