I was not impressed with girl group Matilda’s debut back in March, but I was hoping they’d pull a KNK and blow me away with the follow up. While Summer Again is leagues better as a song, the girls still have some work to do in order to create the pop masterpiece I know they have in them.

Summer Again kicks off with a laidback beach vibe, incorporating elements of reggae and island-tinged acoustic guitar strumming before bursting into its full throttle dance pop chorus. The transition is jarring, but in a good way. The hook itself is very reminiscent of the 2009/10 era of fierce girl group k-pop. It has the same punchy delivery as several 2NE1 and 4minute songs, with its high BPM and aggressive instrumentation. It falls just short of living up to those legends, but the attempt is certainly appreciated. And perhaps more importantly, it’s a strong piece of melody that provides a sense of much needed dynamism.

I rarely comment on vocals, but there’s something about the way that Matilda’s voices are produced both here and in their debut track that grates on me. It’s a shouty style of singing that can come off harsher than it should. This is present in Summer Again‘s chorus, and undermines some of its power. The girls sound better during the less bombastic verses where their vocals take on a softer tone. I think finding the right balance will come in time. All in all, Summer Again is a step in the right direction, but there are still some aspects that need polishing.