Tune Evaluate: GFriend – Season Of Recollections

(EDIT: It seems this can be a pre-release audio of the particular title monitor, which is a bit disappointing to be trustworthy. I’d edit the principle evaluate, however it will find yourself being extra of a rewrite than something so I’ll depart it as is and perhaps revisit in every week. I swear their promo talked about a pre-release earlier than the title monitor on the thirteenth, however I assume I misunderstood.)

I wouldn’t often write a full track evaluate for an unpromoted pre-release with no music video, however GFriend have just lately been inaugurated into my “Ok-Pop A-Z” membership. Over the previous few months, I’ve been writing about each single track they’ve recorded (just a few extra to go!) and commit to write down about any track they might launch sooner or later. That begins with Season Of Recollections (우리의 다정한 계절 속에), a pre-release taster earlier than their huge reunion in a couple of week.

Each fiber of my being anticipated Season to be the requisite ballad countering what is going to seemingly be a extra up-tempo title monitor, so when the track kicked off with sprightly guitar I discovered myself instantly shocked. Greater than present Ok-pop traits, the manufacturing echoes sounds presently widespread in Japan. I assume this is sensible since GFriend’s music has at all times borrowed closely from J-pop types. The instrumental is swift however nonetheless a bit subdued, forgoing bombast for a nimble — usually jazzy — method. It befits the mature period the group finds themselves in now, even when it by no means seeks to recapture the glory of their most iconic materials.

I’ve a sense Season Of Recollections will take pleasure in robust longevity, however after the primary few listens I’m nonetheless craving the melodic magic GFriend constructed their discography on. Somewhat than blossom and soar, the melodies play issues cool and aloof. The refrain comes closest to breaking free from the track’s constraints, and is best when the ladies’ voices are layered collectively. That sense of overwhelming optimism is their strongest calling card and I’m hoping that’s the route we’re heading in.

Grade: B