Nell's Nearly 30-Year Journey Culminates as 10th Full-Length Album 'X' Is Released Today

[Sportschosun Reporter Jeong Bit] The band Nell is returning with a full-length album for the first time in about five years.

Nell will release its 10th full-length album, "X," at 6 p.m. on the 17th. It is the band's tenth studio album since its debut and includes 11 tracks.

The title "X" refers to the Roman numeral for 10, while also symbolizing an unknown variable that is not defined by any fixed meaning. Nell said it wanted the album to leave room for a range of emotions and interpretations.

"X" was completed after about four years of work. Along with recently written songs, the album also includes tracks first conceived about 20 years ago and rearranged with a modern sound. Music created in different periods is connected within a single album.

The album features a wide range of genre elements, including alternative rock, modern rock, shoegazing and orchestration. The instrumental track "Rats" opens the album, while the title track "Sweet Delusion" is the first Nell song to incorporate brass session recordings.

"Only One" is a modern rock track that looks toward the future, while "Don't Let Me Go" expresses the feeling of not wanting to lose someone precious. "Loser's Recipe," which features Tablo, is Nell's first collaboration track. "Blue Eyes" and "VAMP" are also included.

The previously released single "Loss in Motion" and the tracks from the EP "X : 3 / ?" were placed in the latter half of the album. Songs that were first unveiled as standalone works now continue within the flow of the 10th full-length album.

The physical format of the release is also changing. For the first time since its debut, Nell will issue the album as a USB release containing high-quality master files instead of a CD.

Along with the album release, the band will publish an essay book titled "Diary of X," which documents the production process. An exhibition of the same name will also run from the 20th to the 28th at Seobo Art Space in Seongsan-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.

Nell said, "It is not special simply because it is our 10th album. We have always wanted to make an album that is better than the one before it." The band added, "We are grateful and proud that, after nearly 30 years of activity, we have been able to release 10 full-length albums."

Jeong Bit, rightlight@sportschosun.com