Some of K-Pop’s little sisters have returned! ILLIT, currently one member down as Moka continues her hiatus for health reasons, have finally returned just in time for Halloween, with their fifth EP, BREAK EVEN.
Whilst the five-piece initially burst onto the scene with a fresh-faced, bright and bubbly concept, comeback after comeback has seen them dabble in increasingly surreal aesthetics, embracing the bizarre and putting a slightly twisted spin on the saccharine, cutesy image that so many K-Pop girl groups feel compelled to embody during their first few releases.
BREAK EVEN continues along this off-kilter hyperpop trajectory, with opening track “Super in Love” kicking things off with buzzy electronics that bleed into a thumping mid-tempo track, as the girls sadly muse over an unrequited love. References to their previous song “jellyous” are a charming wink to devoted fans, while the gorgeous, floaty vocal arrangements make this perhaps one of the group’s most beautiful album openers yet.
Next up is “More”: ILLIT hyperpop at its very best. It’s an addictive dance track with a sprinkle of trance, where the heavy dance beats provides the perfect backdrop for the light, airy vocals that we’ve come to associate with the group.
Here again, the girls sing about a love that isn’t quite requited, with the object of their affections failing to give them the attention they feel they deserve. Only this time, rather than simply being sad about it, they’re getting a little bit mad. It’s a great track that highlights just how much ILLIT have grown, playfully balancing the lightness of their image with a simmering undercurrent of slightly twisted anger that glimmers somewhere beneath the surface. That it’s a perfect song for a workout doesn’t hurt either.
Third on the EP is “You’re Under Arrest”, another out-and-out dance-pop banger. The whistle motif that pops up throughout the song might irritate some listeners, but the ridiculously catchy melody of the chorus makes it more than clear why this was chosen as the group’s title track.
Once again, the girls are criticising the object of their affections, but this time they aren’t going soft on him in the slightest, declaring that he’s under arrest for the way he’s treated them. Whether you love or hate some of the instrumentation, there’s little doubt that this will be an absolute blast when the girls perform it on tour. After just one listen it’s already a ridiculously infectious earworm, the sort that’s intentionally crafted for many parties and social media reels to come.
Last but not least is “Pop”, the shortest track on the EP and another upbeat hyper-dance-pop offering. This time, the girls reflect on the unexpected nature of a new crush, and keeping tight on theme with the album’s reflections on imperfect love, crushes and self-reflection.
Similarly to “You’re Under Arrest”, the high-pitched, brassy synths might prove irritating to some, while to others (this writer included), they give the song a wonderfully likeable quirkiness that only adds to the twisted-sugar concept underpinning many of ILLIT’s recent releases.
Indeed, one of the most enjoyable aspects of BREAK EVEN is how cohesive the entire project feels. Across four tracks, the girls take us on a hyper rollercoaster from romantic disappointment to anger and, finally, the buzz of falling all over again (even if you might not want to). All the while, the sonic landscape remains ILLIT through and through: light, intentionally bizarre and addictive to listen to.
As with so many of the group’s releases, however, the only real disappointment is that their EPs are simply so short.
With generally only four or five tracks per release, another song or two certainly wouldn’t go amiss, especially since we’re still waiting for the group’s first full-length album. Having mastered the art of producing cohesive EP after cohesive EP, it’s exciting to consider what ILLIT might achieve when given the runtime of an entire LP to play with.
However, we’re sure many a Halloween bash this season will be graced with these party-ready bangers, while many a listener thoroughly irritated with their latest crush will undoubtedly find themselves blasting the EP at full volume as they prepare to head out in a wonderfully stylish Halloween costume that the ILLIT girls themselves would surely approve of.
More, please.
BREAK EVEN is out now. ILLIT can be found on Instagram here and on all major streaming platforms.
