Donghyun and Youngmin of MXM are on the cusp of rejoining their fellow trainees to form Brand New Music’s highly anticipated new boy group. It all waits for future-members Daehwi and Woojin, who will be released from their Wanna One contract when the group disbands early next year. Before that happens, MXM have returned with one last promotional cycle. And oddly enough, it’s in support of a track we’ve already heard.

The original version of Knock Knock opened the duo’s first full album this August, and it’s been beefed up a bit by producer TAK for a promoted remix. I wish the powers-that-be would have selected one of the album’s more interesting tracks for this transformation. Another Level or Don’t Stop Me Now would have made stronger singles. Knock Knock felt forgettable back in August, and it doesn’t improve much now.

Much of the instrumental employs a strong, mid-tempo beat infused with aggressive slabs of synth and a constant stop/start construction. This limits Knock’s ability to grow all that much from its opening verse. The production and vocals get louder, but I wish we would have gotten a few dynamic rhythmic shifts to go along with all the dramatic crooning. TAK attempts to rile things up with some exciting synth work during the chorus, but he’s limited by the song’s lockstep structure. At best, Knock’s hook is repetitive. At worst, it’s downright plodding. I’m still looking forward to Donghyun and Youngmin’s upcoming group, but I hope they’re given stronger material than this.

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