'Hola Hola': KARD's debut mini album is a valiant effort

Newcomer KARD is the latest addition to a relatively limited list of co-ed groups in the K-pop genre. Photo: DSPmedia

KARD

Hola Hola

DSP Media

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Can boys and girls really be just platonic K-pop group members? Newcomer KARD is the latest addition to a relatively limited list of co-ed groups in the genre.

After releasing three pre-debut singles (Oh NaNa, Don’t Recall and Rumor), the quartet finally pushes out its first mini album.

Half of the EP consists of previous releases, with three new songs (the physical CD includes four additional instrumental tracks). As its pre-debut singles teased, this further underlines the group’s affinity for tropical house numbers.

Hola Hola is an upbeat jam that bubbles with cheerful sentiments.

Meanwhile, I Can’t Stop serves as a kind of calculated, albeit commendable, reminder of KARD’s co-ed status. The track was originally done by ZAM, a 1990s K-pop co-ed group.

For the benefit of new listeners, the inclusion of the group’s previous releases here should hook new fans with its polished production and addictive hooks.

All in, KARD’s formal debut is a valiant effort. It relies a little too heavily on the tropical house trend, though.

It remains to be seen if that flavour-of-the-moment genre is just a passing fad.