Though it has yet to be officially confirmed by their agency, there have been reports that this will be TAN’s final comeback. Hopefully that doesn’t end up being the case, but Hyper Tonic is bittersweet for more than one reason. It’s likely the last new song we’ll hear from the late, great producer Shinsadong Tiger. Fortunately, it’s a total victory, grabbing the baton from last year’s excellent Heartbeat.
Hyper Tonic continues to develop a scuzzy electro sound, calling to mind classics from K-pop’s second generation. Those who love SHINee’s work and, more recently, NCT 127’s Superhuman and Mirae’s Killa, will find plenty to latch onto here. This happens to be a sweet spot for me, making Hyper Tonic instantly appealing. I love how textured and bold the instrumental is. It almost over-stuffs itself, but delivers a sense of controlled chaos thanks to Shinsadong Tiger’s steady hand. I only wish the lower end of the production hit harder, but maybe I just haven’t listened to it on the right speakers yet.
At just under three minutes, Hyper Tonic is a sleek package. But unlike many of its peers, the song stuffs so much into this narrow frame. The bombastic pre-choruses are big highlights, as is the multi-part bridge that carries us through rap, vocal harmonies and a breathless build before the instrumental goes absolutely mad for the song’s finale. It feels like a fully-fleshed out track, deployed with utter panache. TAN don’t get enough credit for their vocals and performance skills, but they carry Hyper Tonic with a natural strength that never relies on shouting and sneering empty boasts.
Hooks
9
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
9