Glow (EP, 2013)
Tracklist
Available On
About Album
Love X Stereo has released its third EP, titled [Glow]. With its haunting and powerful sound, Love X Stereo is introducing the world to a new and unique style of music mixing electronic elements into alt rock/synth pop.
Love X Stereo’s two previous EPs and single set were well received by fans, musicians, and critics alike. Over the years, the band has honed its live performance capabilities at numerous small and large-scale shows. In June 2013, they got an email from Cincinnati (home of Korean outfielder Shin-soo Choo) inviting them to perform at the annual MidPoint Music Festival. They also won invitations to another three festivals after that, including Indie Week Canada in Toronto, the M.E.A.N.Y. Fest in New York, and the CMJ Music Marathon, the largest music festival in New York. The last in particular is a platform that has helped many musicians on their path to achieving worldwide recognition. The invitations were a surprise to many, with the sole showcase opportunities going to a Korean rock band without a label or corporate sponsorship.
After some debate, the members of Love X Stereo decided to set out on their first-ever North American tour. They also decided to present a selection of new music to their overseas fans in time for the tour, which is set to start in late September. The result was [Glow], their third EP release.
[Glow] includes seven tracks, with four new songs and three remixes of older ones. The new release features a stronger and more accessible synth pop feel than the band’s previous releases, part of an attempt to develop a new sound that is both powerful and straightforward.
The leadoff track, “Lose to Win,” is dedicated to people struggling with anxiety over the uncertainties of the future. It speaks a message of hope, telling people to keep moving forward toward their goal and never hesitate. “Lose to Win” is a quiet, moody, and beautiful number with real impact to it.
The second track, “Fly Over,” is a dance song with a rich synth pop palette. The rhythm doesn’t require many chord changes, but the song is simple and stirring, with a propulsive, forward-moving sound.
The powerful third track, “Secrets,” is also the darkest of the four new songs. Inspired by the idea that all of us have secrets that we feel compelled to keep hidden, it sings about how good it would feel to be able to confess them to somebody.
The fourth track, “Crossing Rivers,” deals with the issue of human rights in North Korea. Telling of a young orphaned beggar who travels back and forth to China over the Tumen River, it is an exhortation to triumph over terrible adversity, as well as a call to the rest of us to pay more attention to people like the character. The song is also scheduled to appear on PSCORE’s 2013 compilation album.
The three remixes are songs that previously appeared on the Off the Grid album, now re-envisioned by artists John Gaska and J-Path. Gaska, an American DJ who produces the hip hop duo Samba Mamba, turns “Soul City” into a seamless techno-dance number, while J-Path, Korea’s top DnB DJ/producer brings his distinctive sense of rhythm to new versions of “Soul City” and “Chain Reaction.”
Love X Stereo is currently drawing attention faster overseas than at home in Korea. [Glow] is a confident bid for the U.S. market from a very promising band with global potential.
Available Lyrics
Lose to Win
You don’t know where to start
You can’t trust nobody
When your life’s falling apart
Stars falling from the sky
Is there any reason why
there’s no cures no remedies
for the faint of heart tonight
I see fire in your eyes
I can feel the beat inside
There’s no life shattering
Only truth will stay alive
I’ll be there by your side
And there’s plenty of reasons why
You can still count on me
Cause I never tell a lie
Keep going ahead
Take my word for it
Nothing stays the same
Lose to win the game
Keep going ahead
Take my word for it
Time to make a change
Lose to win the game
Right from the start
Know who you are
Rise from the past
Nothing’s meant to last
Escape from the dark
We travel afar
You’re waiting for the light
You’re waiting for a start
Keep going ahead
Take my word for it
Nothing stays the same
Lose to win the game
Keep going ahead
Take my word for it
Time to make a change
Lose to win the game
Fly Over
You got me so high
You got me so burning up inside I’ll lose my mind
Let’s meet in the middle
Or meet in the sky
We’ll live in ecstasy until the end of time
You got me sedated
You got me so high
You got me so burning up inside I’ll lose my mind
Let’s meet in the day
Or meet in the night
We’ll live in ecstasy until the end of time
We fly over
We fly over
We stretch out from city to city
Gonna rock this town like crazy
Secrets
Boy, you’re driving me insane
Secrets
See, I got no one else to blame
We can talk
I feel like a burden, you feel like a burden
We can talk
I feel like a burden, you feel like a burden
We talk, talk, talk
We feel like a burden
We talk, talk, talk
Tell me everything
Words lined up today
Tell me anything
Fools lined up today
Secrets
Anybody’s hideaway
Secrets
Hidden in your underlay
We can talk
I feel like a burden, you feel like a burden
We can talk
I feel like a burden, you feel like a burden
We talk, talk, talk
We feel like a burden
We talk, talk, talk
Tell me everything
Words lined up today
Tell me anything
Fools lined up today
Crossing Rivers
You've been through adverse situations
Cried for months
An ear of corn is all you wish for
Dreams are lost
You pale and blue and invisible criminal
You cannot escape this world
So now you fall
Little star,
They leave you in this darkest hours
Breathing hard
One second of freedom is all you wish for
Shoes are gone
You lie to yourself that it doesn't hurt so much too much
But if you wanna face this world
It's time to fly
Wash away your tears and cross the river
Wash away your fears and cross the river
Wash away the years and cross the river
Wash away, my dear
Soul City (John Gaska Remix)
I was weaving all the wasteful energies
I see million different faces in my dreams
Can’t tell if it’s fake or reality
I was driving my old bike along the stream
I got river veins right up to the sea
I see lovers being shy of kissing deep
Can’t take out the girl inside of me
Gotta take it slow this time (oh, no, no)
You don’t know where you are, cause you’re in my city
Gotta take it slow this time (oh, no, no)
You don’t know where you are, cause you’re in my city
I was climbing up the hills of industries
It seems no one speaking up unanimously
Get all dizzy in this town that never sleeps
Keep up with your drinks and then you’re free
I was walking down the streets
walking down the streets
I was walking down the streets
walking down the streets
I was walking down the streets of mysteries
I’m still counting on hopeful energies
I’m in heaven or in hell or in between
Can’t tell if it’s fake or reality
Soul City (J-Path Remix)
I was weaving all the wasteful energies
I see million different faces in my dreams
Can’t tell if it’s fake or reality
I was driving my old bike along the stream
I got river veins right up to the sea
I see lovers being shy of kissing deep
Can’t take out the girl inside of me
Chain Reaction (J-Path Remix)
Seize the time. Hello, sunshine.
I’ll meet you by the dawn.
I feel a sudden sense of healing.
Another life has come.
You took my hand with no hesitation.
Your kindness spreads in all.
A kiss, a touch, with a heart of wonder,
Our tale has just begun.
Hello.
Release the night. Let go, twilight.
I’ll be here by the glow.
You see the signs, and you hear the whispers.
Another life has gone.
Hold me tight. You don’t have to worry,
Cause death won’t tear us apart.
High glow up there with all your possibilities,
And spread my love to all.
Hello.
Everything is a chain reaction.
Album Reviews
The four new songs are excellent additions to the library of music from the band, but it definitely shows the time between releases. The music is more mature and feels more polished. Love X Stereo’s live performances are amazing, but there has been a slight disconnect between the recordings and the lives and Glow sounds like the bridge has been made.
Making authentic electronic music based on the alternative and punk rock sounds of the 90's and pop sounds of the 80's, this visionary group of musicians is creating a heavy buzz!
Throughout the three years of their music career, they continue to improve and develop better music as they focus on the quality of music that they could produced. With Annie’s angelic voice and upbeat electro-rock sounds, their music definitely set the mood both relax and outgoing from one song to another. Each of their album has a complete package of each genre of song which is worth about the 30 minutes of time to listen to. Also, they want to produce music that is equal to their capabilities in performing live in front of the audiences. Their music has been spread internationally thanks to the power of social media. Not only these songs are in English, but also the fusion of electro-rock music that every listener could enjoy and dance along with.
The group that is slowly growing on me and holds the # 1 spot on my Yeobo’s list is Love X Stereo, an electronic rock band based in Seoul, Korea. Their music is authentic electronic music inspired by the alternative and punk rock genre of the 90s.
It’s apparent that they’ve embraced synth-pop with clean electronic sounds, and Annie’s vocals stay in the light, breathy range. However, their signature mix of electronic and rock now works to create a distinct mood for each song, moving beyond the exercise of mixing genres. It’s nice to see how over time, LOVE X STEREO keeps playing with electronic and rock, committing to and expanding on both.
The music video for their song “Fly Over” on their album, Glow, not only takes you musically to a new place but also visually, especially if this new place includes singing mannequins and giant walking bags.
Love X Stereo plays an electro-rock sound that is heavily influenced by punk and alternative music of the 1990s. Based in Seoul, Love X Stereo makes the rounds in America and was last in the US with their third album, Glow. As such, the duo is not shy about their ability to get audiences dancing with the proficient use of the synthesizer. But techno pop songs like "Fly Over" and "Lose to Win," which uplift either way, start as simplistically as any unplugged artist with inspiration.
The distorted riff and female vocals flying over the anchor beat are mixed with the catchy melody, and the composition is refreshing. In addition, the video directed by Vakki depicts the ‘placeness of Korea’ from a global perspective with a unique sense, exuding a childish, uncomfortable, and eccentric charm within the tension of pop art. If we expand the perspective to the entire timeline of Love X Stereo rather than a specific song, I think that this music video would be an important moment. It is an impressive single and music video in many ways.