VAYONN are the second new boy group to emerge from Kin Jaejoong’s iNKODE label, adopting a brighter sound palette than their hip-hop friends KEYVITUP. They teased their debut with the so-so Watta Day final month, and I think that music will play higher within the context of an album. The bouyant MUAH! is their huge title observe and undoubtedly makes a larger impression on me.

I want my Ok-pop to sound as “Ok-pop” as potential, which means the songs don’t really feel like one thing a Western artist would simply replicate. MUAH! has a heaping dose of traditional energy pop woven into its type, however delivers a particular Ok-pop fizziness that units it aside. It’s a burst of power from begin to end, with every phase constructing on the final till we attain the bounding, ebullient refrain. All of it skews very younger, together with the vocal efficiency, however that power is welcome — particularly through the summer season.

Within the lengthy lineage of vibrant boy group debuts, I don’t see MUAH! protruding in the best way others (Astro, NCT Dream, Golden Little one, TWS, and many others) have, and a part of that is because of a really oversaturated market. Nevertheless, this Ok-pop summer season is in dire want of some huge, upbeat pop tunes and I’m glad to see a brand new group main that cost. MUAH! will get the job accomplished, particularly when its percolating synths and stomping percussion are available.

Grade: B