Dystopia: The Tree of Language

Dystopia: The Tree of Language is the debut Korean studio album by South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher. It was released on February 18, 2020, by Dreamcatcher Company, and distributed by Kakao M. Dystopia: The Tree of Language features fourteen tracks including the lead single "Scream", and is available in four versions: "E", "V", "I" and "L".[2] Dystopia: The Tree of Language is the start of Dreamcatcher's Dystopia series and was followed by the group's fifth EP Dystopia: Lose Myself, and sixth EP Dystopia: Road to Utopia. Commercially, the album sold over 59,899 copies.[3]

Dystopia: The Tree of Language
Studio album by
Dreamcatcher
ReleasedFebruary 18, 2020 (2020-02-18)
Recorded2017-2019
Genre
Length42:23
Language
  • Korean
  • English
Label
Producer
  • 0to1
  • Chairmann
  • Hi5
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
Dreamcatcher chronology
Raid of Dream
(2019)		 Dystopia: The Tree of Language
(2020)		 Dystopia: Lose Myself
(2020)
Singles from Dystopia: The Tree of Language
  1. "Paradise"
    Released: January 29, 2020
  2. "Scream"
    Released: February 18, 2020

Background and promotion

On January 23, 2020, it was reported that Siyeon would release the pre-release single “Paradise” on January 29. Dreamcatcher was also preparing for a group comeback, and this single would tell a new story that would lead directly into the group's new release.[4]

On February 3, the group released the teaser schedule for their first studio album Dystopia: The Tree of Language. From February 4 to 12, the group revealed individual and group teaser images. On February 12, the group revealed a “lyrics spoiler” video, containing a snippet of the instrumentals of "Scream", and the "album story" spoiler. On February 13, the group shared a highlight medley for the album.

On February 14 and February 17, a dance preview and music video teaser for "Scream" was released respectively.[1]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allkpop9/10[5]

Writing for Allkpop, Eric Wirsing remarked: "Despite all these tracks, there is very little filler. Every song is pretty much classic Dreamcatcher in one way or another. While there are some deviations from the formula, they still killed it."[5]

Composition

Music and lyrics

The standard edition of Dystopia: The Tree of Language is about forty-two minutes long. Dystopia: The Tree of Language was written and produced by 0to1, Chairmann, Dami, Hi5, JiU, Kim Bo Eun, LEEZ, Ollounder, Siyeon and Yoohyeon among others.[6] At fourteen tracks, the album is the longest Korean material in Dreamcatcher's catalogue. Musically, Dystopia: The Tree of Language is a rock record with influences of EDM.[1] Members Dami, JiU and Siyeon participated in the writing of "Black or White". Members Dami, JiU, Siyeon and Yoohyeon participated in the writing of "Jazz Bar". Siyeon participated in the composing and writing of "Paradise".[6]

Songs

Filled with strong and electrifying beats, “Scream” contains a story with a motif of witch hunts in the Middle Ages. “Red Sun” is a warning and lesson told through hypnosis to people who do not admit to their faults.[7]

Soompi described "Paradise" as an electronic pop track that "gives a comforting message to the lonely people of modern society".[4] "Scream" combines rock with electronica and is "motivated by the practice of witch hunts during the medieval period, and the scream before the chorus accentuates this motif".[1]

Track listing

The following tracklist was adapted from the official released highlight medley.[6]

Dystopia: The Tree of Language track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Intro" 
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
1:19
2."Scream"
  • Kim Bo Eun
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:24
3."Tension"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:11
4."Red Sun"
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:05
5."Black or White"
  • Chairmann
  • Dami
  • JiU
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Siyeon
  • 0to1
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • 0to1
  • Chairmann
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:24
6."Jazz Bar"
  • Dami
  • JiU
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Siyeon
  • Yoohyeon
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:34
7."Sahara"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:11
8."In the Frozen"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Hi5
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Hi5
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:16
9."Daybreak"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:03
10."Full Moon"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:09
11."Over the Sky"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:17
12."Outro"
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
1:03
13."Scream (Inst.)" 
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
3:24
14."Paradise" (performed by Siyeon)
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Siyeon
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
  • Siyeon
  • LEEZ
  • Ollounder
4:03
Total length:42:23

Accolades
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Work Rank Ref.
Dazed The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 "Scream" 6 [8]
South China Morning Post The Top 15 K-pop Albums of 2020 Dystopia: The Tree of Language N/A [9]
Time The Songs and Albums That Defined K-Pop's Monumental Year in 2020 Dystopia: The Tree of Language N/A [10]
Paper The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 "Scream" 32 [11]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak

position

South Korea (Gaon Album Chart)[12] 3
South Korea (Gaon Retail Album Chart)[13] 9

References
  1. "Watch: DreamCatcher Makes Strong Comeback With Intense "Scream" MV". Soompi. February 3, 2020.
  2. "[SET][4CD SET] DREAMCATCHER - Album Vol.1 [Dystopia : The Tree of Language] (E Ver. + V Ver. + I Ver. + L Ver.)". Ktown4u. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020.
  3. 2020년 08월 Album Chart [August 2020 Album Chart (see#133)]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. "Watch: DreamCatcher's Siyeon Lets Her Voice Shine In 1st Solo Single "Paradise" MV". Soompi. January 23, 2020.
  5. "[Album and MV Review] Dreamcatcher – 'Dystopia: The Tree of Language'". Allkpop. February 21, 2020.
  6. "Dreamcatcher(드림캐쳐) 1st Album [Dystopia : The Tree of Language] Highlight Medley". YouTube. February 13, 2020.
  7. Foundation, The Korea International Broadcasting. "한국을 대표하는 글로벌 방송! The World On Arirang!". Simply K-Pop : ARIRANG. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  8. Glasby, Taylor (December 19, 2020). "The 40 best K-pop songs of 2020". Dazed. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. Herman, Tamar (December 15, 2020). "The top 15 K-pop albums of 2020: BTS, Twice, NCT 127, Monsta X, Super M, Gfriend and many more". South China Morning Post. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  10. Moon, Kat (December 11, 2020). "The Songs and Albums That Defined K-Pop's Monumental Year in 2020". Time. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  11. Bell, Crystal (December 19, 2020). "The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Paper. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  12. "2020년 08월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
  13. "2020년 02월 Retail Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
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