Bigbang may be one of the biggest k-pop acts around, but they’ve also mastered the art of solo releases. Each of their five members has released solo work tailored specifically to their strengths. Most of these have fit comfortably within the Bigbang brand, but power vocal Daesung has branched out even further, carving an immensely popular pop-rock career in Japan under the moniker D-Lite. His music strips away most of Bigbang’s hip-hop influences in favor of a more melodic, rock-infused approach.

D-Day marks his first Japanese work in over two years, and he’s come back with a burst of orchestral pop that perfectly suits his potent vocals. The song opens with a cascade of drums, heralding a gorgeous riff of wistful strings that gives the instrumental a warm, ornate feel. The energy is high throughout, as the track swells with constant musical exclamation marks. It’s one of the fullest, most compelling instrumentals of his career, and elevates an otherwise generic melody to something special.

Though none of D-Day‘s hooks hit you over the head in obvious ways, that’s not the point. The song succeeds as a whole rather than a sum of catchy, disconnected parts. These days, it’s becoming more and more unusual to find a song that feels so completely woven together. The verses and chorus blend naturally in a conversational way, lending the song a sweet, sentimental vibe that matches its jubilant symphony of melodic crescendos. Even though it may lack the edge of Bigbang’s group work, D-Day feels tailor-made for the spring time, recalling sunny evenings and seas of cherry blossoms.