[MV & Album Review] Dream Catcher � 'Alone In The City'

AKP STAFF

DREAM CATCHER � 'ALONE IN THE CITY'

Track List:

1. Intro
2. What
3. Wonderland
4. Trap
5. July 7th
6. What (Inst.)

With "You And I," Dream Catcher's nightmare sequence came to a close. They're starting a new cycle with 'Alone in the City,' their 3rd mini-album. According to Happyface Entertainment, this will be a new nightmare, with modern elements rather than supernatural.�

As you might guess, "Intro" is the intro track. A minute 6 of ominous sounds, bells mix with crunchy guitars and ominous space-age synths. I love this, especially how it ends. "What" contains some of the sounds we heard in the first track. Just like many Dream Catcher songs, there's a hard rock vibe running through this one, and you have hints of danger. The power of the girls' vocals and the prominent guitar is what makes this one awesome. "Wonderland" is a light R&B track. Some of the time changes and off-tempo effects are what make it interesting. I've always been a fan of the girls' voices, but here their vocals are just the icing on top.

"Trap" is another one that has that hint of foreboding. You've got the synths, the guitars, the urgent vocals. You'd think it would be played out by now -- far from it. And the sharpness of the vocals on this one make it a serious jam. I was curious about "July 7th" because that happens to be the day after my birthday. It's got a tropical house beat that never becomes any more than that. The girls are equal parts sweet and seductive here, which makes me like it more than I might otherwise.

There's a modern feel to a lot of the songs. The synths are quite evident and a unique part of the composition. The way they act as an ambient track, the guitars clearing away to reveal the synths underneath is truly epic. I've been a fan since they were Minx. Minx was fun, Dream Catcher is intense. This EP has the hard-edged joy I've come to expect from this band. They haven't let me down yet. �

MV REVIEW

The MV for "What" is meant to engender a sense of a dread. You might ask 'what else is new?' Glad you asked. Rather than a supernatural fear, this one is more about isolation, and anxiety about the unknown. And they do this with precious little else other than the girls themselves, and a prominent cityscape.

It takes place at night, and the girls wake up in different places, alone and somewhat uncertain. Most of the shots are in near total darkness, and the dim lights that do shine on them show them unsettled. It doesn't take a genius to figure out they're probably in danger. There are still some hints of the supernatural, but they're infrequent and flash by quickly.

The dancing is interesting. The outfits are a mix of bright colors and black, light and dark, as they dance before some odd miasma behind them. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be, but it is not the most comforting sight, despite the fact the girls are bathed in light. The dance moves are direct, sharp, and confident. I love that kind of choreo, usually reserved for guys, and they're starting to let the girls in on it.

Is it any good? It's as good as their other MVs, but not quite as dynamic. There's more to unpack�since there's no narrative. But the shots are pretty amazing, and it definitely sets a tone. I look forward to seeing more MVs in this new cycle because they get better with each new MV they release.

Score

MV Relevance...........9
MV Production..........9
MV Concept..............9
MV SCORE: 9.0

Album Production.....9
Album Concept.........9
Tracklisting...............9
ALBUM SCORE: 9.0