{"id":1961916,"date":"2026-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1961916"},"modified":"2026-05-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:00:00","slug":"wonderland-206","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1961916","title":{"rendered":"Wonderland"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tWonderland<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h1>\n
\n

\n\t\t\tBALMING TIGER FIND INFLUENCE WITH INSIGHT<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n

The Korean collective hit unfathomably creative heights on their sensational new record, Gongbu<\/em>. But what takes the sonic disruptors tick?<\/h3>\n
\n
\"Balming
Photography by Hong Chanhee
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

There\u2019s something bohemian about Balming Tiger. In a Korean and K-pop industry<\/a> dominated by maximalist simplicity, over-production, glossy visuals and image-centricity, the alternative collective finds inspiration in the avant garde. They stand out like a sore thumb. The illest digit in a hand of straight-edge fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since 2023\u2019s debut joint January Never Dies<\/a><\/em>, the six-piece \u2013 or eleven-piece with all members in and out of music involved \u2013 have been classed among the most enticing and experimental acts from Asia. But there\u2019s no resting on creative laurels with this lot about. Gongbu<\/em>, their new sophomore album, is a rich, intricate, musically adventurous masterwork. It\u2019s more subtle than its predecessor, less heavy-handed in its production, more influenced by the philosophy of jazz in its looseness and playful essence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jaw-droppingly effective, Balming Tiger maintain and augments their reputation as mavericks in the Korean musical sphere. But what inspired Gongbu<\/em>? What makes these felines feel fine? Keep scrolling to find out as each member picks a track they\u2019ve had On Repeat.<\/p>\n

Listen to Gongbu\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Balming Tiger Are On Repeat\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Omega Sapien: Tony Scott \u2013 \u201cOde To An Oud\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

A track full of unique and exotic charm.<\/p>\n

sogumm: Ongheya \u2013 \u201c\uacf5\uc0b0\ub18d\uc694 (Korean traditional folk song)\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve been deeply influenced by traditional call-and-response singing styles, folk songs, and farming songs. In particular, I drew great inspiration from \u201crice threshing songs,\u201d which were sung together while threshing rice. Just like those threshing songs celebrated a plentiful harvest, I wanted this track to carry the spirit of singing together, calling for hope, sharing strength, and uplifting one another through music. I hope abundance finds Balming Tiger\u2019s soul, heart, and music as well.<\/p>\n

Mudd the student: Sanullim \u2013 \u201cSpread Silk On My Heart\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

I think this is one of the greatest masterpieces of Korean psychedelic rock!<\/p>\n

bj wnjn: Shin Joong Hyun \u2013 \u201cBeautiful Woman\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Shin Joong Hyun\u2019s innovative reinterpretation of Western music through a distinctly Korean sensibility had a strong influence on us, and likewise, we tried to find and express our own unique color throughout this album.<\/p>\n

Leesuho: John Carroll Kirby, Haroumi Hosono ft. The Mizuhara Sisters \u2013 \u201cFUKU WA UCHI ONI WA SOTO\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

This is John Carroll Kirby\u2019s cover version of Haruomi Hosono\u2019s original song, featuring vocals by Kiko Mizuhara and Yuka Mizuhara. The innocent, childlike vocals of the Mizuhara Sisters are especially charming. The title and lyrics mean \u201cFortune In, Demons Out,\u201d and I found its strong folkloric atmosphere really interesting.<\/p>\n

Unsinkable: Pram \u2013 \u201cSleepy Sweet\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The sound of the album this track belongs to is so beautiful that I think I listened to it endlessly while working on our album. Coincidentally, this album is also about sleep, dreams, and unreality. The other tracks are great too, so definitely listen to the album in full!!!<\/p>\n

San Yawn: Shin Joong Hyun and Yup Juns \u2013 \u201cI Love You\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Haerangsa rul neo nun na.<\/p>\n

Jan\u2019 Qui: Can \u2013 \u201cMoonshake\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The stormy yet gentlemanly nuance of this song made us think about how to make our sitcom-like aesthetic \u2014 which could easily come across as \u201cC-grade\u201d \u2014 feel more refined and sophisticated, like a \u201cB+.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hong Chanhee: Terry Riley \u2013 \u201cA Rainbow in Curved Air\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

A minimalist piece with many different variations within it \/ I listened to it often while working on design projects.<\/p>\n

Abyss: Shimizu Yasuaki \u2013 \u201cTachikawa\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Around the time I was making the album \u201cStudy,\u201d I listened to Shimizu Yasuaki\u2019s album Music for Commercials very often. Released in 1987, it\u2019s a highly experimental album compiling Japanese TV commercial music, and I found it fascinating because it captures an East Asian mood so well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t29 May 2026\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Music<\/a><\/div>\n
On Repeat<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/section>\n

\n\t\t\t\tSarah Pidgeon Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple in Balenciaga<\/span> <\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\taja monet is Saying It With Her Chest<\/span> <\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wonderland BALMING TIGER FIND INFLUENCE WITH INSIGHT The Korean collective hit unfathomably creative heights on their sensational new record, Gongbu. But what takes the sonic disruptors tick? Photography by Hong Chanhee There\u2019s something bohemian about Balming Tiger. In a Korean and K-pop industry dominated by maximalist simplicity, over-production, glossy visuals and image-centricity, the alternative collective […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,257],"class_list":["post-1961916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-wonderlandmagazine-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1961916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1961916\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1961916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1961916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1961916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}