Hui showcased his funk aptitude with January’s Hmm Bop and has now prolonged that power to summertime with new single Simple Dance. The tune pairs him with fellow soloist Kwon Eunbi and was unveiled through a steamy efficiency at Daejeon’s Waterbomb pageant.

Much more than an idol, Hui has grow to be often called an in-demand songwriter/producer, answerable for a handful of Ok-pop classics. That talent has but to switch to his solo music, as Simple Dance suffers the identical repetitive construction that marred Hmm Bop. There’s nothing off-putting concerning the observe, however as its title suggests every part passes by with a simple, amiable groove that doesn’t spark a lot pleasure. In between Bruno Mars-esque funk exclamations, Simple Dance bops alongside its ethereal hook and generic groove. Hui’s reward for melody is saved at an arm’s size, with no chorus capturing creativeness in the way in which his greatest work has.

If we lived in a world the place Simple Dance was the one funk-fueled Ok-pop observe obtainable, I’d be extra prone to forged off my essential lens and embrace its groove, however the tune exists in a sea of comparable materials. With this in thoughts, Simple Dance doesn’t do sufficient to face out. Past the novelty of its artist collaboration, it seems like a clean, nice placeholder in between larger pop moments.

Grade: C