Not to be confused with the band's similarly titled 2024 studio album, Dreamscape.
Dream()scape
ep
ArtistNCT Dream
CoverNCT Dream - Dream()scape.jpg
ReleasedMarch 25, 2024
Genre
LanguageKorean
Label
Prev year2023
Next year2024

Dream()scape (pronounced Dreamescape) is the fifth Extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band NCT Dream. Released on March 25, 2024, by SM Entertainment through Kakao Entertainment, the album consists of 6 tracks, including the lead single, "Smoothie".

Background and release

On March 5, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that NCT Dream would be releasing their sixth EP, Dream()scape on March 25, releasing a teaser image.[4][5] On March 24, a music video teaser for the lead single, "Smoothie" was released on the SMTOWN YouTube channel.[6] Between March 11 and 15, five short movie-like trailers, titled "()Scape Film" were released.[7]

A music video for "Smoothie" was also released on March 25, featuring band members playing a real-life version of Fruit Ninja.[2] On the same day, the band held a press event in Seoul for the album.[8]

In support of the EP, the band embarked on "The Dream Show 3: Dream()scape" world tour in May.[9]

Critical reception

Dream()scape received mixed reviews from critics. NME's Tássia Assis gave the EP three stars out of five, criticizing "Smoothie" as being "a predictable, borderline-exasperating track", while "the rest of the album is much more creative, cohesive and enjoyable".[1] Cristina Jaleru of the Associated Press wrote that the EP "comes in and out of focus through a combination of tempo changes, innovative sounds [...] and catchy yet somehow forgettable hooks".[10]

Accolades

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
PublisherYearListiclePlacementRef.
Billboard2024The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks14th[11]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.[12]

Studio

  • SM Wavelet Studio – recording (track 1–2, 4), digital editing (track 1)
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording (all tracks), digital editing (track 2, 4–5)
  • SM Droplet Studio – recording (track 1, 3–6), engineered for mix (track 3)
  • SM Aube Studio – recording (track 2, 6), digital editing (track 6), engineered for mix (track 6)
  • Doobdoob Studio – recording (track 5–6), digital editing (track 3)
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing (track 1–2)
  • SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing (track 3)
  • SM Big Shot Studio – mixing (track 4)
  • SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing (track 5)
  • SM Starlight Studio – digital editing (track 6), mixing (track 6)
  • 821 Sound – mastering (all tracks)

Personnel

  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • NCT Dream – vocals (all tracks)
    • Mark – lyrics (track 3, 5–6), composition (track 3, 5–6), background vocals (track 4–5)
    • Renjun – background vocals (track 2–4)
    • Jeno – lyrics (track 5–6), composition (track 5–6), background vocals (track 5)
    • Haechan – background vocals (track 1–2, 4–5)
    • Jaemin – lyrics (track 6), composition (track 6), background vocals (track 4, 6)
    • Chenle – background vocals (track 1–5)
    • Jisung – lyrics (track 6), composition (track 6), background vocals (track 3–6)
  • Ellie Suh (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 1)
  • Na Do-yeon (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 2)
  • Bang Hye-hyun – lyrics (track 2)
  • Cha Ri (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 3)
  • Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics (track 4)
  • Lee Seu-ran – lyrics (track 5)
  • Woo Seung-yeon (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 6)
  • Patrick "J. Que" Smith – composition (track 1)
  • Jason Hahs – composition (track 1)
  • David "Dwilly" Wilson – composition, arrangement, background vocals (track 1)
  • August 08 – composition (track 1)
  • Harold "Alawn" Philippon – composition, arrangement (track 2)
  • Benji Bae – composition (track 2)
  • Robbie Jay – composition (track 2)
  • Greg Bonnick (LDN Noise) – composition, arrangement (track 3)
  • Hayden Chapman (LDN Noise) – composition, arrangement (track 3)
  • Danny Shah – composition (track 3)
  • Taet Chesterton – composition (track 3)
  • Dan Gleyzer – composition, arrangement, background vocals (track 4)
  • Tony Ferrari – composition (track 4)
  • Niklas Jarelius Persson – composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • William Segerdahl – composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • Ninos Hanna – composition (track 5)
  • Micky Blue – composition (track 6)
  • Realmeee – composition (track 6)
  • Patrick Liney (Cosmo's Midnight) – composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Cosmo Liney (Cosmo's Midnight) – composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Etham Basden – composition (track 6)
  • Young Chance – vocal directing (track 1–2, 4–5)
  • Ju Chan-yang (Pollen) – vocal directing (track 1–4), background vocals (track 6)
  • MinGtion – vocal directing (track 5–6)
  • Kang Eun-ji – recording (track 1, 4), digital editing (track 1)
  • Noh Min-ji – recording (all tracks), digital editing (track 2, 4–5)
  • Kim Joo-hyun – recording (all tracks), engineered for mix (track 3)
  • Kim Hyo-joon – recording (track 2, 6), digital editing (track 6), engineered for mix (track 6)
  • Jang Woo-young – recording (track 5–6)
  • Eugene Kwon – digital editing (track 3)
  • Jung Eui-seok – mixing (track 1–2)
  • Nam Koong-jin – mixing (track 3)
  • Lee Min-kyu – mixing (track 4)
  • Kim Cheol-sun – mixing (track 5)
  • Jeong Yoo-ra – digital editing (track 6), mixing (track 6)
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

Album

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Dream()scape
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[13]4
Greek Albums (IFPI)[14]39
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[15]2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[16]2
South Korean Albums (Circle)[17]1

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for Dream()scape
Chart (2024)Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18]4
South Korean Albums (Circle)[19]1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Dream()scape
Chart (2024)Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20]63
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[21]76
South Korean Albums (Circle)[22]5

Single

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Smoothie"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
China Korean Songs (TME)[23]1
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[24]57
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[25]43
South Korea (Circle)[26]3
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[27]18

Accolades

Music program awards for Dream()scape
SongProgramDateRef.
"Smoothie"Show ChampionApril 3, 2024[28]
M CountdownApril 4, 2024[29]
Music BankApril 5, 2024[30]
Show! Music CoreApril 6, 2024[31]

References

  1. ^ Assis, Tássia (2024-04-04). "NCT Dream – 'Dream( )scape' review: a darker, vulnerable hue to the ever-optimistic septet". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2024-03-25). "NCT Dream Drop Dream( )Scape Mini Album, Action-Packed Video For 'Smoothie'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  3. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (25 March 2024). "NCT Dream Open Up on Maturing & Taking More Creative Control in Group's 'New Chapter'". Billboard
  4. ^ "NCT Dream to return with new album 'Dream( )scape'". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  5. ^ Yoo, Hong (2024-03-05). "NCT Dream to return with new EP, 'Dream()Scape,' this month". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  6. ^ Kang, Ka-hee (2024-03-24). "ko:NCT DREAM 'Smoothie' MV 티저 공개..비장한 스토리 컴백 기대감 ↑" [NCT DREAM 'Smoothie' MV teaser released... Expectations for a tragic story comeback] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  7. ^ Park, Gyeol (2024-03-15). "ko:NCT 드림, 트레일러 마지막 편 공개…"성장통 겪는 청춘들에게"" [NCT Dream, final trailer released... “For young people experiencing growing pains”] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  8. ^ Pyo, Kyung-min (2024-03-25). "NCT DREAM drops 'DREAM( )SCAPE' album with more intense themes". Korea Times. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  9. ^ Chin, Carmen (2024-03-25). "NCT Dream play 'Fruit Ninja' in real life for 'Smoothie' music video". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  10. ^ Jaleru, Cristina (2024-03-25). "Music Review: NCT Dream try to pin down a vibe in latest EP, 'DREAM( )SCAPE'". AP News. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  11. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (July 8, 2024). "The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  12. ^ NCT Dream (2024). Dream()scape (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment. Credits.
  13. ^ "Dream()scape — Week 21, 2024" (in Croatian). HDU. May 19, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 20/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived May 22, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-05-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived May 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 1, 2024" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 13, 2024" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-04" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived May 8, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Circle Album Chart – March 2024" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  20. ^ "ja:年間 アルバムランキング 2024年度" [Annual Album Ranking 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. p. 7. Archived December 20, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2024". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Album Chart – 2024" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "韩语榜 – 2024年第1期" [Korean Chart – Issue 1, 2024]. Tencent Music. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of April 3, 2024" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2024-04-08" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived April 4, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "Digital Chart – Week 13 of 2024" (in Korean). Circle Chart. March 24–30, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  28. ^ "ko:SHOW CHAMPION 512회 TOP5" [SHOW CHAMPION Episode 512 TOP5] (in Korean). MBC Plus. April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  29. ^ Lim, Ye-bin (April 4, 2024). "ko:NCT 드림, '스무디'로 '엠카' 1위 "시즈니 고마워"" [NCT Dream, No. 1 on 'M Countdown' with 'Smoothie' "Czennies thank you"] (in Korean). Celuv Media. Retrieved April 4, 2024. – via Naver
  30. ^ Lee, Nam-hee (April 5, 2024). "ko:[뮤직뱅크] NCT DREAM, ‘Smoothie’로 1위 쾌거...“시즈니에게 바치겠다”" [[Music Bank] NCT DREAM achieves 1st place with ‘Smoothie’… “IㅣWe dedicated it to our Czennies”] (in Korean). KBS Media. Retrieved April 5, 2024. – via Naver
  31. ^ Lee, Ha-na (April 6, 2024). "ko:‘음악중심’ NCT DREAM 1위 “행복 챙기는 7드림” TXT 컴백→나우어데이즈 데뷔[종합]" [‘Music Core’ NCT DREAM No. 1 “7 dreams that bring happiness” TXT comeback → Nowadays debut [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved April 7, 2024. – via Naver