The lead-up to ARTMS’s debut album promises a number of tracks and videos, quickly establishing the lore it took over a year for creative director Jaden Jeong to craft with LOONA. This kicked off with intro track Birth, which felt more like a series of ideas than a full-fledged song. New track Flower Rhythm is structurally more familiar but retains the group’s eccentricities.
There’s a fine line between appreciating art for what it’s doing and actively enjoying the experience of that art. I feel like we’ve seen this with a few K-pop songs lately, and Flower Rhythm is one of those tracks that does little for me even as I can gaze at it with admiration. Its production is lush and complex and the girls deliver an expressive performance that compliments its herky jerky rhythms and ever-changing energy. They’re clearly a strong team and the final moments of Flower Rhythm hint at more of that potential.
But when it comes down to it, my taste simply leans more melodic and sleek than this is able to deliver. Like Birth, it still feels like a cool idea that could use more development and the hooks don’t hit hard enough to counter the fitful instrumental. However, it’s evident this group will cultivate a dedicated fan base who love to dive into the lore and swim alongside the musical twists and turns.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5