It’s been a while since we had a song from SM’s NCT Lab project. So far, this showcase has given us a Mark Lee solo and a dance unit. Now, it’s time to focus on the group’s vocalists. Rain Day brings together Taeil, Kun and Yangyang for a mid-tempo designed for laid-back summer days.

NCT’s vocalists are often under-utilized, making showcases like this very welcome. However, SM has a history of saddling its greatest vocalists with dull ballads or forgettable mid-tempos. I wish they would realize that a singer doesn’t have to slow the tempo to show off their voice. If anything, 2016’s epic Without You should offer ample proof to the contrary! With tempo in mind, Rain Day has a bit of bounce to it. It’s still a subdued track that wouldn’t feel out of place in a coffee shop, but the song has an r&b flair that offers plenty of movement in the vocal performance.

Rain Day also features a writing credit for Kun, allowing him to flex his song production skills. In a perfect world, NCT Lab would act as a free-for-all venue for the members to unleash their creativity. I think we’re slowly getting there. I just hope the guys are able to harness a vision that feels specific to them. Rain Day is super pleasant and offers plenty of space for impressive vocal runs and lush harmonies. But in the end, it’s a relatively slight detour in the group’s overall discography.