Along with labelmates ITZY, NMIXX’s album has been preceded by a few pre-releases. First was December’s Soñar (Breaker), a song that has grown on me since its initial release. Then came Run For Roses, one of the group’s most striking songs yet. Pre-releases are a good way to build momentum, but they can also put added pressure on a title track. What makes Dash more suitable for promotion than its predecessors?
That’s a question I may have difficulty answering as well. There are things I enjoy about Dash. I like how it dives further into funk rhythms than ever before, and when the girls are singing, the track flourishes. The verses are engaging (if a little slow) and spikes of harmony add color. But your enjoyment of Dash will hinge on how you feel about its chorus. The chanted centerpiece is definitely catchy, but as of now I’m finding it more irritating than exciting. I guess I just don’t enjoy hooks in this style. A more robust vocal comes in during the second half of the chorus, but it’s not memorable enough to salvage that chant.
This being NMIXX, Dash delivers a complete switch-up during its bridge. This is the right place to do this, and I actually wish the song shifted more often. This brief moment of distorted guitar feels more interesting than the minutes that preceded it and makes me wonder if my quibbles about the chorus could have been covered by a more bombastic arrangement. All things considered, I think I prefer both pre-releases to this.
Hooks
6
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.25