Korean Rock Recall: The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts On Bluedawn Singer Han Hee Jeong's 2013 Release 'Soil' [VIDEO]

Some music acts like a fist, forming a unified force for maximum impact. Other music can act instead as massaging fingers, coming from the same direction and working towards the same goal, but with a variety of approaches.

"Soil," the 2013 single from South Korean singer-songwriter Han Hee Jeong, investigates the latter approach.

This neat pop gem is the very definition of a work that is greater than the sum of its parts. On"Soil," Han proves that numerous moving parts can come together to build a sturdy musical structure.

Han got her start in 2001 as a member of The The, not to be confused with the British post-punk band of the same name. She later went on to form the dream-pop duo Bluedawn with bandmate Ssoro in 2003 and has been recording as a solo artist since her 2008 debut "Your Document."

"Soil" was featured on Han's 2013 album "Stranger Every Day," a solid collection of sophisticated indie pop material.

The song starts simply, with an oddly jarring sample of an non-pitched vocal sound. It almost sounds as if Han is clearing her throat. Throughout the rest of the piece, similar little gasps and syllables are peppered throughout. These tiny exclamations are small parts of the overall puzzle. One by one, other pieces fall into place. A robotically minimal drumbeat takes its place and moves forward with cool indifference. A fuzzy synth bassline arrives, ornamented by subtle growls of distortion.

The overall production aesthetic on "Soil" contributes to these clever compositional elements. Each instrument is carefully isolated, allowed their own sonic space, not invading one another's musical range. It's extremely thoughtful and very effective.

Han's voice is a bright beacon among these orbiting satellites of musical ideas. With a breathy lightness, her vocal narration gives these seemingly unrelated snippets of sound something to focus around.

Meanwhile, Han continues to add disparate textures.

A fuzzed-out electric guitar and swirling organ join to contribute harmonic depth, particularly in a lovely bridge that comes all too soon in this rather brief song.

At no point does the overall mix of "Soil" feel dense or overly crowded. Each piece contributes to the song's overall delicacy, like a highly ordered house of cards that becomes more impressive every time a part of the deck is added.

By the song's end, these pieces have been stripped away, leaving us with a charming double-tracked harmony courtesy of Han. This seems fitting, as the song wouldn't have worked without her confident yet demure vocal.

By the time the song is over, the listener has been exposed not just to one musical idea but many, all at once. The resulting feeling isn't overwhelming, but rather inviting.

Watch the video for Han Hee Jeong's "Soil" RIGHT HERE

 

Jeff Tobias is a composer, musician and writer currently living in Brooklyn, New York. As of late, he has been researching the history of British free improvisation and fine-tuning his chili recipe. 

Tags
Han Hee Jung
Soil
Stranger Every Day
Bluedawn
The The
Korean Rock Recall
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics