Despite my interest in their concept, I haven’t yet become a fan of XLOV’s musical output. However, one song on their new album stood out to me, and not just because of its unique title. Tooth Gem Chiwawa (투스젬치와와) comes closer to fashioning the kind of offbeat electronic pop the group seem to be pursuing.

This is still less of a song than I’d like it to be, with more focus on atmosphere and vibe than well-developed melody, but its light, hyperpop sound casts a dreamlike tone that fits XLOV surprisingly well. The production is a bit too computer-heavy to fully capture my attention, as it feels almost intangible in places. However, the song becomes more hypnotic as it develops and starts to hypnotize you with its repetition. If their producers can find a way to meld this sound with more structurally robust songwriting, we could have something very special on our hands.

Grade: C+