I have this odd trend of under-rated RIIZE’s title tracks when they’re released, only to end up loving them in a few week’s time. This was especially true with January’s Love 119 — a 2024 highlight whose chanted chorus put me off big-time when it first came out. New single Impossible will not have the same problem. Its sleek house/club sound is right within my wheelhouse and fits the group like a glove.
Back in 2015-16, SM Entertainment enlisted producers LDN Noise to usher in a new house-influenced sound for the agency. This kicked off with SHINee’s View — still the high-water mark for the genre. RIIZE’s Impossible can’t quite fill those shoes, but it’s of the same lineage. This time around, the production adds extra groove in the form of syncopated percussion and addictive rhythm guitar. It’s a crisp, exciting sound that’s perfect for the coming summer, and the producers clearly know they have a good thing. Rather than fiddle with needless tempo changes, Impossible coasts along its energy for a tight three minutes. And when extra elements are added, they’re in the form of a pumping dance break and crystalline synths that close out the track.
Heavy on effects, RIIZE’s vocal accentuates the dancefloor drive rather than fight to be center stage. I love the wispy texture of this arrangement. It’s tone-setting rather than monotonous — a description that also fits the song as a whole. More than anything, Impossible‘s buoyant energy and unflagging tempo simply make you feel good. That sense of pop euphoria isn’t always easy to achieve, and songs like this tend to age extremely well. It’s a great turn for one of the industry’s most exciting rookies, and I hope this sound absolutely rules the summer season.
Hooks
9
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
9