We are now four tracks into ARTMS’s debut album and my song ratings remain fixed in the “7’s.” I’m beginning to suspect their sound may not be for me. New track Air is unlikely to overhaul that, but we’re getting a little closer!
Air is underlined by a percolating beat with touches of brass and psychedelic synths. Much of this instrumental has been muted to echo the style of subdued “vibe” music that’s become so popular lately. The wannabe producer in me wants to fiddle with the knobs, shifting the effects so that we can hear these individual elements in a more compelling way. Air‘s approach threatens to turn this cool instrumental into mush, as if we’re hearing it buffered through walls from two rooms over.
ARTMS’s performance mostly follows suit, riding the groove with an offhand ease that compliments the lounge-like energy of the instrumental. The melodies aren’t ambitious, but they work well enough for this style of song. It’s a catchy vibe that may stand out in the context of the album. More than anything, it makes me curious how the group’s eventual title track might sound. Will they go big and bold or soft and moody?
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This one is not for me either.
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I was/am a huge Orbit. I’m sad to say ARTMS just isn’t doing it for me. I guess I just don’t understand the vibes-over-melody thing they seem to be pursuing. Four songs in, and I’m still having trouble finding something that feels like a real, complete song.
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ARTMS doesn’t do it for me either unfortunately. If we had to compare ARTMS with Loosemble, I would say Loosemble is winning so far in terms of post-LOONA girl groups. I don’t really mind vibes-over-melody, but ARTMS has portrayed this trend the worst by far.
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I think Loossemble is the “basic” younger sister of the cool, arty ARTMS. They might be basic, but both Loossemble minis were filled with solid, fun, easy-to-enjoy tracks.
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I wrote a bit more about it in my other comment, but I think they’re really focused on and limiting themselves with their concept right now, since 3 of those songs are essentially reinterpretations of existing songs.
But as the upcoming release is a full album with 11 songs (including an intro, maybe), there’s thankfully still a lot of room for more original works, with hopefully more exciting results.
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IDK what it is but MODHAUS has always had a mixing problem (i.e tripleS Just Do It & Beyond the Beyond). Virtually almost every ARTMS song has had this problem and I don’t know wth is happening over there but they *need* to fix it. It’s so annoyingly distracting and as you said it just sounds like “mush”.
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I’ve heard that “mixing problem” mentioned many times already, but I have no idea what people mean with that. The only song that I felt like it had issues was Sweet Crazy Love English version, which was somewhat awkwardly produced (due to the English lyrics perhaps), but even there I don’t think it’s the mixing.
Notably, looking through the ARTMS/OEC/solo recording credits, there are at least 4 different mixing engineers, who are all at different studios, so I simply can’t imagine it to be a general mixing problem.
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They seem to be heavily focused on concept currently, which unfortunately makes the actual music not stand out as much. I appreciate what they’re doing with their references to previous ARTMS members’ and Loona works, but the replayability of these songs isn’t the highest. I feel like I’d rather listen to the original songs instead, like Air Force One or Butterfly in this case. Though, occasionally, I do enjoy a lighter (pun not intended), sweeter vibe, and Air absolutely delivers on that. The songs seem meant to be enjoyed together with their originals.
Anyway, I absolutely loved the sound and concept of Birth, the only original song by now, but at this point I really have no idea anymore which direction the rest of the album will go, now that the pre-singles are complete.
The track list teaser from today sounds promising at least, with familiar composer names, and some pretty interesting titles already (url, Unf/air, Butterfly Effect, THHGTG – I love the books, so I have high hopes, but also high expectations for that song).
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I’ve been enjoying loossemble’s tracks more than artms
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I only have hope for the title track left at this point.
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I’m an orbit and I have actually loved all of ARTMS’ releases. Air is probably my least favorite, but it’s still a nice pleasing song. I enjoy how it takes elements from Air Force one into a more mellow song.
The songs may use elements from other tracks, but I think they use them in a way that makes a completely different song and different listening experience. Air vs Air Force one is probably the biggest difference between original vs reinterpretation, but flower rhythm and candy crush, in my opinion, are also distinct from kehwa, algorithm, and plastic candy
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