CRAVITY - HIDEOUT: REMEMBER WHO WE ARE

IT’S ALWAYS SO EXCITING TO LISTEN TO A DEBUT ALBUM. TO SEE AN ARTIST OR GROUP BURST ONTO THE SCENE WITH SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND SINCERITY IS ALWAYS SO INSPIRING. CRAVITY ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS. AS A NEW 9-MEMBER BOY GROUP WHO DEBUTED UNDER STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT IN MID-APRIL, I FELT AS THOUGH THIS EP WAS A WELCOME BREATH OF FRESH AIR DURING THE QUARANTINE. THEIR DEBUT EP ‘HIDEOUT: REMEMBER WHO WE ARE’ HAS SO MUCH CHARACTER AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS GROUP ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE THEIR MARK VERY EARLY ON IN THEIR CAREER. IT PRESENTS SOME REALLY DIVERSE TRACKS AND A HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCTION VALUE THAT WAS REALLY REFRESHING TO SEE, PARTICULARLY FROM A DEBUT GROUP.

The team here at UKP have been really intrigued by their work and I was excited to be able to break the album down and review it track-by-track. See my thoughts on it below:

TOP OF THE CHAIN

I personally love really powerful songs and this one really got me hooked. The song itself is anthemic and was really empowering to listen to. The production quality is really high and the instrumentation matches the lyrics perfectly. The electric guitar adds that little bit of extra dramatic flair and really adds to the dynamic feel of the song. With lines such as ‘This song is revolutionary’ and ‘This is our anthem, this is our moment’ alongside the powerful instrumentation, it is clear that the production on this song has been really meticulous and detailoriented and it really pays off. This felt like a very strong statement on a debut album and it makes clear that CRAVITY are not afraid to be bold.

BREAK ALL THE RULES

This is another track that is clearly intended to make a statement. The instrumentation is a bit more simple than on Top of the Chain, but for what it lacks on the backing track, it makes up for in lyrics. One that stuck out to me a lot is the lyric that translates to mean ‘We don’t even know that we’ve lost the light in our eyes, a dystopia that blooms in the darkness of the planet that got used to despair’. It was really refreshing to see such bold writing on the album, especially as this is the title track of the album.

JUMPER

As this song was written for CRAVITY by Joohoney of MONSTA X, I was really excited to hear this one. First of all, this song is ridiculously catchy. It may not be the most complex song on the album, the lyrics and beat are fairly simple, but as a dance track it is a lot of fun. I can imagine this song being played in a club and really helping to bring up the energy. Not my favourite on the album, but even so, I’ve had it stuck in my head all day.

BLACKOUT

This is another example of some really solid production on this album. I really enjoy the 8-bit style beat on the song, it’s so unique and really caught my attention. With

the constant references to games throughout the song, the 8-bit style worked perfectly and really highlighted the amount of attention to detail on the album. This song really showcases the range of different vocals and quirks of each of the members and really allowed each of them to have a moment to shine. Blackout is another song that really encapsulates the determination of the group and makes me want to hear more.

STAY

This is the point in the album where the songs begin to slow down and mellow out a little bit. With a soft beat and smooth vocals, Stay has a really wistful feel to it that suits the meaning and lyrics of the song, being about a yearning for love. The lyrics can come across a little bit repetitive but otherwise, this is a really pleasant listen.

CLOUD 9

The title of this song fits the mood of this song very well. This is a really euphoric song about the joys of being together and empowering each other. Not only was this charming on its own, It was really heartwarming to hear whilst being in self isolation. That message of togetherness made me think about the people around me as we learn to cope and make the best of the situation we are all in. It really captures that uplifting moment where you feel like you could conquer the world as long as you were with the people you love.

STAR

As the last song on the album, this one really hammered home the intention of this debut. This song is packed with lyrical complexity and has a genuine sincerity to it that made for an absolutely beautiful song. This track was a really charming conclusion to the album and it has definitely ensured that I will be sticking around to see what CRAVITY release in the future.

Overall, this album really surprised me. As a debut EP, I was not expecting this level of craftsmanship and nuance and yet I have been proven to be completely wrong. ‘HIDEOUT: REMEMBER WHO WE ARE’ is a really admirable first step into the industry and, just like they have said in the title of the album, they have definitely made sure that I will remember who they are. I know that everyone here at UKP will definitely be excited to hear what they bring out next and we hope you will be too!