On the 1st of November 2015, Atmo announced that the band would henceforth be known as PAKK. PAKK is led by Kim Daeinn aka jellyboy who just so happens to be one of my favorite musicians since about a decade ago. For some background on PAKK, check out IROK’s mini-interview with Atmo from 2014. While Atmo never got around to releasing more than a demo, PAKK has an EP coming out next week featuring some of the best new music I’ve heard in years. About time to return to Kim Daeinn for another interview, that is.

How did Atmo turn into PAKK?
We had some little small trouble with our vocalist (Sujin) in Atmo.
So we decided to change. And then.. our music style was a little bit changed, too.

How would you describe Goksori?
Goksori is a story about sadness, anger, and despair…. in Korea.

What are the reasons to release Goksori on cassette tape rather than CD?
There are people that listen to CDs nowadays.
Most people are using MP3s. CD is not a music matter anymore.
I think… CD, LP, tape… these are changing to Collection Matters.
So.. we choose a tape over the more expensive LP. ^^

What other plans do you have for PAKK at the moment?
We will have a small showcase with Romantiqua and NPU at Strange Fruit, April 2. And we will make a full-length album in 2016.

PAKK’s debut EP Goksori will be out on cassette, limited to 200 copies, on Tuesday March 8. For those that prefer digital downloads, Electric Muse should start offering the release on Bandcamp the same day. If you want to hear a bit of PAKK right away, have a listen to the latest episode of Sounds from the Korean Underground which opens with PAKK’s “각혈 (Hemoptysis)”.

Although no more than a couple of months has passed of 2016, as far as I’m concerned, Goksori is very likely to become my Album of the Year. When I first laid ears on it I could barely stop listening (although the need to sleep eventually won…) and I ended up writing a review right away–to be posted in a few days. Although if there will indeed be a full-length album from PAKK this year that ought to be a strong contender for the title.