Being a relatively new genre, modern k-pop has few acts that could rightly be considered legends, but I think it’s safe to say that BoA fits the bill. Active for seventeen years now, she’s conquered not only Korea but most of Southeast Asia as well. And now that she’s fresh off her stint as the host of successful variety show Produce 101, it’s the perfect time to remind listeners why she’s such a force to be reckoned with. Camo is a commanding comeback that manages to sound fresh and classic all at once. And while I wish the track would truly throw caution to the wind and go even bigger with its sound, it’s refreshing to hear a 2017 k-pop comeback that feels so effortlessly timeless.

Kicking off with a dull electronic stomp, Camo wastes no time getting to its sticky beat. As subdued backing vocals join the fray, the song begins a slow build before launching into its dramatic centerpiece of striking synths and impassioned vocals. This extended pre-chorus hits like an exclamation mark, upending the track’s measured bounce with a warped crescendo. Frankly, the song could have done with more of these fireworks, even if the end product is still very strong.

The addition of rhythm guitar during the second verse gives Camo‘s latter half a funky appeal that plays well with BoA’s natural sense of beat-driven delivery. The same can be said about the hypnotic hook, which brings an engaging fluidity to the melody as BoA swerves into falsetto for a refrain that sounds almost like the missing piece of a Bond Theme. It’s a strong effort by one of k-pop’s strongest performers. Now bring on a full album of like-minded material!