7°CN

On February 14, 2016, it was announced that CNBLUE was scheduled to release an album the following month. A tentative release date of March 20 was initially reported, but a definitive date had not yet been confirmed.[2][3] The release date was later confirmed.[4]

The title 7ºCN signifies "the story of 'emotions' CNBLUE has felt over the seven years since debut, the varied temperatures of one's feelings in life were welded into music."[4] Recording and mixing for the mini-album took place in Seoul at the FNC Entertainment Studio; it was mastered at the JFS Mastering Studio.[5]

A pop-rock record, CNBLUE reimplements components of electronic music into 7°CN as it previously did in its second studio album 2gether (2015).[6] The mini-album explores the themes of "encounters, love, memories, and reality" in its lyrics.[7] "Between Us" is a pop-rock song which conveys the "ambiguous and confusing feelings" leading up to start of a relationship.[8] A pop number accompanied with "brassy funk", "It's You" describes the feelings a man experiences as a result of falling in love.[6][7] The band showcases a more conventional sound in "Calling You",[6] which sees the narrator "directly approach his love interest".[7] "When I Was Young" is an electronic rock track which delves into reminiscence of the innocence of childhood.[7] A second song harping on CNBLUE's roots,[6] "Manito" an acoustic track which deals with the grief of "unrequited love".[7][9] Previously included in the band's Japanese album Euphoria, "Royal Rumble" is a "polyrhythmic electronic-acoustic hybrid".[6]

7°CN was released in two editions: version A and special. The former comes encased in a sleeve case and hard cover, while the latter is in a paper slipcase. They include a 72-page and 24-page booklet, respectively; both include one random postcard and photocard selfie, as well as a poster.[10][11]

Released on March 27,[11] the artwork for the special edition of 7°CN was designed by Argentinean graphic designer Pilar Zeta.[13] Revolving around the concept of "confusion and [complication]", the cover art depicts portals between a surreal "magical world" filled with stars and pyramids, and a colorful door which "represents the infinite possibilities that there are in the field". It also shows a male figure viewing the door into the other world. The portals indicate how "that contrast opens, this, relationship in between these two worlds". Zeta cited "Between Us" as a vital inspiration for the album artwork.[12]

On March 13, launching films for each member, as well as a poster for the lead single "Between Us", were released.[8][14] The following day, "#On" photos of the group and each individual member were unveiled.[15] This was subsequently followed by "#Off" images the day after.[16] A music video teaser for "Between Us" was uploaded on March 16, followed by a highlight medley on the following day.[7][17] On March 18, a band performance trailer for the lead single was released.[18] Lyric posters of Jung Yong-hwa and Kang Min-hyuk were released on social media websites that same day, as well as lyric posters of Lee Jong-hyun and Lee Jung-shin the subsequent day.[19]

7°CN and the music video for "Between Us" was simultaneously released on March 20.[20] On March 23, CNBLUE began promoting "Between Us" by performing the song on weekly music chart shows.[21] In addition to the lead single, the band also performed "It's You" on Mnet's M Countdown and Korean Broadcasting System's (KBS) Music Bank,[22][23] and "When I Was Young" Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation's (MBC) Show! Music Core and Seoul Broadcasting System's (SBS) Inkigayo.[24][25] CNBLUE also performed on SBS MTV's The Show and MBC Music's Show Champion.[26][27]

In order to promote the record, the band will embark on the 2017 CNBLUE Live: Between Us concert tour. It is the band's first tour since promoting 2gether through the 2015 CNBLUE Live: Come Together tour. The initial pair of shows will take place between June 3–4 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul.[28] From July to September, CNBLUE will make stops in Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Taipei.[29]

Writing for online magazine IZM, Jung Min-jae rated 7ºCN three out of five stars, noting that CNBLUE's musical progress had developed rapidly upon the band "[overtaking] the helm". He observed that the quartet "produce much slicker materials in terms of melody progression, sound structure, and performance" and the "melodies, arrangements, vocals, and instrumentals fit together to a tee", asserting that the band is "now entering the stage of building its own realm". However, he expressed that CNBLUE's mini-albums "tend to have similar tinges", citing the repetitiveness of the "composing styles and themes of title-tracks, as well as repetition of patterned b-sides give listeners a feeling of déjà vu". He felt that the record was "quite an uneventful series of listens" in spite of its quality.[9] Billboard magazine columnist Tamar Herman labeled it "one of [CNBLUE's] most innovative album in years". With its "genre-blending tracks", she noted that the record was able to "showcase the group's ability to combine rock music with K-pop's experiment nature".[6]

7°CN earned the band a nomination for the Golden Disc Album Award at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards.[30]

On the chart dated March 19–25, 2017, 7ºCN debuted at number three on South Korea's national Gaon Album Chart.[31] In its second week, the mini-album rose to its peak at number two.[32] By the end of 2017, it sold 53,559 copies domestically.[33] The mini-album ranked at number eight on Billboard magazine's World Albums Chart.[34] In Japan, the mini-album debuted at number 33 on the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling 2,972 copies in its first week.[35] It spent a second consecutive week at its peak, selling an additional 2,549 copies.[36] It has sold 7,408 copies in the country since its release.[37]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

7ºCN highlight medley on YouTube