The Boys II Planet series continues to spawn new acts and today we have the debut of duo FLARE U. This team consists of Chuei Li Yu and Kang Woo Jin, both under FNC Entertainment. It’ll be interesting to see if this becomes a longtime configuration or if the agency will eventually try to fold them into a boy group. Duos are still pretty rare in K-pop, but it’s an underrated formation in my opinion.

With debut single Way 2 U, the brief seems to be “don’t rock the boat too much.” Rather than arrive with a huge statement of intent, the track gives FLARE U a soft mix of glistening synth and plonky percussion. The chorus kicks up a nice bounce, but even here the song feels quite laidback. Both members are vocalists with similar tones, meaning we need to look to the song construction itself for a taste of variety. Sadly, Way 2 U is more monotonous than it is exciting.

To be clear, Way 2 U works as a song. It ticks all the boxes it needs to feel complete and predictably enjoyable. However, the production is muted in a way that makes the entire track feel like it’s covered in gauze or vaseline. There’s not much texture to sink your teeth into and this lack of friction robs Way 2 U of the dynamic appeal it might have in different hands. As a debut, it tells me little to nothing about what FLARE U is supposed to be, and that’s disappointing.

Grade: C