For a debut group with some notoriety (member Shihyun was a contestant in Produce 101, after all), We In The Zone’s roll-out has been surprisingly muted. Their agency didn’t even announce a track list before their mini album was released today. No music video teaser, either. This lackluster promotion doesn’t seem to bode well for the group’s future, but hopefully they’ll still get a chance to showcase their skills in an already-crowded debut year.

As title tracks go, Let’s Get Loud (내 목소리가 너에게 닿게) is also pretty subdued. In fact, despite its name, the song is the exact opposite of loud. It’s a trendy blend of smooth dance pop and hip-hop, augmented by all the instrumental quirks of the moment. While I would have preferred something with more impact, Loud is pleasant in a laid-back, head nodding way. Despite its insistence on trend-following, the breezy performance has a classic appeal that could have been crooned by almost any boy group in any era.

This may seem like faint praise, but Loud’s addictive atmosphere has a way of sneaking up on you. The vocal arrangement is solid, offering plenty of harmonic ad-libs that keep the track interesting. And while the melodies may feel a little muddled, there’s a certain continuity to their structure that paints the entire track with the same lush aesthetic. My favorite melodic hook comes right as the track opens (just before the first verse), and should have been revisited more often. But, debuts are all about potential. We In The Zone display just enough to keep me interested.

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