Yard One pays tribute to South Korea with ‘San-lim Yok’ EP

UK duo Yard One returns to Stólar with their latest South Korea-inspired project, ‘San-lim Yok’.

Featuring mesmerising Korean vocals from Vovian and Red Pig Flower, and remixes from Alex Albrecht and Eli Verveine, the release captures the essence of Yard One’s time in South Korea.

The EP was composed over the past year, drawing on field recordings from Busan and Seoul that imbue the tracks with an authentic sense of place.

Following their stint in South Korea in the summer of 2023, Yard One returned to the UK to carefully sculpt the project, resulting in a collection that oscillates between dubby darkness, soothing serenity, and atmospheric depth.

From start to finish, 'San-lim Yok' is a hazy, immersive journey through serene textures and intricate instrumentation.

The standout ambient piece, ‘Forest Bathing In Busan (San-lim Yok)’, appears under the duo’s Tryst alias, offering a spellbinding blend of snaking sub-bass, unfurling textures, and organic percussion. Vovian’s hypnotic vocals lend the track a soothing yet polished energy that encapsulates its Korean inspiration.

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Our pick is ‘Sky Capsule’, a collaboration with Red Pig Flower. This deep techno-tinged track is subtle yet profoundly effective, leaning into its ethereal atmosphere with dreamy textures and breathy vocals from Red Pig Flower. The result is a dreamscape that feels both intimate and expansive.

The meditative track ‘Haeundae Beach (The End Of The Line) comes with an equally ethereal video, encapsulating the project's energy and tone.

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With 'San-lim Yok', Yard One delivers more than an EP—it’s an ode to Korea, a celebration of its subcultures, and a testament to the duo’s ability to channel their experiences into a cohesive and captivating narrative, littered with haze, atmosphere and personality.

Listen to Yard One’s ‘San-lim Yok’ here.

Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.

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