“24K+” is the weirdest rebrand. It’s an offshoot of boy group 24K, who debuted all the best way again in 2012. But, no unique member stays and their new fashion/idea is markedly totally different from what 24K had been doing most of their profession. I’d perceive the slight tweaking of the title if the entity “24K” had any cachet within the present Okay-pop market, however it feels extra like a legal responsibility than an accessible model extension.

Fortunately, the sonic overhaul of Curler Coaster (롤러코스터) is true up my alley. I might do with out the cutesiness, however that usually goes hand in hand with hyper-melodic tracks in Okay-pop. It’s simply a part of the bundle deal. I’s even be positive with out the extreme filtering on the vocals. It feels like they’re singing right into a karaoke microphone with the “echo” function turned all the best way up. However these quibbles apart, I’ve very charmed by the sunshine buoyancy of this observe.

Curler Coaster jogs my memory of early Boyfriend, or perhaps the male model of Lovelyz. Its bounding instrumental is highlighted by these plonky, xylophone-esque synths that craft a cool, addictive texture. However the actual star of the present is pop melody, which acts as a steady pinwheel all through the observe. The refrain has a satisfying surge, delivering pure moments of climax with out interrupting the track’s dreamy stream. All the pieces feels a bit tough across the edges, however even that high quality provides to the nostalgia. A few decade in the past (across the time of 24K’s unique formation, truly…), it was simple to search out music like this peddled by smaller teams hoping to get their title on the market. As we close to the tip of 2023, I can’t assist however really feel a track like Curler Coaster comes at a premium. This shortage makes it all of the extra candy.

Grade: B+