Feb 2019 The End of Nightmare – Idology Review
Dreamcatcher – The End of Nightmare (2019)
Dreamcatcher
The End of Nightmare
Happyface Ent.
Feb 13th 2019.
Intro
PIRI
Diamond
그리고 아무도 없었다 (And There Was No One Left)
Daydream (백일몽)
PIRI (Inst.)
Mano: A new track that declares itself to be the end of the ‘Nightmare series’ which Dreamcatcher has tirelessly continued till now. While one can’t help but be reminded of how homework or project files end up with names like ‘Nightmare_series_real_final’, as they have declared the series to be over in the past, the album’s quality is nothing to laugh at. This time, in the lead track, PIRI, the group joins Trap beats with the team’s signature heavy metal sound. ‘Diamond’, on the other hand, is a successful crossbreed between Moombatone and heavy metal. Beginning with ‘Intro’, a track notable for the usage of the PIRI main theme to lead the track, as well as imposing orchestrations and drum-and-bass sounds, followed by the lead track and then throughout the rest of its running time, the album keeps up a tight sense of tension and interconnectedness, displaying a level of quality befitting the finale of the series and of Dreamcatcher’s world building. The performances from the members, who seem to have reached a certain level, are also superb. The music video, which implies a story of how the girls chose to become the Nightmare itself within the ever-repeating Nightmare, almost seems like a summary of the series up to this point. While it’s sad to see the ‘Nightmare series’ end, I hope they bravely continue on their new path without forgetting their dark past.
Mimyo: What stands out more than anything else in PIRI is the musical evolution that Dreamcatcher has gone through. Simply putting together the given elements could have been done immediately, but was risky. Dreamcatcher manages to avoid this trap, though the risk is felt as they teeter on its edge. PIRI successfully brings a drop-type hook, unheard of in previous Dreamcatcher tracks, into the spectrum of metal (while drawing from the vague similarity between Gugak-Korean traditional music-and Hip Hop), and then reinterprets it into a polished K-Pop style. Through the contrasting gap between the blunt rap and sweet vocals, the group’s voice and its characteristic performance fully shine through. Dreamcatcher’s music, which began without any precedents to follow, now presents a completion of sorts. I salute the experimentation and self-improvement that the team has undertaken.
Eunjae Cho: If nothing else, their untiring efforts in advancing the story while maintaining their unique charisma deserves praise. Compared to the group’s past tracks, which seemed to sprint breathlessly, this time they reigned the tempo in somewhat and presented a calmer, yet heavier performance which highlights the team’s growth into a middle-tier group. Another point of note about the team is how they fill their albums with songs that are of consistent moods and themes. Despite traversing different genres, Dreamcatcher’s cold, proud yet powerful image is apparent in every track, even in ‘Daydream’, a ballad number. Now that they’ve so perfectly wrapped up their two-year-long project, one can’t help but have high hopes for their upcoming story.
1st Listen: Mid February 2019.
1st Listen: Mid February 2019 contains reviews for albums From SF9, Kim Bo-hyung, Nichkhun, Dreamcatcher, Ravi, MonstaX, Saturday, Seven Senses, WannaBe, Yoon Ji-sung, LOONA, INFINITE, TOPSECRET, ITZY, Taemin, TREI, HI CUTIE, Hwasa, and Hyomin.
Album introduction
Dreamcatcher’s never-ending ‘Nightmare’, a ‘da capo’ within the fantasy, the 4th mini album [The End of Nightmare]
The story of a Nightmare that has captivated the whole world now draws to a close. This is through Dreamcatcher’s new album, [The End of Nightmare].
Dreamcatcher’s ‘Nightmare’ started on January 13th 2017. The Nightmare that they portrayed has continued to evolve. From Prequel to modern era, the Nightmare has continued to change, captivating the whole world. It could be safely said that Dreamcatcher’s extraordinary growth that went beyond Korea, highlighted by the group’s two world tours, was thanks to the group’s ‘Nightmare’ concept.
In their first Album, [Nightmare], Dreamcatcher members each takes on the form of a nightmare and visits us. Common nightmare we have, such as ‘the dream where you are chased by someone: JiU’, ‘the dream where you are watched by someone: Handong’, ‘the dream where you are trapped in a tight space: Siyeon’, ‘the dream where you fall from high places: Gahyeon’, ‘the dream where you can’t move your body: SuA’, ‘the dream where you wander unfamiliar places: Yoohyeon’, and ‘the dream where you get hurt: Dami’ were the mischievous doings of Dreamcatcher.
Their story was continued in [Nightmare – Fall asleep in the Mirror]. Dreamcatcher’s mischief awakens the brute nature within the Nightmare hunter, and a chase between the Nightmare hunter and the seven Nightmare ensues. The invitation from the Nightmare hunter, the escape that follows, the capture of the Nightmares, and the desperate chase that ensues in order to save them continues to present twists and turns, and doesn’t let the viewer relax until the very end.
Thus the Nightmare storyline was continued, but there remained an unresolved mystery. It was ‘how the girls became the Nightmares’. They presented the answer to this question in their first Mini album, [Prequel]. Dreamcatcher perfectly satisfied the taste of InSomnias worldwide.
Then a new ‘Nightmare’ unfolded. Dreamcatcher’s ‘Nightmare’ didn’t stay in one era. [Nightmare – Escape the ERA] continued the unique Nightmare fantasy story while signalling an end to the Antique era. The absorbing story, perched on the indefinite line between reality and dream, between inside and out, and between one and two, helped build a team identity that was unique to Dreamcatcher.
Then came [Alone In The City], where Dreamcatcher points to the stress of modern life as being the cause of the ‘Nightmare. The group depicts youths of the world who inhabit an uncertain reality, their fantasies of every tormentor they face being recreated in a nightmare, as well as the conflict between the ‘seven Nightmares’, enriching their story.
Dreamcatcher’s epic, which the team has so tirelessly expanded upon, finally comes to its end in [The End of Nightmare]. [The End of Nightmare], like the title suggests, is the installment that completes the ‘Nightmare’ story that Dreamcatcher had laid out so far.
The conclusion that Dreamcatcher presents is far from what one would ordinarily expect. Like how they started off with a twist by bringing ‘Nightmares’ into ‘Dreamcatcher’, an object that is supposed to drive out nightmares, this time, they trap you in a Nightmare that repeats infinitely. Thus, [The End of Nightmare] is not only the last ‘Nightmare’ presented by Dreamcatcher, but a new starting point, a ‘da capo’ within the fantasy.
Where will the ‘Fine’ of Dreamcatcher’s Nightmare be? With Dreamcatcher’s PIRI, we invite you into an never-ending Nightmare.
<Track List>
- Intro
Composition: LEEZ, Ollounder
Arrangement: Ollounder, LEEZ
Guitar: Ollounder
Synthesizer: LEEZ
The orchestration sounds in the opening of the track that are reminiscent of war films, and the Drum & Bass rhythms of the later half blend together in this Intro track. The allusion to the PIRI theme heightens one’s expectations.
- PIRI
Composition: Ollounder, LEEZ
Lyrics: Ollounder, LEEZ
Arrangement: Ollounder, LEEZ
Chorus: Siyeon, LEEZ
Guitar: Ollounder
Bass: Ollounder
Drum: Ollounder
Keyboard: Olloudner
Synthesizer: LEEZ
Dreamcatcher’s new track, ‘PIRI’ is a song that depicts the emotions of modern life, where one wants to escape the solitude and anxiety of being left behind. They used ‘PIRI’ within the lyrics as a medium to express their SOS signal. Unlike their previous lead tracks, which featured fast tempos, PIRI creates tension with a different styled beat. The repeated melodyline, featuring an ear-catching usage of flute and whistling sounds, is noteworthy.
- Diamond
Composition: Ollounder LEEZ
Lyrics: Ollounder LEEZ
Arrangement: Ollounder LEEZ
Chorus: Siyeon, LEEZ
Guitar: Ollounder
Bass: Ollounder
Drum: Ollounder
Keyboard: Ollounder
Synthesizer: LEEZ
The track expresses the group’s ambition to be as strong as a Diamond, the strongest gem, so as to not break and triumph over the threat of the Nightmare. The intense beat of the chorus symbolizes their firmness. It is the first Future Rock track from Dreamcatcher.
- And There Was No One Left
Composition: Ollounder, LEEZ
Lyrics: Ollounder, LEEZ, Kim Jun-hyeok
Arrangement: Ollounder, LEEZ, Kim Jun-hyeok
Chorus: Siyeon, LEEZ
Drum: Ollounder
Guitar: Ollounder
Bass: Ollounder, LEEZ
Synthesizer: Kim Jun-hyeok
A retro pop number, this track tells the prologue story to the lead track, ‘PIRI’. The lonely, empty emotions of the lyrics are set to a simple rhythm and guitar theme.
- Daydream(백일몽)
Composition: LEEZ , Ollounder, Kim Jun-hyeok
Lyrics: LEEZ , Ollounder, Kim Jun-hyeok
Arrangement: LEEZ , Ollounder, Kim Jun-hyeok
Chorus: Siyeon
Guitar: Byeon Do-young
Bass: Kim Jun-hyeok
Drum: Kim Jun-hyeok
Keyboard: LEEZ
Synthesizer: Ollounder
Though you wait for a promise with someone to be fulfilled, every memory is but an empty daydream of your imagination. A sad ballad number that expresses unchanging emotions and longing.
- PIRI (Inst.)
Composition: Ollounder, LEEZ
Arrangement: Ollounder, LEEZ
Guitar: Ollounder
Bass: Ollounder
Drum: Ollounder
Keyboard: Ollouder
Synthesizer: LEEZ
Original article: http://idology.kr/disc/12257