Album Review: ASTRO's MOONBIN&SANHA Lure Us To The Dark Side In Latest EP "Refuge"

"Refuge" is officially out now and we're obsessed!

Ishani Sarkar, Kpopmap Editor
3 min to read · Published : Mar 15, 2022 · Updated : Jan 13, 2023

Album Review: ASTRO's MOONBIN&SANHA Lure Us To The Dark Side In Latest EP "Refuge"

ASTRO's Twitter

2022 is the year of ASTRO subunits and we could not be more excited about all the new music we're getting from the musical geniuses of K-Pop. After JinJin & Rocky's iconic jazz/pop/funk EP "Restore", fellow members MOON BIN & YOON SAN-HA are here to take over our senses with the dark paradise of "Refuge". There seems to be a conceptual pattern here that ties the musical rendezvous of the subunits together in a larger ASTRO-VERSE, and it is as gratifying as it is mysterious.

ASTRO's Twitter

"Refuge" is composed of 5 songs spanning 14 minutes and 15 seconds of pure experimental joy and creative bliss. MOONBIN&SANHA evoke a sense of surrender, enchanting listeners to lose themselves in the indulgent world they have created and emerge cleansed of temporal wounds. The flow of "Refuge" is meditative to the point of being spiritual, especially with how each song and mood transition seamlessly into another as if art is reflecting life. There's no better way to listen to this EP than in one sitting, in the sequence curated by its creators, allowing yourself to be taken on the journey MOONBIN&SANHA stand on the edge of.

'Who' starts off with a mysterious and almost childish 8-bit inspired sound reminiscent of Glass Animals, which quickly progresses into an ambitious techno hybrid orchestral, telling a story of light and dark. MOON BIN encourages you to stray, whereas YOON SAN-HA puts you in place. The dark allure of such duality is hypnotizing, to say the least. This song has a chokehold on the listener while the master of puppets, MOONBIN&SANHA look on with a godly aura.

'Boo' is a neo-R&B, summer-pop track that still carries traces of the darkness glorified in 'Who', albeit playfully, as is obvious from the pun in the title. It is a refreshing turn away from 'Who' but not entirely opposed to it. We are still being bewitched but the only difference is that we're vibing with it. This is officially our anthem for Halloween 2022.

'Dia' is a mid-tempo deep minimal trance song with a pop twist that undercuts the bubbly energy of 'Boo' with a stronger sound. This is something you'd listen to at a rave but also in your kitchen while cooking up a Sunday snack. The versatility in the this EP is simply incredible and worth high praise.

Just when you think it could not get better, MOONBIN&SANHA hit you with an acoustic pop ballad, 'Distance'. With this sudden switch up, the artists endear themselves even more to their listeners, taking on the role of best friends who cannot stop teasing you but are always there for you when it counts. It is almost as if MOONBIN&SANHA are telling you that they're cooler than you, but they would take a bullet for you nonetheless. Now that's the type of support we deserve!

Finally, MOONBIN&SANHA conclude the "Refuge" saga with perhaps the most fitting song in the EP: 'Ghost Town'. Artfully carrying over the gentle acoustics of 'Distance' and infusing it with trap, this song is the musical incarnation of umami: you're addicted, and it leaves you craving more even though you cannot help but admit that it is perfect in and of itself. At the end of the day, "Refuge" is nothing short of a musical tour de force, and we're lucky to be living in the same timeline as ASTRO.

What is your favourite song from "Refuge"? Tell us in the comments down below!