009.
얼음요새 (Ice Fortress)
Click to viewArtist: Dear Cloud
Album: Dear Cloud (Album)
Genre: Indie/Soft-rock
Release date: 8th November, 2007
mf / support
Rating: ★★★★★
Having listened to Dear Cloud for quite a period of time, they have developed a special place in my heart with their music style and the sense of belonging and satisfaction I get when I listen to them. This song Ice Fortress was their most popular song, even starring the actor Kim Jae Wook in their music video.
The song starts off with a soft continuous electric guitar, and keyboards are added at about 0:14 playing some soft arpeggios-like pattern. Vocals enter in a mellow manner at 0:27, and the keyboard can still be heard in the background, playing the same pattern. The soft electric guitar re-enters at 0:49, and drums are added at 0:52, which adds onto the mood as the verse is repeated, but with a stronger sense of emotion. The soft electric guitar and drums gradually build up and becomes more and more obvious, as if trying to take over the vocalist but not exactly doing so. Guitar strumming can also be heard at this point. Chorus at 1:20, and the emotion and overall atmosphere of the song is very strong and overwhelming. The vocals adds to this by singing at a higher octave, building and reinforcing the mood of the chorus. The atmosphere of the song calms and quiets down at 1:47 as the verse re-enters, leaving only a keyboard and perhaps a soft electric sound in the background, accompanying the vocalist's mellow tone. Drums re-enter at 2:00, slowly building up the atmosphere once again. Chorus again at 2:13, and the mood rises up to a high point again. Chorus is repeated at 2:40, and this time the vocalist does her own changes to it. Instrumental begins at 3:07, and the atmosphere of the song drops slightly again, leaving only the keyboard and soft guitar sound playing. Another electric guitar and the drums enter at 3:19, raising the mood of the song slightly. Vocalist re-enters at 3:33, and the mood of the song is raised again. Vocals fade away at 4:00, leaving behind the electric guitars, keyboard and drums. Change of chord at 4:13, instrumental continues, and then the song finally pulls to an end.
I gave this song a 5 out of 5. I didn't think this was a particularly "good" song at first, and I thought that it didn't really catch my eye (or ears rather) when I first listened to it, but as time passed this song became a memorable song in terms of all the masterpieces that Dear Cloud had produced. This song gives me an extremely soothing and laid-back feeling, especially the music video and where it was filmed. I had mentioned and complimented before about the vocalist's voice and how it has a subtle masculine edge to it, and this song only accentuates this, thus allowing the vocalist develop her own style while singing live. The vocalist's voice is extremely appropriate and fits well with the lyrics of the song, which describes the worship and luminous feelings for what seems like an ice princess, beautiful but cold and difficult to reach.
Overall, I think that this song is a must-listen for all Dear Cloud fans or for those who are willing to try out their music, as this song is their most famous song. The vocalist's voice is very unique and soothing, appropriate for a relaxing afternoon.
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