Jeongseosa : Live At Channel 1969

I’ve seen a lot of shows in South Korea and in the U.S. that I wish had a live album. It’s uncommon in South Korea to see live albums as part of a discography. And the quality can vary. Jeongseosa‘s Live At Channel 1969 is a standout EP. It captures every performance detail and showcases a selection of his music.

I’ve never been to Channel 1969 so I’m not sure of the layout and I wonder how the performance was recorded. “INIM GROK” opens up Jeongseosa’s almost 34 minute performance. The slow expansion on each verse builds anticipation. It’s a great song because it naturally fits like an introduction. You really get Radiohead-vibes on the instrumentation and Thom Yorke-esque vocals.

“I Could Tell You 7 Reasons That You Can’t Fall Down” is a companion to “INIM GROK” stylistically. The looming synths that layer over like a cloud in the song’s atmosphere is dark and moody. Jeongseosa’s vocals act like a beacon to guide you through the ambient soundscape. Composition of this live version is different from the album and I’m not sure which I prefer more. But hearing this live shows that it can work as an ambient track.

I was most existed for “squanchy !” Mainly because I’m curious how a song like this would work live. The two minute and 36 second original is expanded into a seven minute opus. I guess that every song needed to go through a transition. This darker tone pulls out some of the lightness of the original.

“This is not a song” is the closest to the original track from squanchy ! To close the live, it’s a great way to combine and collapse this heavy energy. I also think that Jeongseosa could go in the opposite direction and play these songs in a lighter style. It shows the versatility of his songwriting.

While I wouldn’t recommend this as the first release to listen to from Jeongseosa, it’s definitely the second or third. The live performance captures a specific energy and mood. Also while showcasing his talent.