Kiss Of Life have quickly established themselves as one of K-pop's buzziest rookie acts. April's Midas Touch expertly mined the current Y2K trend to craft a catchy showcase that gave the group their own sonic calling card. New summer single Sticky feels more closely attuned to the laidback, Afrobeats-inspired sound currently sweeping global charts. I've had my doubts about how well a subdued style matches K-pop's historically maximalist charms, but Sticky works just fine.
The summer season certainly buoys Sticky's prospects. The melodies here aren't adventurous, but the sweltering atmosphere and humid texture provide a fitting soundtrack for these hotter months. With material like this, tone and blend are very important. The song smartly layers the group's vocals to create a robust sound for its chorus. I love the reverb on this production, causing an almost cavernous echo that fills Sticky's minimalist space.
It's also nice to hear a K-pop girl group fully sing during a song's verses. Sticky may focus more on runs and riffing than tightly-structure pop melodies, but the girls pull it off to dazzling effect. This isn't necessarily the kind of music that compels through the strength of its ambition or breadth of its ideas, but it succeeds by becoming a musical setting of sorts -- a tonal backdrop that works well as a palette cleanser between bigger moments.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
Grade: B
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