OnlyOneOf is Back with “mOnO”

OnlyOneOf’s modest comeback with single album unknown ballad 2.3, containing single track "mOnO,” follows July's understated release Produced by [myself]—which dropped with no music video and three tracks that would come to be their final production as seven. As their first release since the sudden departure of leader and vocalist Love, it seems fitting for "mOnO" to be a wistful ballad. The lyrics, written in part by member Nine, depict feelings of regret once the memory of what it felt like to be with a certain loved one begins to fade:

    "I should've given you more beautiful colors when you were with me / You pop up in my         mind as often as I breathe.”

"libidO" is going to be a tough act to follow, and while this doesn't pack the same punch in sight or sound, "mOnO" is very much a comfort piece. "mOnO" is an R&B ballad, and the emotion comes through pretty clearly in this format, especially given OnlyOneOf's consistently cool sound. While I've described the lyrics as wistful, the boys' delivery and production on "mOnO" ends up sounding almost hopeful, but that could just be due to juxtaposition with the video.

The music video is an appropriately light monochromatic video compilation of the six members at the photoshoot for their teaser photos; and in the way of behind-the-scenes videos, there's plenty of clips of the boys laughing and goofing around together. By description, laying a song with lyrics like "Even if I forget you / The colors imbued in me even in the moment we touched are fading away," over a video with such light-hearted content might sound a little mismatched, but I think this is simply a confirmation for fans that OnlyOneOf isn’t finished, and it’s only a matter of time before they come back stronger.