Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!)

So for the next few days, I’ll be offering my thoughts (and ratings) on every one of Re-boot’s tracks.

1. Re-boot // 2. Wannabe // 3. Lately // 4. Compass // 5. No Matter What // 6. A Song For Me // 7. Spring Again // 8. She’s My Girl // 9. Our Heaven // 10. Fantasia // 11. Don’t Run Away // 12. Go Together

FANTASIA

Earlier in the year, as part of Woollim’s The Live youtube showcase, Y performed a cover of Shawn Mendes’ In My Blood. It was the first time I realized how perfectly his voice could suit rock music, and ever since then I’ve been wanting to hear him tackle the genre. Unfortunately, Fantasia is not rock. But it is a pleasant, mid-tempo pop song.

Produced by frequent Woollim collaborators Code 9, Fantasia melds acoustic guitar to an understated electronic beat. It’s not energetic enough to be much of a dance track, but the song’s insistent tempo keeps it from going full on coffeehouse. The melody is charming without being all that impactful, but Y sells it with his standout performance. The chorus allows him to showcase different levels to his voice, moving from powerful phrasing to wispier falsetto. The general vibe of the track actually reminds me a bit of Jungkook’s Euphoria, though Y is a very different kind of vocalist. Stacked up against many of Re-boot’s flashier tracks, Fantasia feels more like a palate cleanser than a standout, but it’s wonderful to hear Y finally get a deserved solo of his own.

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