After a promising pre-debut single, rookie group POW’s subsequent songs didn’t hit me as hard. Their agency seems to be throwing many different sounds at the wall, which is always a tricky prospect when a group is first starting out. New single Valentine switches things up yet again, playing around with tempo and tone but struggling to craft a cohesive identity of its own.
Valentine embraces elements of the trendy drum-and-bass and garage genres, melding sprightly percussion to more reserved melodies. It’s a pleasant mix, but with its repetitive hook and modest ambition the song doesn’t quite break out. Its final fifteen seconds build energy and hint at a robust mix that would have served the song well. But with less than three minutes to fill, Valentine isn’t allowed the opportunity to grow into much more than a vibe. I’m not a big fan of the affected vocal performance, either.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5