[Herald Review] Lee sings of daily triumphs, struggles on new album

When the clock struck midnight Tuesday, online music sites released the new full-length album from one of Korea’s most beloved singers, Lee Moon-sae.

His new album, “New Direction,” is the first full-length album from the balladeer in 13 years, following his 14th album in 2002.

“The title is ‘New Direction,’ but it’s not a grand statement about setting a new direction for music. It’s an album that’s truly Lee Moon-sae,” he said at a press conference at Baek-Am Art Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul on Monday. “It represents my determination to not let myself stop in the past, and to keep moving forward.”

The nine tracks on “New Direction” were carefully chosen from more than 200 songs that were offered to Lee by various composers over the course of three years. There are some tracks that bear his trademark vocal style, murmuring and poetic lyrics, and others in which the singer tries a new turn of voice.

The experimental side shines through in his title track, an upbeat rock number called “Spring Breeze” featuring R&B singer Naul.

”I knew this was title track material as soon as I heard it,“ Lee said.

The song, sweet and reminiscent of past love, seems to embody many of the qualities that Lee hoped to convey through this album. The music offers a change of pace from Lee’s past hits like “Girl” and “Old Love,” while the words muse about the emotions conjured up by everyday moments.

The importance of paying tribute to the ups and downs of life is a recurrent theme. On the Latin-style song “You Are My Love,” a man promises devotion to his love, no matter what her past.

Meanwhile, on “Lullaby for You,” the lyrics offer comfort to those who feel lonely and downtrodden, comparing life to the blooming and fading of flowers. “Farewell My Love” is an apology to those we let go without a chance to truly show our love and gratitude.

The album’s appreciation for the ordinary human experience takes on a new light because of revelations that he underwent surgery last July to remove cancer from his thyroid, a relapse from an initial round of treatment eight years ago. The cancer had spread to near his vocal cords, which could have meant a definitive end to his decades-long career as a singer and on-air personality.

“Every day seems to be the same boring routine, but if you think about it, we’ve got everything we need to be happy,” said Lee as he prepared to sing his song “Love Today.”

“Enjoy your freedom. Don’t care about what other people think, and love your today.”

Perhaps that positive change in mindset is the “new direction” Lee Moon-sae hopes to give his listeners.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)