New JYP Leisure J-pop group NEXZ made their debut in Korea earlier this yr with the unremarkable Trip The Vibe. Now they’re again with a fast follow-up (and their official Japanese debut) within the type of jubilant pop observe Preserve On Transferring. NEXZ are clearly tackling a lighter sound than a lot of JYP’s male acts, and that offers them a pleasant area of interest to pursue additional. Preserve On Transferring is a step in the precise route, however the group may nonetheless profit from a extra idiosyncratic contact.

My greatest situation with Trip The Vibe was its have to continually interrupt its groove with rhythmic modifications that did little to ascertain momentum. Preserve On Transferring solves this situation, bopping alongside a constant burst of power that fits the group properly. It’s a buoyant, toe-tapping association that ought to have been launched on the onset of the summer season season. Stabs of synth give the refrain further heft, serving to to cowl a comparatively inert sequence of melodies.

Whereas Preserve On Transferring is gratifying and enjoyable, it’s nonetheless too generic to present NEXZ the sonic calling card they want. With none actual quirks or surprises, the tune feels extra like a boilerplate boy group cliché than an plain standout. There’s undoubtedly an area for this type of tune, however I’ve but to listen to a convincing argument for NEXZ’s place within the pop market. What are they bringing that we will’t hear elsewhere?

Grade: B-