Buried Treasure: TWS – N.O.S.A

A Okay-pop act’s title observe isn’t all the time the very best track on their album, even when it’s the one most individuals will hear. Generally, b-sides deserve recognition too. Within the singles-oriented world of Okay-pop, I need to highlight a few of these buried treasures and provides them the props they deserve.

At this level, it appears as if I’ll be reviewing each new TWS observe. They haven’t but launched a track I’d charge beneath an “8” and that observe file continues with new anime OST N.O.S.A. I can’t for the lifetime of me determine what these letters stand for, however the track itself is a lot enjoyable. What might have simply been a slight pop observe (each in its content material and operating time) turns into one thing fairly attention-grabbing due to its association. N.O.S.A is just not an a cappella observe, nevertheless it’s carried out in that fashion. Almost your complete track is sung in vocal concord, layering the blokes’ voices in a method that sparks constant interaction and shocking twists. As an avid viewer of TWS’s behind the scenes content material, I do know the members often bust out harmonies like this whereas they’re going about their day (a few them are nearly all the time singing, truthfully). It’s good to listen to this funneled into an upbeat funk observe.

One other factor I like about N.O.S.A is its wonky English. I typically favor minimal English in my Okay-pop or J-pop tracks, however I’ve an enormous gentle spot for English phrases carried out in novel methods from non-native audio system. It’s fascinating to listen to the language twisted in uncommon methods. For instance, you’d by no means hear the phrase “gonna” delivered with a giant pause between its two syllables, however that pause (and shift in tune) forges the refrain’s central hook. That phrasing tickles the ear in an surprising method, making it surprisingly addictive. In an analogous method, I need to reward Shinyu’s spoken phrase moments on this observe. He merely has an incredible rap voice that’s so vibrant and colourful to take heed to.

Mainly, this track caught me off guard in one of the simplest ways and I’m delighted to have it. It feels like nothing else on my playlist for the time being.

Grade: A-