It goes with out saying that I adore Taemin and his music, however my greatest frustration together with his solo output is how typically it tends to favor murky environment and sluggish preparations. He clearly enjoys this subdued tempo, and it permits for nice highlight on his choreography in a fluid, creative means. However being an enormous fan since his solo debut in 2014, I can’t assist however lengthy for the aggressive beats discovered on songs like Hazard.
Due to this, I used to be pleased when Taemin’s new album introduced double title tracks. Horny In The Air matches the extra subdued, atmospheric temporary and executes this splendidly… not less than throughout the primary half of its operating time. In the meantime, the synthwave-charged Horizon lets us expertise a extra forceful efficiency model. Other than a short slowdown after the primary refrain (why are up-tempo Ok-pop songs nonetheless doing this in 2024?), Horizon takes flight instantly and by no means lets up. It’s a coiled spring of a pop track, wrapping Taemin’s slippery vocals round a punchy electro instrumental. This distinction makes the observe greater than a generic style train.
The place different artists would possibly merely let their manufacturing do the heavy lifting, Taemin has the uncanny skill to imbue upbeat materials together with his personal rhythm and cadence. His knack for efficiency elevates a lot of Horizon, a lot because it did throughout 2020’s showstopping Legal. I’m particularly enamored with the second half of verse two, when the melody takes a extra aggressive, insistent flip and Taemin’s vocals turn into sharp and vigorous. It’s the sound of an artist and track matching one another’s depth and the result’s so satisfying.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
Grade: A-