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

DON’T RUN AWAY

When I first heard Don’t Run Away, it didn’t do much for me. Perhaps I was just expecting too much from the song’s producers. After all, SEION was partially responsible for last year’s pop masterpiece Genie, and the Full8loom team have delivered standout tracks for so many of my favorite artists. However, it only took a few plays for Don’t Run Away to sink its teeth into me and become a late album highlight. In many ways, this is the closest that Re-boot gets to the Golden Child sound of 2017-2018, though it still feels different than their previous work.

I think the textures of the instrumental threw me off the first time through. Occasionally, they veer dangerously close to elements of future bass, and you all know how much I despise that particular sub-genre. But, Don’t Run Away is a buoyant pop song first and foremost, and that’s especially clear during its smooth, sing-along post-chorus hook. Elsewhere, the track borrows a touch of tropical synth and an insistent slap of percussion. The production is quite rhythmic, which has always been a good match for Golcha’s charms. The Joochan/Y main vocal tag team sound especially galvanizing during the chorus, which allows both performers to captivate with bright, expressive delivery. The bridge is also a standout, moving through several distinct sections before climaxing in the final chorus. I wouldn’t mind a title track with this general vibe next year.

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