I wouldn’t usually write a full song review for an unpromoted pre-release with no music video, but GFriend have recently been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” club. Over the past few months, I’ve been writing about every single song they’ve recorded (only a few more to go!) and commit to write about any song they may release in the future. That starts with Season Of Memories (우리의 다정한 계절 속에), a pre-release taster before their big reunion in about a week.
Every fiber of my being expected Season to be the requisite ballad countering what will likely be a more up-tempo title track, so when the song kicked off with sprightly guitar I found myself immediately surprised. More than current K-pop trends, the production echoes sounds currently popular in Japan. I guess this makes sense since GFriend’s music has always borrowed heavily from J-pop styles. The instrumental is swift but still a bit subdued, forgoing bombast for a nimble — often jazzy — approach. It befits the mature era the group finds themselves in now, even if it never seeks to recapture the glory of their most iconic material.
I have a feeling Season Of Memories will enjoy strong longevity, but after the first few listens I’m still craving the melodic magic GFriend built their discography on. Rather than blossom and soar, the melodies play things cool and aloof. The chorus comes closest to breaking free from the song’s constraints, and is most effective when the girls’ voices are layered together. That sense of overwhelming optimism is their strongest calling card and I’m hoping that’s the direction we’re heading in.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.25