Review: Big Bang's Seungri Achieves Cool, Classy Production Sound On 'Love Box' [AUDIO]

Although the hype machine is in full swing for Seungri's new single "Gotta Talk To You," complete with its sleek, high-budget music video, fans would be well advised to check out the song "Love Box" from the Big Bang singer's new solo EP "Let's Talk About Love," released on Monday.

"Love Box" is a high point of "Let's Talk About Love," striking an aurally pleasing balance of Seungri's melodic, heartfelt vocals and sharp, percussive jabs of guitars and horns.

There are also some gorgeous string arrangements that rise up to provide some bedrock for the song sonically.

The dark orchestral voicings offer similar shades of the legendary French singer and composer Serge Gainsbourg to those that Beck recycled to great effect during his "Sea Change" period.

And although it may seem redundant to praise each area of the band, it is worth singling out the Fender Rhodes electric keyboard playing as being particularly inspired.

The keyboardist provides gives the song with an off-the-cuff jazz flavor that is the perfect compliment to Seungri's mournful vocal melody.

That's not to say the Big Bang singer's performance is morose though, quite the contrary.

More than anywhere else on "Gotta Talk To You," Seungri sounds as though he is laying himself bare on "Love Box."

Although musically they are obviously from completely different worlds, there is something reminiscent of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's ability to drive home a hook until it breaks your heart, in Seungri's performance.

And some of the spaced-out guitar lines on "Love Box" help to bring their similarities into even sharper focus.

There is a cinematic quality, particularly in the intro to "Love Box" that helps to hypnotize you and hook you in.

And while the main verse of the song is clearly R&B, there is a longing that the song expresses that calls to mind strong visual images even without a music video.

At age 22, Seungri has a maturity in his vocal delivery and production choices that is impressive.

And while the rest of "Let's Talk About Love" is on a different, decidedly more party-centric tip than "Love Box," the song offers signs that when he is ready to step a into more mellow, organic musical concept full-time, the possibilities could be exciting.

Listen to the song "Love Box" from the new album "Gotta Talk To You" by Seungri RIGHT HERE

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Seungri
Big Bang
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