Ice Cream Cake (EP)

Ice Cream Cakeis the debutKoreanextended playby the South Korean girl groupRed Velvet. It was released digitally on March 17, 2015, and physically on March 18 bySM Entertainmentand distributed byDreamus,marking the group's first proper release since their initial debut in August 2014 and their first release as a quintet since the addition of the group's fifth memberYeri. The extended play was released in two physical versions, named after the two singles and contained six tracks which introduced both the group's"Red" and "Velvet" sonic concept. The duality was further demonstrated by its twosingles(marketed as double title tracks), "Automatic" and "Ice Cream Cake", with the latter becoming the group's breakthrough commercial success. S.M. founder Lee Soo-man served as the EP'sexecutive producer, withHayley Aitken, Trinity Music,Daniel "Obi" Klein,Charli Taft,Jam Factory,Kenzie,Teddy Riley,Cha Cha Malone, MonoTree and others contributed lyrics and production.
Upon its release,Ice Cream Cakereceived positive reviews from music critics for its "impressive effort" of establishing the two sides of their musical identity. The EP also attained commercial success, becoming Red Velvet's first chart-topper on theGaon Album Chartin South Korea and number two on theBillboardWorld Albums Chart for the first time, while peaking at number twenty-four onBillboard'sHeatseekers Albums chart. It has since sold a cumulative sales of over 94,000 copies.
Following the end of "Be Natural" promotion in late October 2014, it was announced that Red Velvet would return with anextended play, marking their first proper release since the group's debut in last August. In February 2015, Red Velvet was spotted filming in adesertjust outside ofPalmdale, Californiawith thenSM Rookies-memberYeri, with the then-rumored song title to be "Blonde Girl", when they were actually filming the music video for "Ice Cream Cake". Yeri was then introduced byS.M. Entertainmentas the fifth member of Red Velvet through two videos uploaded on the label'sYouTubechannel on March 11 and March 12, which contained audio previews of then-unknown album track "Somethin Kinda Crazy".On the same day, they revealed the title of the group's first album,Ice Cream Cake.On March 14, the music video for "Automatic" was released days prior to the EP's release, with title track "Ice Cream Cake" followed suit on March 16.SM Entertainment confirmed that the group would be promoting both "Ice Cream Cake" and "Automatic".The mini-album was released in two versions,Ice Cream CakeandAutomatic. While there are no changes in the track list, theAutomaticversion has an alternative cover which features the original artwork in black and white, along with the design of the physical disc and the photo book inside is different from the other version.
Not only does the group's name "Red Velvet" represent their two different images, it also represents the duality sonic concept that the group was focusing on since their debut in 2014.While the "Red" concept shows the group's "sweet, bubblegum side", the "Velvet" concept highlights the group as "sultry sirens" with "slow-burning,Janet Jackson-esqueR&Bjam".Ice Cream Cakemarks the first release from Red Velvet to contain both "Red" and "Velvet" compositions, which was eventually followed by two different releases that focused solely on a single sonic concept:The Redin September 2015 andThe Velvetin March 2016.
The extended play starts with the same-name track "Ice Cream Cake", a "punchy, sugary pop confection" that consists elements fromdance-rock,bubblegum-popanddrum and bass. Produced byHayley Aitkenand producing team Trinity Music, the song original title was "Ice Cream Truck" before the lyrics was rewritten in Korean by songwriterJo Yoon-kyungand Kim Dong-hyun. In addition, it also features "haunted"harmonywhich can be heard during the intro of the song, while being accompanied by the sound of amusic box. The lyrics tell the excitement of a girl being attracted to her boyfriend, using "ice cream cake" as ametaphorto the girl's feelings. Along with the electro-pop "Stupid Cupid" and the bright, poppy "Take It Slow", the three tracks represent the "Red" concept, with "Stupid Cupid" offers a different "aura" through the electric riffs, and "Take It Slow" highlights the group's harmonization and soft vocals that recalls "the perfection" from fellow labelmateGirls' Generation-TTS.
In contrast, the second track "Automatic" is "a surely implemented R&B track" with influence from neo soul, thus represents the "Velvet" sonic concept. Produced byDaniel "Obi" Kleinand British singer-songwriterCharli Taft, the song was the first work from the duo with Red Velvet (who would later participate in the group's upcoming releases). Lyrically, the song tells how "natural" and "automatic" the senses and feelings of a girl come just by the touch of her lover, with the opening monologue "How do you like this beat?/Natural and automatic for you." Charli Taft also co-produced the third track "Something Kinda Crazy", a modern-R&B track with synth-pop influence that sings about the starstruck feelings of a girl when she falls in a relationship. The lyrics was written by songwriterKenzie, withAmericanproducerTeddy Rileyjoined in the production. The closing track "Candy" is a "smoothing, popping" R&B track that sings about the wishes of a long-lasting relationship. These three tracks eventually represent the group's "Velvet" concept, portraying the group's "sultry" images and music.
SM Entertainment announced a program where the group would promote their new EP, calledIce Cream TV. The group performed the songs live on the show, which was streamed throughNaver Musicand was hosted byShinee'sMinho. Besides their live performances, the group also talked about the new album and their 'comeback'.
The group started promoting their singles "Automatic" and "Ice Cream Cake" on music shows on March 19. They first performed the songs onMnet'sM Countdown,followed by performances onKBS'Music Bankon March 20andSBS'Inkigayoon March 22.They returned toMusic Banka week later and won their first music show trophy since their official debut.They had their first overseas performance of "Ice Cream Cake" and their first as a 5-member group in anSM Townconcert held in Taiwan.The group has also promoted and performed songs from the album in the Philippines for theBest of the Best K-pop Concerton April 12, a concert which also featured labelmatesSuper JuniorandGirls' Generationas well asCubeboy bandBTOB. The group also had its first promotions in the United States at KCON on August 2 at the Staples Center indowntownLos Angeles. The group participated in a fan engagement session at theLos Angeles Convention Centerand performed songs "Ice Cream Cake", "Somethin' Kinda Crazy", and "Happiness" during the concert.
Upon its initial release,Ice Cream Cakereceived positive reviews from most music critics for showcasing the duality sonic concept of the group. Jakob Dorof of pop music magazineSpindescribed the track "Ice Cream Cake" as "a treat as unexpected as it is unpredictable [...] packs a punch, but goes down smooth over time" and deemed it "the SM label's specialty: bubblegum pop that deeply rewards repeat rotations."Billboard's Jeff Benjamin called the album "an impressive effort for such a young group" and praised its ability to personify the group's dual-sided musical identity through the singles "Ice Cream Cake" and "Automatic." He explained: "The former track is a punchy, sugary pop confection that [...] seems to represent the outfit's sweet bubblegum side; their "Red" side if you will. While the latter is a slow-burning, Janet Jackson-esque R&B jam that [...] positions them as sultry sirens; their "Velvet" side."In a positive review for the EP, writer Kim Do-hyun ofIZMcomplemented the strong R&B influence in the release, while noting that the release is "an independent statement" for the group, choosing the two singles, "Something Kinda Crazy" and "Take It Slow" to be the highlights of the EP.Another review fromSeoulbeatsdescribed the EP as "an earnestly sweet album that shows the wide range of talent the ladies of Red Velvet possess."The two singles would later appear in the top 25 Red Velvet songs byBillboard, with "Automatic" at number nine and "Ice Cream Cake" at number eighteen.
On the week of March 15, 2015,Ice Cream Cakedebuted and spent one week at number one on the weeklyGaon Album Chart,giving the group their first chart-topping title. All six songs from the album eventually charted in the same week on Gaon Singles Chart.The album went on to become the best selling album by a girl group in South Korea on the Hanteo Chart for the first half of 2015.With a total of 48,815 copies sold in 2015, the extended play was the 50th best-selling release on the 2015's Gaon Year-End Album Chart, and later achieved a cumulative sales of over 88,000 copies as of September 2018.It also debuted at number two onBillboard's World Albums Chart, becoming their first charting entry.The album also peaked at 25 onBillboard'sTop Heatseekerson April 4, 2015.The album is also the group's first appearance on the Japan'sOricon Albums Chart, peaking at number 76 for one week.
Credits are from the album liner notes.