After finding success on Boys II Planet, Flare U debuted earlier this year with a song I found quite toothless. The rest of their mini album was stronger, and pointed toward a light pop sound that had potential. The guys maintain this easy appeal with their first comeback Bloom (너의 계절이 찾아와).

Bloom is the kind of pop song that sounds as if it’s been smoothed over several times, buffered like a stone until any possible edge has disappeared. On one hand, this can result in immaculately produced music, but go too far and you’ve drained all personality from the track. Bloom is quite generic, but its sprightly, synth-powered instrumental is brisk enough to satisfy. Liyu and Woojin’s voices are equally as airy, as if they’re competing to see who can waft into the sky faster. The song could do with some memorable anchor that plants itself confidently on the ground. Otherwise, I fear it will get lost in the shuffle of more dramatic, memorable material this week.

Grade: C+