HYBE and Geffen’s American (K-pop adjacent) girl group KATSEYE made a pre-debut last month with the solid but underdeveloped Debut. Less than a month later, they’re back with follow-up Touch, which succumbs to the same issues as its predecessor without developing its own strengths.
Like Debut, Touch is a wisp of pop track. At just over two minutes, it might as well be an extended ringtone. The group turns down any hint of bombast with a sonic landscape that borrows many elements from HYBE’s other girl groups NewJeans and ILLIT. At their best, songs like this can be addictive little earworms, so pleasantly airy you could repeat them several times over without even realizing where one play ended and the other began. At their worst, they’re a flat line devoid of compelling peaks and valleys, performed in a detached monotone that robs listeners of human tension.
Sadly, Touch falls into the “at their worst” category. The song is so lightweight it fizzles into the air. The instrumental is all muted synth tones and skittering percussion without weight or impact. And when the track hits its chorus, the repeating hook is more irritating than addictive. With its ultra-short length, Touch doesn’t go anywhere or build to anything. I know many listeners enjoy this general sound, but to me it’s the most uninspiring corner of today’s pop music market.
Hooks
6
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
6
RATING
6.5