The Rain (더 레인) is Ladies’ Code’s second promoted comeback after their return as a three-piece. Like it or not, the girls occupy a different place in k-pop than before the tragic accident that took two of their former members. In some regards, I understand that tragedy necessitates a more pensive sound, but I think it would be an even more victorious move to offer fans something as giddily upbeat as their older material.

When it comes down to it, that’s certainly not a choice for me to make or judge. But on a purely personal level, their newer releases seem almost too aloof for their own good. The Rain melds sophisticated electro pop with a jazz edge, upping the tempo a bit from February’s Galaxy, but keeping the energy relatively low. The song kicks off with an old-fashioned piano riff before the electronics kick in. This is accompanied by effective violin ornamentation that gives the track a warm appeal. The girls sound great throughout, imbuing the melody with a refined sense of cool. In fact, parts of the track sound like something Lee Hi would have released.

On a melodic note, The Rain suffers from a distinct familiarity that becomes a once-you-hear-it-you-can’t-unhear-it situation. Specifically, the first half of the chorus sounds almost identical to Puttin’ On The Ritz‘s iconic hook. This is surely not the vibe the girls were going for, and distracts just enough to feel a bit off-putting. This may seem like overly random criticism, but it really does color much of the track and works against the mood the group is trying to create.