Kep1er has returned with a new comeback. Their sixth EP Tipi-Tap was released November 1, with five new songs and a dreamy aesthetic.
Kep1ians have another reason to be thankful this year. Not only did Kep1er renew its contract avoiding disbandment, but they’ve just released their third album of the year. Following Kep1going On in June, this is their first release as a seven member group, with Mashiro and Yeseo having left. It’s also their first release under a new management with KLAP Entertainment.
1) “sync-love”
The first track on the album is “sync-love”. I absolutely love this song. It feels like I went to the future and I’m in the matrix. I loved the chrome outfits in this one live performance, it kind if gives SpongeBob vibes from when Squidward went to the future, and I’m here for it. Hikaru’s voice makes the song what it is. I’m definitely biased, but I feel like Kep1er always makes these concepts unique and not like something we’ve already seen. As their choreographed b-side, the choreography makes the song all the more iconic. The first line of the chorus, “Matrix mode on,” really hits hard. In the choreography demo, they had an arm movement that made what looked like ones and zeros. They simplified this in the final version but it still works.
I’ve never seen a k-pop group do this, but they had actually leaked this song over a month before the release, at KCON Germany on September 29. They even posted TikTok challenges shortly after. I waited until the official release to hear it, which made scrolling through YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels very risky. But my patience did pay off.
2) “Tipi-tap”
“TIPI-TAP” is up there with their best title tracks. It’s a very cute hyper-pop song. Unlike their other songs, the chorus is very upfront and direct. Music videos and choreography can make any song better, but this song didn’t even need it. It’s really well done. The whole aesthetic is so fitting.
After a couple weeks of listening, I started to feel like the transition from the pre-chorus to the chorus sounds a little harsh and dissonant. But at the same time I think it works perfectly. I also love the choreography, it’s very TikTok challenge worthy. I’m so happy Xiaoting and Huening Bahiyyih got to sing parts of the main chorus. As one of the main “visuals” of the group, Xiaoting hasn’t gotten many chorus lines in the title tracks, not counting adlibs or onomatopoeia. If there’s one good thing about being a seven-member group it’s that each member gets more lines.
3) “Drip”
I want to say “Drip” is my least favorite song from the EP, but that’s not fair because they’re all so good. This track has such an atmosphere to it. I felt like I was in a magical cave with echos of water dripping and glowing crystals all around.
For groups I enjoy, I always love listening to their CDs in the car. With the track order being fixed, I’ve noticed that the songs that come right after the title track tend to be more skippable. I immediately think of “Curious” that followed “Shooting Star” on their last album. These songs tend to be pretty up beat too, not sure if that’s related. I think the title track just has such a big presence that any following song will have less of an impact. Even so, “Drip” is not that bad.
4) “Bitter Taste”
“Bitter Taste” is such a good song I that didn’t expect to like. It has a bit of an R&B vibe that really fits the album. There were some pre-chourus parts that Yujin, Xiaoting, and Chaehyun sing that were so heavenly and worked so well. I think Bahiyyih’s voice really suits the song in the chorus. Her English is arguably the best of the group. Her strong diction and pronunciation really add something to this song. As someone who prefers upbeat hyper-pop sounding songs, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one.
5) “Heart Surf”
The closing track “Heart Surf” is a beautiful and chill song. It has such a grounding vibe that showcases all their voices very well. I especially like Yujin’s voice starting off the song.
Kep1er has done it again with another no-skip album. TIPI-TAP is a beautiful, abstract, and semi avant-garde album that keeps me listening again and again. The colors of the title track’s music video are so beautiful, that I may or may not have purchased three copies of the album. Fall releases almost never fall short in k-pop, including this one. This EP has a dreamy and trippy aesthetic that still feels like Kep1er at heart.