Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!)

So for the next few days, I’ll be offering my thoughts (and ratings) on every one of Re-boot’s tracks.

1. Re-boot // 2. Wannabe // 3. Lately // 4. Compass // 5. No Matter What // 6. A Song For Me // 7. Spring Again // 8. She’s My Girl // 9. Our Heaven // 10. Fantasia // 11. Don’t Run Away // 12. Go Together

NO MATTER WHAT

Jangjun and Tag are two of my favorite Golden Child members, but I’m not often drawn to rap sub-units. For me, they tend to be very hit or miss. I’m thinking of Seventeen especially, who releases quite a few unit tracks. For every awesome Back It Up, there’s a mind-numbingly inane Chilli. But, I should never doubt Golcha, because No Matter What is nothing like I would have expected.

When we last heard from Jangjun and Tag as a unit, it was on the pre-debut track Drought. That song was groovy and nice, but pretty slight. No Matter What opts for a much more exhilarating sound, enlisting producers 1Take & TAK to create an upbeat EDM backdrop that turns out to be a perfect match for both rappers. I love the beat on this track. I tend to enjoy hip-hop most when it’s perched over energetic production, and No Matter What’s aggressive tempo is continually captivating. Jangjun and Tag have complimentary styles that are each dripping with personality. They get ample opportunity to showcase that here, culminating in a fun call back to the rap section of previous Golden Child song Crush.

If their performance wasn’t already dynamic enough, the chorus brings in main vocal Joochan with a more forceful delivery than we’re used to hearing from him. It all works much better than you’d expect, and stands as one of the most convincing musical “reboots” on the album.

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