Taemin has released his eleven-track EP, ‘PHASE 1 : Soft Violence’, which explores the tension and contradictions within beauty. The album aims to showcase a more honest and bold side of the artist, moving through various moods including Sweet, Bitter, Silent, and Brutal.
The EP features two title tracks with contrasting styles: ‘FLOAT’ and ‘Gooey’. ‘FLOAT’ is described as a romantic, sweet pop song set against a dreamy synth and garage beat, intended to capture a fairytale-like feeling. In contrast, ‘Gooey’ is characterized as a hip-hop pop track with an intense, viscous energy.
While the album represents an evolution in Taemin’s artistry, some critical reception has noted that the track ‘FLOAT’ follows current K-pop trends rather than setting them, with some reviewers finding its laidback nature underwhelming compared to Taemin’s dynamic performance capabilities.