[Album Review] Essence of Reverie (5th Mini Album) – BAEKHYUN (EXO)

Next up for an album review is BAEKHYUN, who released Essence of Reverie (his 5th solo mini album) in May last year. The mini-album features 7 tracks in total, including the pre-release Chocolate, the title track Elevator and the follow-up promotional single Lemonade. The entire mini-album continues to explore the R&B genre that BAEKHYUN is most known for in his solo work, and you know that this is going to be another good mini-album from the soloist as a result.

1. Chocolate (Pre-Release Track) – Chocolate is a straightforward R&B pop number, with some nice guitar rhythms, groovy keyboard and lyrics that liken a lover to sweet chocolate. BAEKHYUN himself sounds good, as usual. I wish there were more to the track; it comes off as rather plain. (7.5/10)

2. Elevator (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of Elevator. (7/10)

3. Lemonade – Lemonade features a more mid-tempo approach to R&B, with the strings and synths in the background giving the track a good form of interesting texture. There is also a slow sway to the track that I find quite alluring. BAEKHYUN sounds superb on this track and reminds us why he is known for R&B. (8/10)

4. Love Comes Back – BAEKHYUN blends a jazzy city pop vibe into the mini-album with the single Love Comes Back. I enjoyed the vintage, retro feel this track exudes, as well as the moment when the electric guitar emerges in the background towards the end of the song. BAEKHYUN himself sounds so dreamy throughout Love Comes Back. (9/10)

5. No Problem – BAEKHYUN brings back R&B pop, with a more urban take on the former’s side of the track. It has light instrumentation, and I like the string synth in the background. I also quite liked BAEKHYUN’s vocals in this one. His ad-libs and the vocal layering make this a strong track, overall. (9/10)

6. Black Dreams – This whole mini-album has been curated to showcase BAEKHYUN’s vocals, and Black Dreams continues just doing this. He doesn’t do anything mind-blowing in Black Dreams, but he captivates so well with his straightforward vocals. I enjoyed the upbeat, bubbly instrumental, which makes this track a danceable one – it reminds me of GOT7’s NANANA. (8/10)

7. Late Night Calls – An all-English ballad ends Essence of Reverie. Late Night Calls features an acoustic guitar and soft piano, while BAEKHYUN sings in a heartfelt, delicate manner that makes the ballad rich and soothing to listen to. (9/10)