Throughout her solo profession, Mamamoo’s Moonbyul has confirmed to be one of many extra versatile members of the group, tackling a hodgepodge of genres and ideas along with her trademark power. Final winter’s double shot of Suppose About and Touchin&Movin was more practical than I’d anticipated, and now she’s returned with a repackage of that album and new title observe Is This Love (내 친구의 친구 얘기인데), stretching this period far longer than most Okay-pop promotions.

Is This Love matches neatly beside the opposite two singles on the album, providing a vivid, buoyant blast of pop. In case you solely heard a information model, you’d be forgiven for assuming this was a TWS music! In actual fact, its construction, choreo and phrasing all borrow liberally from their standard viral hit Plot Twist. I by no means anticipated to check these two acts in any method, however Plot Twist‘s affect has clearly entered the Okay-pop dialog.

In fact, facsimiles are not often as profitable as the unique, and Is This Love can’t fairly seize the magical melodies and earnest authenticity of its affect. Nonetheless, it’s a blast to listen to Moonbyul play with this sound. Is This Love pinballs between catchy hooks, solely faltering when the tempo slows to a crawl throughout its pre-chorus. In any other case, the synths blast with jubilant power and the refrain hits with addictive pressure. It looks like a music designed for a gaggle and would enhance with numerous vocal textures and tones, however at its core Is This Love is well-constructed and tons of enjoyable.

Grade: B+