Fresh off her release for the Universe app, IZ*ONE leader-turned-soloist Kwon Eunbi is back with her second mini album. Woollim Entertainment has paired her with a host of great songwriters, from the Newtype team (1Take, TAK and others) to Full8loom to Monotree. New single Glitch gives her an interesting sound to work with, taking its title literally for a song that feels choppy and jerky throughout.

This is a very cool approach. I can’t fault the production, which remains dynamic and surprising all the way through. From the sparseness of the verses to the theatrical drama of the pre-chorus, Glitch is continually in flux. It borrows elements from drum and bass, psytrance and trip hop, fusing them together to create an exciting brew. The track climaxes in a final glitch-out, adding abrasive electronics to simulate ultimate meltdown. This arrives after a beautiful, vocal-led bridge and rips the song open in the best way.

Kwon Eunbi has her work cut out for her, competing with such an attention grabbing instrumental. She’s like a ghost in the machine, offering wispy vocals that slide between the mechanical cogs of the production. It’s a nice contrast, and allows for some striking moments. As well-arranged as Glitch is, I feel like I should be head over heels in love with the song. Instead, I find myself appreciating its artistry without being compelled to immediately re-listen. This is likely due to my preference for a fuller-sounding track. I’m not a huge fan of this skeletal production style, even if it’s done very well here. Still, this is a big step in the right direction for Eunbi’s burgeoning solo career.