The album’s more upbeat tracks come by way of ‘Love Fool’ – a perky ode to the thrill of the chase that borrows from the ’80s with a snappy, synthy base and gleaming keys sprinkled throughout – and feel-good pop number ‘Another Day’. The equally straightforward ‘No Makeup’ is another clear standout, where EXO take a more flirtatious and inviting approach lyrically. On the flip side, the stripped-down ‘Hear Me Out’ is rollicking fun, with lyrics that goad their proverbial lover to just let go and have a good time: “No need to hesitatе / Oh, babe, hold me closely / Thinking too much messes with your flow / You know I don’t play games.” It’s by far the simplest song on the record but also perhaps the best, proving that less is indeed more. All three are perfectly palatable, but perhaps not the most memorable when stacked against other offerings on the album. There’s also the rowdy ‘Private Party’, which leaves very little to the imagination lyrically ( “Touch my body / Our own private party””). Love song ‘Regret It’ features hints of new jack swing and old-school hip-hop, while ‘Cinderella’ is firmly rooted in synthpop, coupled with an explosive, bass-heavy chorus. Sonically, EXO get a bit nostalgic for the ’90s on ‘Exist’. There’s no denying that EXO have crafted an appetising recipe with this one – like a light, chilled drink in the summer heat that leaves you wanting more. Vocally and visually, it features all the EXO trademarks: clean layered harmonies, murmured ad-libs and a sinuous choreography showcased in the accompanying music video. Laden with Dionysiac undertones, the song takes attraction as its main motif lyrically. One of the most buoyant offerings on ‘Exist’ is title track ‘Cream Soda’, which opens the album. Once those layers are peeled back, at the core is a group that confidently and deftly showcases a vocal depth, range and maturity on a record that feels like a homecoming worthy of the wait. Their new studio album is easily digestible and outwardly minimalist – but there are multiple layers at play here. On the surface, ‘Exist’ might feel like a relatively risk-averse release from EXO, the boyband who gave us groundbreaking K-pop hits like ‘Obsession’, ‘Tempo’ and ‘Ko Ko Bop’.
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