EXO’s Kai pre-released Adult Swim earlier this month, wasting extraordinary potential on a dull, spoken-word chorus. His actual comeback is still around the corner, but before that he’s surprised us with another new track. Walls Don’t Talk picks up the pace a bit and feels slightly more developed than its predecessor, but still delivers a hazy, subdued atmosphere.
You could certainly call Walls Don’t Talk a dance track, but it’s the slightest, most unbothered version of the form. Kai’s vocals are given a wispy, otherworldly treatment as the insistent beat thumps behind them. Muted synths create a drowsy energy as if capturing the comedown from a night out. Like Adult Swim, this screams “vibe” more than the virtuosic “let’s put on a show!” banger I’d hope for. I’m realizing that I probably need to let go of that expectation when it comes to Kai’s solo music, but I still can’t help but wish songs like Walls Don’t Talk found a way to carve a more musically daring path. There’s so much new dance music released every week and this track risks fading into the backdrop when compared to more dynamic material.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5