Song Review:: AKMU: FLOWERING- Paradise of Rumor

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  • Release date: 2026 April 07
  • Album tracklist: Paradise of Rumors; Spring of Colors; Paid With Bugs; Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart; Sunshine Bless You; Tent; Young and Married; The Right Person; Graceful Breakfast; Festival of Refugees; Stains
  • Album runtime: 37 minutes

 I thought I was done with the April reviews mostly, but they got a music show win! So, here we are! And this is a full album with nine of the eleven songs over three minutes, including a title track that does technically round up to four minutes. I love them. Have I mentioned that I love them? And specifically that I love Chanhyuk because he's the songwriter for giving us these gifts in the world of two-minute title tracks? I wish I was joking, but one of the songs I reviewed in the last few weeks was literally two minutes and three seconds.

I take back what I said about Vari's song. Somewhat. This is country music. This is 90s country music to be specific. I was a little bit anxious for various reasons, but that guitar settled me right down. Also, if you notice, those are birds chirping at the very end. Birds. This song is very zen, very calm, something that is steady enough because of the reliability of the guitar and the drums to let it move into the background, while simultaneously being non-abrasive enough with a lack of skittering to keep the energy soft. There's not a lot of variety here, but there are tiny moments where the instrumental kind of perks up a little to provide a small amount of variety.

Suhyun has such a gorgeous voice and I love that Chanhyuk writes songs to highlight her voice like that's his only purpose in life. I do wish we'd gotten a little bit more energy and width in the vocals, but I'm not going to complain about singing like this.

Literally one second, and I started smiling and realized I was sold on the music video. Our favorite brother-sister duo look so soft and fluffy. They remind me a bit of the Carpenters, which panics me deep in my soul a bit, but Chanhyuk has already proven that he won't let Suhyun have the same fate. 

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