Alongside their full-group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. Following the hip-hop team’s LALALI comes the performance team’s Spell.
My favorite unit tracks often emerge from the performance team, but given the nature of their specialty these songs also tend to benefit from an accompanying visual. Spell certainly fits this criteria, making it difficult to review on its own. Coupled with choreography, its vibe-heavy sound enjoys new life not present within the track itself.
There’s no point in reviewing a song for what it’s not, but I can ascribe value based on my own taste and preferences. Spell is much more downbeat than many of the performance team’s tracks — almost hypnotic in its flowing repetition. The guys have embraced the percussion and mood of Afrobeats and this instrumental is impeccably produced. I love the reverb on their vocals, matching the hazy, dreamlike energy of the melodies. But when it comes down to it, there’s just not enough here to compel me. It’s an entrancing vibe that could improve with a more dynamic arrangement. But if it did that, it would be a completely different style of song so it’s hard to deny Spell‘s effectiveness within its own constraints.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5