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Whang Boryung (황보령)
SmackSoft
upper music, 2008

Return

10 years ago, the name called Whang Boryung was one index for those who wanted to understand Hongdae indie scene. Her multiple identity as a painter, artist and musician was felt as foreign as the distance between New York and Korea, and thus was regarded as reflecting the diverse spectrum of the space called Hongdae ap indie scene. She was mentioned along with Kim Yun-a (김윤아), Yi Sang-eun (이상은; Leetzsche) and Nam Sang-a (남상아), her first album A cat with three ears (귀가 세개 달린 고양이) was well received. Most of all, her album’s nihilistic sensibility and emotional shock coming off from the collision of different sounds were unheard of in Korean music at that time. But the second album Taeyangryun (태양륜) was not successful, which was a product of a band, not of a singer-songwriter. It was like the difference between 1997 and 2002. Meanwhile, Hongdae environment was changed and so was the audience’s sensibility.

Then we have new Whangboryung’s album in seven years in an EP format containing 4 songs. Title, SmackSoft is identical to the name of the band she worked with for the album. Shin Yun-chul (신윤철) played guitar on “Memoirs” (그리운 사람) and “Daydreams” (해). Subtitled as 2.5 collection, the EP guides us to what she has been through and what she is orienting next. In the first place, the result is satisfying.

She is still contemplative. The feeling is still immediate when she performs a monologue indifferently and then takes her dry and hoarse voice. In terms of melody and sound quality, the EP seems to be on the extention of the first album, especially “Memoirs” and “Sigh.” Percussion and cello delivers the sense of dejavu and synesthesia. “Daydreams” is led by heavy guitar riffs and repetitive phrases. The overlapping of melodies and vocals leads to the climax in the latter half. “Blossom” is a sincere sound: vocal and guitar steadily move to the dramatic climax.

Interestingly to me, some images are associated to these sounds. Something like landscape of 90s’ Hongdae club scene shimmers and fades in my eyes. Her unstable voice and retrospective sound remind of Whang as an index back then. Ten years seem washed away. Return rather than comeback. But what is she right here right now in this context? We can answer this question around March when her 3rd regular album comes out. Indeed, we are waiting for the spring. 20090108

* Originally written in Korean for [weiv]
http://weiv.co.kr/review_view.html?code=album&num=2815

* Tracklist
1. 그리운사람 (memoirs)
2. 해 (daydreams)
3. 다시살아나 (blossom)
4. 한숨 (sigh) - Acoustic Version

* Related sites
Whang’s official home
http://www.whangboryung.com
Fan cafe on Naver
http://cafe.naver.com/smacksoft
Fan cafe on Daum
http://cafe.daum.net/stalkers

* Rating: