ZEROBASEONE Find the Pleasure in their ‘Cinema Paradise’

There’s something bittersweet about ZEROBASEONE‘s Cinema Paradise EP — because it is far too good to be a release from a group that’s only meant to be temporary. But such is the way that the K-Pop machine works, churning out groups of popular singers on shows like MNet’s Boys Planet reality competition. The 2023 finale of the show saw the formation of ZEROBASEONE, with it being announced that the group would be active for a little over two years before having a pre-determined parting of the ways.

With this in mind, ZEROBASEONE feels more like a manufactured group designed to launch the careers of its nine members — but their Cinema Paradise EP feels more like a collection of songs from a group that’s determined to stay around and hit the top of the charts.

Cinema Paradise opens up with ‘Good So Bad’, a sugary sweet K-Pop love song that has all the hallmarks of great boy groups that have come before ZB1, which is on full display in the song’s music video which combines the charm of the cute and innocent visuals of BTS with the incredibly synchronized choreography of groups like MONSTA X. The sound, production and visuals all give everything one would expect from a top-tier K-Pop, and it’s an incredible amount of growth and progression from their early debut on Boys Planet.

Perhaps the most catchy track on Cinema Paradise follows with ‘Kill The Romeo’. The members’ voices complement each other so divinely on this track — especially on the track’s chorus which sees Ji-Woong and Ricky trading lines. Ricky’s deep and husky voice pairs beautifully with Ji-Woong’s higher register, and by the time TaeRae joins in for “We can be runaways …” on the refrain, the entire track evolves into a sleek and upbeat example of K-Pop perfection.

The group puts their own spin on “The Sea”, a song originally recorded by the co-ed group UP back in 1997. With the band already having enjoyed success with summery singles “Sweat” and “Feel the POP” from their previous releases, it makes total sense for them to put their own spin on one of the signature songs from their youth. The song and its accompanying video showcase each of the nine members’ unique vocals in a light and fun way — an impressive feat given the song’s incredibly short runtime.

Insomnia’s swelling chorus is a highlight of the otherwise filler track. It feels right at home in the middle of Cinema Paradise, with the EP in full swing despite not adding anything incredibly exciting to the mix. The next track, ‘Road Movie’, keeps the excitement going, however. The track feels like a departure to the previous songs on the extended play, experimenting with hip-hop influences while putting a unique K-Pop signature on it all.

K-Pop boy groups are probably contractually obligated to release at least one romantic ballad-type song on each of their releases, and ‘Eternity’ is Cinema Paradise‘s offering. The track is an enjoyable listen with all of the hallmark sounds of a boyband afflicted with an unwavering lovesickness. As sweet as the track is, it pushes no boundaries — not that it has to. ‘Eternity’ sits firmly in its archetype of K-Pop love songs, but ZEROBASEONE’s better songs take their archetypes and flip them on their heads into something more fresh and exciting along the way.

Cinema Paradise draws to a close with the Korean version of ‘Yura Yura’, the band’s first single originally released in Japanese back in March. ‘Yura Yura’ feels more like a fully realized version of ‘Eternity’. It’s a much more upbeat track, but its lyrical themes of being head over heels in love remain persistent. Unlike ‘Eternity’, ‘Yura Yura’ follows ZEROBASEONE’s unique formula more closely, offering stunning vocal arrangements and clever production that ensures there is never a dull moment.

Overall, Cinema Paradise proves that ZEROBASEONE has tapped into their full potential — making it feel even more tragic that the band’s time together will inevitably come to a pre-determined close sometime in the years to come. Despite this, all of the music on Cinema Paradise does a fantastic job of showcasing each of the member’s unique vocals and talents — and that means that even if ZEROBASEONE may not last forever, it’s unlikely that it’s members will be fading into obscurity anytime soon.

Cinema Paradise is now available on all streaming platforms.