Billlie have a new album out later this month, their first Korean release in about a year. And as is the fashion lately, they’re kicking off promotions with a pre-release track. Trampoline merges their quirky worldview with the subdued nature of 2024 girl groups, adding a jazzy flair for good measure.
This will make for nice album material, presenting unique texture and tone that remains restrained until its final moments. On its own, the track is overly chill for my taste, sticking with an atmospheric groove that remains consistently moody. However, there are some fun things happening under the hood as nimble keys collide with the more measured percussion. This arrangement has potential to push itself even further, truly embracing its off-kilter hodgepodge of elements.
For a few seconds at Trampoline‘s conclusion, we get a taste of how the song might sound if it went all-in on its eccentricities. I love this moment of acceleration, as the vocals grow more frantic and pull the instrumental along with them. It feels like the parts in vocal jazz where the performer starts scat singing, matching the freestyling intensity of the music. Trampoline could use more of this energy. Too often, it just sounds like a generic K-pop track with a few cool production twists.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5