(&)

On June 1, 2021, at midnight Korean Standard Time, Loona announced through social media that they will be releasing a new extended play titled [&] on June 28.{{Cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/bands/article/3135573/new-k-pop-releases-june-2021-twice-seventeen-exo-nct-127|title=New K-pop releases in June 2021: Twice, Seventeen, Exo, NCT 127, Monsta X, Loona and more to unveil albums, EPs and singles|last=Herman|first=Tamar|date=June 1, 2021|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=June 1, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/06/03/loona-everglow-nct-dream-itzy-and-ab6ix-this-weeks-10-bestselling-albums-in-korea/ |title= Loona, Twice And Mamamoo: The Most-Anticipated K-Pop Girl Group Releases Coming In June |last=McIntyre|first=Hugh |date=June 7, 2021|website=Forbes|access-date=June 24, 2021}} They also shared a cryptic teaser image containing the Latin words "citius, altius, fortius. Acta est fabula, plaudite" which translates to "faster, higher, stronger. The play is over, applaud".{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/loona-announce-june-comeback-cryptic-new-teaser-2952654|title= LOONA announce June comeback, unveil cryptic new teaser |last=Yeo|first=Gladys|date=June 1, 2021|website=NME|access-date=June 1, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Mendez|first=Michael |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/loona-and-release-date-tracklist/amp |title= LOONA Is Coming Back With A New Album This Summer, So Get Ready For Bops |date=May 31, 2021|website=Elite Daily|access-date=June 26, 2021}} The following day a teaser image titled "XII" was released featuring twelve eyes, confirming the return of member HaSeul, who did not take part in the group's last two promotional cycles to focus on her mental health.{{Cite web |last=Jeon |first=Hyo-jin|url=https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20210602/107224984/1 |title=하슬 활동복귀...이달의 소녀, 28일 완전체 컴백 [공식]|trans-title=HaSeul's return to activity. LOONA will make a comeback as a whole on the 28th. (Official)|date=June 2, 2021|website=Sports Donga|language=ko |access-date=June 2, 2021}} HaSeul also opened up about doing group activities again saying:{{Cite web|title=WATCH: LOONA returns as 12-member group with 'PTT (Paint the Town)'|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/loona-ptt-paint-the-town-music-video|access-date=2021-07-02 |website=Rappler|date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/loona-announce-june-comeback-cryptic-new-teaser-2952654|title= LOONA make their much-anticipated return with 'PTT (Paint the Town)' &|last=Yeo|first=Gladys|date=June 28, 2021|website=NME|access-date=June 28, 2021}}

{{Blockquote|text= "Because it has been two years since I participated in a comeback, I prepared a lot for this one. I was really nervous preparing for this comeback, but my members helped me fill in where I was lacking. So I think that people will really be able to see our synergy as a group of 12."}}

Individual member teaser pictures were released from June 3 to June 21 and a highlight medley video for the extended play was released on the group's YouTube channel on June 25. The track list for the album was revealed on June 10 and "PTT (Paint the Town)" was announced as the title track. Four different concept photos were also released for the extended play.{{Cite web|last=Jeon|first=Hyo-jin|url=https://news.kstyle.com/m/article_amp.ksn?articleNo=2171337|title= 今月の少女（LOONA）、ニューミニアルバム「＆」ハイライトメドレーを公開 |date=June 26, 2021|website=Kstyle News|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2021}} The first trailer video titled "&" for the extended play was released on June 23 and it features member Kim Lip walking into a huge temple, overlapping with the scene for the video for her solo song "Eclipse". Then, a drum plays in the intense red lighting, heralding that the beginning of a huge worldview has risen, and Kim Lip, wearing a red school uniform connected to her solo and unit worldviews, stands on the altar located in the center of the temple.{{Cite web |url=https://m.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202106230953300410|title= '완전체 컴백' 이달의 소녀, 하나된 세계관 서막 열린다|last=Hwang|first=Hye-jin |date=June 23, 2021 |language=ko|website=Newsen|access-date=June 27, 2021}} Two other trailer videos titled "&2" and "&3" were also released.{{Cite web |title=Loona shares fiery trailer for '[&]' EP|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2021/06/24/korea-Loona-trailer/8531624556769/ |first=Annie |last=Martin|access-date=2021-07-02|website=UPI|language=en}}

[&] features different sound that navigate from Bollywood-esque details, Korean ballad fairytale-like chimes and strings, quirky jazz, radio friendly power pop and dance-pop songs and ballads, and even the minimalistic traits of Korean indie R&B trends and rough lo-fi sounds.{{Cite web|last= A. Bastardo |first=Veronica|date=July 15, 2021|title= K-pop twelve-piece Loona with an album of high contrasts and big emotions, finds Verónica A. Bastardo |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/30211-loona-review|access-date=2021-07-16|website=The Quietus |language=en}}{{Cite web|script-title=ko: 이달의 소녀, 6월 28일 컴백 확정 [공식]|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004944184|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=Naver News|language=ko |archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601013607/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004944184 |url-status=live}} The extended play has been described as genre-diverse.

The intro song "&" gets the EP off to a dark, mysterious start, with its strong, thumping drum beats and hypnotic flute music leading into "PTT (Paint the Town)" which is a dance-pop and hip hop song that contains the most intense and "explosive" production among the songs that the group has released thus far. The song incorporates elements of Bollywood music, with Indian percussion and tabla combined with dubstep and 808 bass sounds, and an Indian flute playing the signature melody of the song. "PTT (Paint the Town)" depicts the group members' new worldview, as they reestablish themselves independently without being trapped in taboos or being wary of others to "paint the town" in the group's colors.{{Cite web|first=Sangwoo|last=Park|date=2021-06-28 |title=[알쓸신곡] 이달의 소녀, 신전에서 의식 치르는 듯 'PTT (Paint The Town)'|url=https://news.joins.com/article/24093087|access-date=2021-07-04 |website=중앙일보|language=ko}}

"Wow" is a groovy jazz styled and broadway inspired song with bouncing tempo, a refreshing up-tempo melody and an upbeat chorus. "Be Honest" is an electropop song with fresh cord variations and sound effects and has an old school throwback sound. Member HyeJu (formerly Olivia Hye) compared the song to their 2018 single "Hi High" saying the song has a bright and fresh concept and a really refreshing vibe, which makes it a good song to listen to in the summer. "Dance On My Own" is the group's second full song in English following their 2020 single "Star", which was featured on the group's third extended play [12:00] in 2020. It is a chill midtempo power pop song about dancing alone and feeling yourself.{{Cite web|last=Claire Dodson|first=P.|date=July 2, 2021 |title= Taylor Swift & Big Red Machine, Rico Nasty, and LOONA: Best New Music |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-big-red-machine-rico-nasty-loona-best-new-music/amp |access-date=July 4, 2021|website=Teen Vogue|language=en}} "A Different Night" is a deep ballad featuring a dreamy and faint sound. The last track "U R" is an indie R&B and lo-fi song with an emotional piano and electric guitar.{{Cite web |last=Lee|first=Hana|date=June 26, 2021|title=이달의 소녀, 새 앨범 '&' 하이라이트 메들리 공개‥12인 12색 매력 |url=https://m.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202106261459532510|access-date=June 27, 2021|website=Newsen|language=ko}}{{Cite web|last=Yeo|first=Gladys|date=June 28, 2021 |title=LOONA talk new mini-album '[&]', their favourite new tracks and the return of leader HaSeul |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/music-interviews/loona-ptt-paint-the-world-mini-album-and-interview-2979856?amp|access-date=2021-06-30|website=NME|language=en}}

To celebrate the release of the new extended play, the group hosted two online events, "Premier Greeting [D&D]", a fanmeet held on June 27, and an online concert, "ON WAVE [LOONATHEWORLD: &]", which took place on June 28.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-announce-4th-mini-album-and-release-june-2021 |title= LOONA confirm 12-member comeback with announcement of 4th mini album, '[&]'|date=May 31, 2021|website=Bandwagon Asia|access-date=June 26, 2021}} The group performed at different music programs such as Mnet's M Countdown, KBS' Music Bank and MBC's Show! Music Core to promote the album. On July 9 one of the group's staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The group was tested for the virus through PCR testing and although all of the members results come out negative Blockberry announced that all promotional activities for the album were temporarily suspended and that the members will all go into self-quarantine starting from July 10 in order to prevent the spread of the virus and for the health and safety of the members.{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/k-pop/music/news/loona-tests-negative-after-staff-member-contracts-covid-19-goes-into-self-quarantine/articleshow/84311590.cms|title= LOONA tests negative after staff member contracts COVID-19, goes into self-quarantine |date=July 11, 2021 |website=Times of India|access-date=July 17, 2021}} On July 20, Loona and all their staff members were all retested for COVID-19 through PCR testing and everyone tested negative. The group resumed their promotional activities on July 22.{{Cite web|last=Marian Belmis |first=Victoria|date=July 22, 2021 |title=Self-Quarantine Over: BlockBerry Creative Announces LOONA Will Continue With Comeback Promotions!|url=http://en.koreaportal.com/articles/50024/20210722/self-quarantine-over-blockberry-creative-announces-loona-will-continue-comeback.htm|access-date=July 24, 2021 |website=Korea Portal}}

"PTT (Paint the Town)" was released as the lead single from the extended play and the accompanying music video for the song was released the same day. Blockberry Creative partnered with Universal Music Japan for the first time to promote the album and the group's activities in Japan; an official Japanese page for the group was also created. A Japanese version of the title track was also released alongside the original Korean version, making it the group's first ever Japanese language song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-release-4th-mini-album-comeback-%26-and-ptt-announce-japanese-debut-date-on-wave-concert-livestream-june-2021|title=LOONA return with 4th mini-album '[&]', announce Japanese debut in September|date=2021-06-28|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Bandwagon Asia|last=Lau|first=Elly|archive-date=2021-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628100158/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-release-4th-mini-album-comeback-%26-and-ptt-announce-japanese-debut-date-on-wave-concert-livestream-june-2021|url-status=dead}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = IZM

| rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=30760&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1| title= Album Review Loona – '[&]'|work=IZM|location=Korea|last=Kim|first=Seong-yeop|date=July 5, 2021|access-date=July 5, 2021}}

| rev2 = NME

| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/loona-ptt-paint-the-world-and-mini-album-review-2985501|title=LOONA – '[&]' review: weaving a diverse tapestry of sound, one unique colour at a time|last=C|first=Ruby |date=July 5, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2021|website=NME}}

}}

Verónica A. Bastardo of The Quietus gave the extended play a very positive review calling all tracks on the album enjoyable. She called the group's sound an unexpected trip in each new music project and called their journey through sound just the beginning. She ended her review by saying: "Loona came back with an album that hits just right when you want to cement yourself as a pop reference in a worldwide music audience".

Ruby C from NME gave extended play three out of five stars, saying that the overall direction Loona take on the extended play points out that the group is unafraid to experiment with music, even if it doesn't always work out. She remarked that this inclination to look beyond the routine will, undoubtedly, continue to set the girl group apart in the years to come.

The EP was nominated for Album Bonsang at the 36th Golden Disc Awards becoming the group's first ever album to be nominated in the category.

The EP debuted at number 4 on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart becoming the group's fifth consecutive top five album. The album sold 97,300 copies in its first two days of availability debuting at number 11 on the Gaon Monthly Albums Chart with only two days of tracking and becoming their fastest selling project.{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=06&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month|title=2021년 06월 Album Chart|trans-title=June 2021 Album Chart |website=Gaon Chart|access-date=July 8, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210022043/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=06&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month |url-status=live}} The album sold 24,600 more copies in July placing at number 16 on the Gaon Monthly Albums Chart for July and becoming the group's best selling album.

The EP debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart becoming the group's first ever entry on an official Japanese chart. The following week the album debuted at number 46 on the main Japanese Oricon Albums Chart becoming the group's first ever entry.

In the UK, the EP debuted at number 21 on the Official Album Downloads Chart for the week ending July 8, 2021 becoming the group's third consecutive top thirty entry on the chart. In the US, the EP debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard World Album, number 24 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums and number 59 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. On the week ending July 22 the album debuted at number 49 on the Polish Albums Chart becoming the group's first ever charting album in the territory.

{{Track listing

| headline = [&] track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| title1 = &

| music1 = {{hlist|Ryan S. Jhun|Hanif Hitmanic Sabzevari|Dennis DeKo Kordnejad}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Jhun|Sabzevari|Kordnejad}}

| length1 = 1:19

| title2 = PTT (Paint the Town)

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Jhun|Sabzevari|Kordnejad|YOUHA}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Jhun|Sabzevari|Kordnejad|YOUHA}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Jhun|Sabzevari|Kordnejad}}

| length2 = 3:21

| title3 = WOW

| note3 =

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|YOUHA}}

| music3 = {{hlist|ALYSA|Anna Timgren|Harold Phillippon|Jhun}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Alawn|ALYSA|Jhun}}

| length3 = 2:58

| title4 = Be Honest

| note4 =

| lyrics4 = Jo Yoon-kyung

| music4 = {{hlist|Christian Karlstrom|Cazzi Opeia|Ellen Berg}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Karlstrom|Jhun|Kordenejad}}

| length4 = 3:16

| title5 = Dance On My Own

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Gino Barletta|Melanie Joy Fontana|Michel Schutz|Nolan W. Sipe}}

| music5 = {{hlist|Schulz}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Schulz}}

| length5 = 2:37

| title6 = A Different Night

| note6 =

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Yoon Hee-won (Chansline)|Han Yeon-ji (Chansline)}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Yoon Hee-won (Chansline)|Lee Gwan-hyoung (Chansline)|Han Yeon-ji (Chansline)|Hwang Chan-hee (Chansline)}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Lee Gwan-hyoung (Chansline)|Han Yeon-ji (Chansline)}}

| length6 = 3:38

| title7 = U R

| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Jang Ju-na (Chansline)|Park Shin-ae (Chansline)|Choi Young-ah (Chansline)}}

| music7 = {{hlist|Jang Ju-na (Chansline)|Park Shin-ae (Chansline)|Choi Young-ah (Chansline)|Hwang Chan-hee (Chansline)}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Jang Ju-na (Chansline)|Park Shin-ae (Chansline)|Choi Young-ah (Chansline)}}

| length7 = 3:04

| total_length = 20:16

| all_writing =

| title9 =

| length9 =

| title10 =

| length10 =

}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{Loona}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:and (Loona EP)}}

Category:2021 EPs

Category:Loona (group) EPs

Category:Kakao M EPs

Category:Universal Music Japan EPs