Review: Yubin - Perfume

Wonder Girls were always one of K-Pop's most legendary groups since their debut. Even after their 2016 disbandment, the members each have had successful careers. Sunmi is practically the most successful female soloist in Korea at the moment, while Hyuna is a legend. Each member has had their own path, and Yubin decided to start an agency.

Now Yubin has done retro before it was cool, but Perfume is something new. Unlike her polished and clean city pop releases, Perfume is a mess of every electronic synth from the 80s they could find.

The opening electronic synths are actually a proper modern update on the 80s. I love a good 80s revival, but it must be authentic and creative. Perfume's instrumental is that. It is a waterfall moment, and one of the new year's best.

Yubin switches between singing and rapping through the whole track, each only for a few seconds. The whole of the verses is ambitious and powerful, but at the same time very messy and pretty sadly mixed.

The melody and chord progression of the chorus is something I have not heard in K-Pop since the second generation. Still, Yubin's messy performance and the mad synths in the back is something new. The "Fume Fume" hook is lame, though the one before it is pretty nice.

Overall, a small degree of polish could have turned Perfume into a modern masterpiece. Still, I guess I'll be happy with what I got.

Rating: 7.75/10

Image Source: Koreaboo