Replay: Huckleberry Finn - 환상... 나의 환멸

Revisiting music

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It's apparent from the initial rumbling of the opening track, "밤이 걸어간다", which opens up into a power rocker, that three years from the studio since Olengpio's Star has not dulled this band's talent as Huckleberry Finn's fourth studio album, 환상... 나의 환멸 (Fantasy... My Disenchantment) is a mighty fine rock statement.

While the opening track continues the traditional Huckleberry Finn alt rock sound, the songwriting and arrangements continue the little adjustments found on Olengpio's Star, like the way that Lee Kiyong and Lune's up-paced background vocals on the opening track create a more modern energy. This is continued with Lee Kiyong's vocal lead on the second track, "내달리는 사람들", his cool, but expressive singing containing an undercurrent of nervy energy that's a subtle development for the band. Another noticeable track is "푸른 수평선" which its trumpets and surprisingly easy going vibe, or at least as easy going as you can get with Lee Soyoung's intense rocker vocals.

One thing that's noticeable, though, is the band's emphasis on the alternative rock roots of their sound on this album, staying true to the Huckleberry Finn sound that they've been making for four albums. In that way, 환상... 나의 환멸 is a rather classicist album, tight in its rock and roll, full of intense alternative rock, derived in part from a grunge sound, although the depth of the grunge factor in the band's music is reducing, especially in their slower songs. But, despite the continuation in mostly making the same music, 환상... 나의 환멸 doesn't like the band is either out of energy or ideas, but rather that it knows what it does well and continues to create their music around that. When you hear one of these new songs by Huckleberry Finn, you might think you're actually listening to one of their old classics simply because they are so fine tuned and recognizable in their sound, but so well written and performed that many of these songs simply feel like classics.

There is a loose confidence on this album that serves the band well and the small new touches, like how background vocals are used, keep their sonic formula from getting stale. But, what's most telling about this fourth album is Huckleberry Finn had long since found their space and strength as a band and continues the mine the depths of the wellspring of music there. And this album is evidence that Huckleberry Finn's music ages well and doesn't lose a drop of intensity and power as the band continues making it. 9/10.

Tracklist:

1. 밤이 걸어간다
   
2. 내달리는 사람들
3. 그들이 온다
4. 죽은 자의 밤
5. 낯선 두 형제
6. 푸른 수평선
7. 알바트로스
8. 휘파람
9. 오나비야
10. 60's
11. 환상환멸

Links:

• Available at YesAsia