Release Date: November 1, 2024
Track Listing
- sync-love
- TIPI-TAP
- Drip
- Bitter Taste
- Heart Surf
Review
The last 2024 release to review in my to-do list is Kep1er’s sixth mini-album, TIPI-TAP. This album is the group’s first as seven members after Mashiro and Yeseo’s departures in the summer of 2024.
Kep1er is a group that I have followed through the trials of its formation on Girls Planet 999 to the present day. I will preface this review by saying that I find many of Kep1er’s title songs good, but I prefer their b-sides and album cuts, as they are more interesting.
My expectation of TIPI-TAP is that the title song will be perfectly serviceable, but the good stuff pops up when you dig deeper into the album. But let’s get into TIPI-TAP to determine if that is the case.
TIPI-TAP‘s self-titled title track has heavy influences from bouncy, high-tempo UK Garage. I don’t recall Kep1er going all-in on this sound in their past releases, which makes this new musical territory they are exploring.
TIPI-TAP certainly gets its hooks into your head right away. It reminds me of the poppy Garage tracks on dance-oriented UK radio stations in the early 2000s and has a ton of replayability. This is probably the best Korean a-side in their discography. I understand that is a rather bold and contentious statement, but the song is fantastic.
So, what about the rest of the album? Does it live up to the standard set by its title track? The answer is a resounding yes. You have the Housey sync-love and the Drum and Bass of Drip for the uptempo songs. The latter is the most surprising since Kep1er venturing into that world probably wasn’t on many people’s bingo cards. But damn, Drip is a banger.
Regarding the less intense songs, Kep1er dips back into the R&B/Pop pool with Bitter Taste and Heart Surf. Each appeals to differing listening moods. If you want something funky, go with Bitter Taste. Otherwise, switch to Heart Surf, which is a more relaxed song.
I’ve found that all Kep1er releases are incredibly consistent. They are open to trying something different, and there’s always something to like. In the case of TIPI-TAP, this is the first time I’ve felt all the pieces click from beginning to end, and because of that, this has become my favourite Korean Kep1er release.
Like some of the more recent Kep1er releases I have reviewed, TIPI-TAP is another excellent entry into their discography, and I highly recommend you give it a few spins.
