ILLIT – ‘Bomb’ EP review: building upon a tried and true formula

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Call it a doubling down of what’s worked for them or, if you view it more cynically, another blatant attempt to replicate the chart-smashing success of their debut single, ‘Magnetic’ – but ILLIT’s new mini-album ‘Bomb’ is a whirlwind of fun pop music. Here, the K-pop girl group and their collaborators take the cheery, high-octane sound of the group’s past releases and turn the dial up to a hundred, perhaps proving that sometimes more is actually more.

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That’s evident in the balls to the wall, everything and the kitchen sink nature of lead single ‘Billyeoon Goyangi (Do The Dance)’. Built around a revved-up, foot-stomping eurodisco beat that samples ‘Yuga Naru Dasso’, an instrumental from the 1989 anime film The Five Star Stories, the dynamic, almost-frenzied song is ILLIT at their energetic best.

As the track climbs in energy, its lyrics match the vibe as the group explore their feelings about going on a first date: “C’mon heart, cut it out / Tingle tangle, feel so shy / My heart starts to / Dance, do a little dance.” The cherry on top of this great song is its charming post-chorus of “Do”s and “Da”s that mimic the nervous stuttering of young lovers speaking to one another.

The magical, girlish energy of ‘Billyeoon Goyangi (Do The Dance)’ can also be found in the EP’s standout track, ‘Jellyous’ – no points for guessing it’s a combination of the words “jelly” and “jealous” – which continues their experimentation with chiptune that was also present in the girl group’s last two projects. It’s hard not to smile at ILLIT’s childishly envious delivery on the song (“Hey, hey, hey, boy, you make me jellyous / Wait, wait, wait, are you so sweet with everyone?”), with laser sounds that scratch all the right parts of your brain.

This whole kit and caboodle approach, however, doesn’t always work out. On paper, the many parts of ‘Oops!’ – funky bassline, whistled post-chorus, a nearly wordless breakdown as the bridge, playful lyrics – might seem like a good idea. Yet, when it’s all been put together, the final product is a dull song that’s as dated as it is derivative.

But ‘Bomb’ doesn’t always hit you over the head with its over-the-top sound – there are softer moments found here as well. The girl group reflect on life’s stressors on the melancholic, synthpop ‘Little Monster’. There’s also the cosy and nostalgic ‘Bomsopoong’, a lo-fi track about the quiet moments in life. They might not be as loud as the project’s highlights, but are still sticky nonetheless.

Three EPs in, and it’s safe to say that ILLIT, for the most part, know what works for them: earnest, high-energy songs about young love. They might be sticking to this formula closely, but at the same time, they aren’t afraid to play around in the margins, mixing in different sounds and textures to create music that’s just fresh enough to keep us coming back for more.