Review: f(x) Lays Down Irresistibly Infectious Rhythm With 'Rum Pum Pum Pum' From Their New Album 'Pink Tape' [VIDEO]

Pop quiz: can you name a K-pop song with a slide guitar in it?

Having trouble? You're not alone.

Although there has to be some example of a slide guitar somewhere within the genre of K-pop, the sound is just one of the many original flavors making up the enticing sonic landscape in "Rum Pum Pum Pum," the new single by five-piece girl group f(x).

The song also features an infectiously layered rhythm track that is virtually impossible to resist, and some downright tasty slide guitar riffs as well.

Between the muffled acoustic guitars and the sharp, undulating percussion tracks there is a Middle Eastern flavor here reminiscent of some of Missy Elliott's most innovative works.

Yet there is a West African rhythmic flavor in play here as well both in the circular sound but also some of the rhythmic patterns.

Add some march beats and heavy industrial beats and you start to get an idea of the complex rhythmic track in "Rum Pum Pum Pum," presumably a reference to the Christmas Carol "The Little Drummer Boy."

And in the middle of it, the girls deliver confident, sexually provocative vocals in a way that doesn't feel forced or embarrassing.

One interesting songwriting choice in "Rum Pum Pum Pum" is to add mostly major (happy) sounding melodies and harmonies to a minor (sad) chord-driven song.

The result is a musical tension that is extremely well executed and comes together with a surprising alchemy.

When it comes to the looks and dance moves required of any chart-topping girl group, f(x) has all of that, but what they really have going for them are impressive vocal gifts.

The harmonies are crisp but not over-processed, the lead vocals are delivered with all the sass that you would expect from a gang of pop princesses, but are still musical and melodic.

So often in pop music there is a great beat and an overzealous vocalist who just doesn't deliver anything worth listening to or a fantastic singer who just can't find the right producer to harness their talents.

In "Rum Pum Pum Pum," f(x) found a way to achieve both. Even the rapping is pitch perfect vibe-wise.

Released on Monday, the second f(x) album "Pink Tape" is said to be pink because it is all about love, according to the website allkpop.

If there is any band in the world that has the right mixture of sass appeal and charming earnestness to pull that off, it's f(x).

But don't write them off as just another sugar pop act.

With the heavy backbeat and irresistibly inventive production of "Rum Pum Pum Pum," f(x) is sure to be damage to the dance floors of the world for some time to come.

Check out the music video for "Rum Pum Pum Pum," off of the new album "Pink Tape" by f(x) RIGHT HERE

Tags
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics