Big Ocean released their second mini-album "UNDERWATER" on April 20, alongside their first anniversary since debut. The subtitle of ‘UNDERWATER’ is ‘Embracing the Black Ocean’, containing the message that everyone has a deep and dark instinct beneath the surface. If their first album ‘Follow’ showed freshness and coolness, this time they are trying to reverse the trend with a mature and seductive concept.
The main motif of the album is ‘mermaids’. They are mythical creatures that are half-human and half-fish and have difficulty setting foot on land. They cannot let go of their longing for land and sometimes become sad, but mermaids who go under the surface are stronger and more attractive than anyone else. The mermaid’s shining tail propels them faster than two feet, and with their hair and wavy hands, they can touch the waves and embrace all the waves. For mermaids who have realized their abilities, the ocean is no longer a place of fear. It becomes a space of infinite possibilities where you can shine.
The four tracks depict the journey of Big Ocean realizing that he is a mermaid and awakening his instincts. ‘SINKING’ depicts ‘sinking’. It sings of the sadness of trying to fit in with a loved one but eventually drifting away. ‘FADE OUT’ is a song of ‘enlightenment’. When you submerge in water, all sounds become muffled, but instead, you feel your own voice becoming clearer in the empty silence. ‘END OF TIME’ is about regaining ‘fate’. It promises eternity while dancing under the moonlight.
‘ATTENTION’ is the title song of the album and symbolizes ‘instinct’. It is the stage where you regain your confidence after realizing that you are a ‘mermaid’. It tempts you to enter the water where you are and get swept up in a whirlpool of emotions as your heart leads you.
Based on the POP ROCK genre, the funky arrangement that is dynamic and restrained at the same time is attractive. Starting with a simple guitar riff, it feels like it is developing, and then the simple bass sound and kitschy melody in the chorus are the points.
Meanwhile, Big Ocean will have their first Europe tour beginning on April 23 in Italy, London on April 24, Paris on April 26 and Montpellier on April 27. Find tickets here.
Listen to "UNDERWATER"