Release Date: June 1, 2026
Track Listing
- Sad Girls Schemin’
- Peer
- Baby Flower
- Type of Girl
- Sleek
- I Like That
- Me Myself Mode
Review
The beginning of a new year brings many things. For some, it’s a renewed sense of hope and a brighter outlook on life, with the previous year’s struggles firmly in the past. For others, life carries on as usual. For WAVS (tripleS fans), however, a new year means another full-group, 24-member comeback and another installment in the group’s ASSEMBLE album series.
The full-group comeback for 2026 is a bit different than in years past. Rather than unfolding over a relatively short promotional period before breaking off into smaller projects, this comeback spans an entire calendar year and part of early 2027. Known as LOVE & POP, this year’s ASSEMBLE project unfolds across three full-group releases rather than a single album cycle. The Korean promotion (LOVE) began on June 1, 2026, with LOVE & POP Pt. 1. The second part is scheduled for release on October 20, 2026, while the Japanese promotion (POP) is planned for January 2027.
Between those regional promotions sits the “&” chapter. According to media reports, a special English-language album is planned for November, although details surrounding its role within the overall project remain limited. While many fans expect it to serve as the international component of the LOVE & POP campaign, that connection had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing.
With a year of music ahead, first impressions matter. LOVE & POP Pt. 1 isn’t just another tripleS comeback; it’s the foundation upon which the rest of the project’s ambitious year-long rollout will be built.
The album’s title track, Baby Flower, is unlike any previous tripleS title track. Usually, the group’s lead singles emphasize rhythm, confident performances, and dance-driven production. Here, the group leans into a melodic, gradually unfolding arrangement reminiscent of J-pop and third-generation K-pop, culminating in a soaring vocal finale. Even so, the trademark tripleS “la la” refrain remains woven throughout, preserving the group’s identity amid the stylistic shift.
Lyrically, Baby Flower stays true to the recurring themes that have defined tripleS’ title tracks, encouraging listeners still finding their place in the world with the metaphor of a flower yet to bloom. Its message of patience, perseverance, and personal growth reinforces the optimism that has become a hallmark of the group’s music.
While it stands as a successful stylistic departure, it ultimately serves as a pleasant sonic anomaly rather than a blueprint for the album that follows.
Among the album’s remaining tracks, three songs in particular stand out.
While Baby Flower serves as the album’s title track, tripleS also promoted the opening b-side, Sad Girls Schemin’, during the first week of Korean music show promotions. Unlike Baby Flower, the song is far more representative of LOVE & POP Pt. 1 as a whole, offering an early glimpse into the rhythmic, groove-driven direction that defines much of the album’s remaining material.
tripleS are not strangers to the darker, edgier side of dance music. Some of the group’s strongest b-sides have emerged from the 2-step garage and drum & bass corners of their discography. Unlike previous full-group releases, which typically begin with a brief instrumental introduction before leading into the title track, LOVE & POP Pt. 1 throws listeners straight into Sad Girls Schemin’.
Where Baby Flower looks outward with positivity, Sad Girls Schemin’ turns inward, embracing uncertainty and emotional vulnerability through the perspective of young women quietly brooding in the dark. The contrast makes the pairing one of the album’s most effective artistic choices.
Listeners who connected with Sad Girls Schemin’ will find another standout in Type of Girl. Built on a similarly infectious groove, the song is equally catchy, trading melancholy for a brighter, more confident energy that aligns more closely with Baby Flower‘s hopeful messaging. Lyrically, it explores a young woman’s refusal to be pigeonholed into a predetermined role or mould, reinforcing the album’s recurring themes of individuality and self-determination.
The final track that caught my ear was Sleek. True to its title, the song is a slick piece of dance-pop. Park Sohyun plays a leading creative role here, co-writing the lyrics and collaborating with Monotree’s GDLO and YELO on both the composition and arrangement. The result is the album’s standout track, with an instantly memorable hook that makes it the biggest earworm on an already strong record.
Baby Flower sets the stage for what could be tripleS’ next musical evolution. While it may not fully define the sound of LOVE & POP Pt. 1, it demonstrates the group’s growing confidence as it expands its musical palette without abandoning the youthful enthusiasm that has become its calling card. Supported by a consistently strong collection of b-sides, LOVE & POP Pt. 1 succeeds as both a satisfying standalone album and an effective opening chapter to the group’s ambitious year-long project.
If this first installment is any indication, tripleS are approaching ASSEMBLE26 with a willingness to take creative risks while remaining true to their identity. With Part 2 already promising a more dramatic musical shift, the series appears well-positioned to build on an impressive foundation. Whether or not that next chapter ultimately surpasses this one, LOVE & POP Pt. 1 leaves the year-long project off to a confident and compelling start.
