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Colde - ‘Love Part 1’ EP Review

Another Successful Showing of Subtle Brilliance from the R&B Singer

By Nathan SartainPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Colde is back. After a recent appearance on SM Entertainment’s YouTube channel with the station track “Loss,” a poignant number that combines a sleek, somber piano melody with both a hazy string-section and striking lyricism on how in order to live, we must replace what we have lost, the time has come for the offonoff member’s next fully fleshed out project.

Titled Love Part 1, this mini-album once again encompasses the quintessential elements of Colde’s music with tremendous success, and in turn creates a release that touches on all aspects of the emotion that is love without cliché. The genius has always been in the subtlety when it comes to the 25-year-old’s music and this is no exception, with the often restricted instrumentals making way for the lilting, emotion-filled voice of Colde to shine through unchallenged.

Kickstarting the release is “Love is a Flower,” a track that flanks Colde’s soothing voice with a slow, soft piano melody, colourful whistles, and a beautifully arranged string section. It’s an offering that feels very much like coffee-shop R&B, and contains the perfect elements for an introduction that draws the listener in without giving the entire project away.

Next up is “Love Makes Me Jealous.” Layered well, it’s an easy-listening track that relies on simplistic, programmed beats to create a tangibly relaxing mood. Colde’s vocals are once again fore-fronted and emphasised, meaning the uncomplicated lyricism can be translated to the listener in a much more endearing way.

“I fxxking Love You” follows, with rich, vivid guitar riffs supporting the vocals perfectly. It’s sublimely raw, and amalgamates the natural talent that the 25-year-old has. It stays in line with the theme of the EP sonically, but feels less-polished, which in turn aids the emotional resonance of the song. Being that it’s exactly the type of confession some would love to make, it adds to the naturalness of the overall project, and allows for the listener to weave their own memories into the listening experience.

Elsewhere, “WA-R-R” uses a groove-driven melody to supplement the flow of Colde’s voice to create a mid-tempo, slick R&B track. It’s solid, but very much of the same-ilk of what has came before it. However, the warm, acoustic track “Scent” gets everything back on track, and takes the EP to the next level. Sensual in its subtlety, it’s a stripped-back success that shines a light on what makes this artist so special. A perfect summation of the offonoff member’s lyrical, vocal, and production style, it’s efforts like these that can show-off the natural talent of a born artist without compromise.

“You Don’t Need My Love?” continues with more stylish, vibrant riffs, but ups the valence, offering a refreshing change from the stylings that have preceded. Tonally, the vocals are a lot sleeker and more powerful, in turn giving this track a unique kind of vibrancy.

“Endless Love” ditches the guitar, though, and reverts back to a melancholic piano melody. It’s a sad, down-tempo R&B offering that perfectly utilises the visceral emotion a string-section coupled with soft, downbeat piano notes can bring. It’s a short-but-bittersweet offering, and adds another dimension to an EP that has already been layered near-flawlessly.

And to finish comes “Don’t Leave Me, My Love.” Starting with subtle disc scratches and soft, high-pitched piano notes, the track once again builds itself as something full of emotional vehemence. The breathy, warm vocals of Colde shine through and help hammer home the meaning, and the further addition of string instrumentation towards the mid-section helps in assisting the track’s quality. It’s an emotional but strong ballad to finish the EP on, and shows the confidence and assurance Colde has when it comes to his own abilities. Once the track fades out and leaves the listener with seconds of silence, it becomes clear that this is an effort full of impeccable genius, and one that is a real development on the artist’s previous efforts.

In summary, Love Part 1 is a tour de force for Colde. Each song carries a meaning that feels personal yet relatable, and the instrumentation accompanying the vocals always adds gravitas to the story being told. It’s a tremendous offering that demonstrates the various colours of love, and succeeds in its showing of vulnerability, confidence, and all-around talent.

EP Rating - 9/10

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About the Creator

Nathan Sartain

A lifelong music fan with diverse taste.

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @nathan_sartain

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