Song Review: Kep1er – Tipi-Tap

I loved Kep1er’s nine-member swan song Shooting Star and was upset when they never performed it at this year’s KCON LA. Now the group is down to seven, as Mashiro and Yeseo parted ways to join 143 Entertainment’s Madein. A new configuration opens potential for a new sound, and Tipi-Tap certainly switches things up. Unfortunately, its musical choices struggle to set the song apart from many other current girl group efforts.

We get it, K-pop agencies. You can all make a NewJeans knockoff. Congratulations! But we’re about to leap into a new year. It’s time to get some fresh musical ideas because this muted sound palette is draining all the ambition from the industry. Tipi-Tap is by far the most boring title track Kep1er have released — essentially one flat hook repeated ad nauseum. I wasn’t even a fan of Wa Da Da‘s brash energy during the group’s debut era, but given the choice between that and this I’d happily go back to the days of vroom vrooming like a supersonic. Take me to the moon, Kep1er. Just take me away from whatever this is.

“Tipi-tap” makes an awkward centerpiece as a lyric, but its weirdly childish phrasing is probably the most interesting thing happening here. The rest of the track washes over like murky watercolors. The drum and bass production is beyond overused at this point and much of the girls’ vocals are drowned in reverb. However, Tipi-tap‘s biggest issue is its complete lack of melodic range and dynamics. It’s just a straight, dull line extending to nowhere. Where’s the group that gave us Shooting Star only five months ago?

Grade: D