BDC continue to be a mystery. They’re not listed as a temporary project group, but their treatment thus far has suggested a quickly approaching expiration date. Despite releasing the super-solid Intersection trilogy of mini albums, Brand New Music has never attempted to push them as a big, ongoing group in the same way as AB6IX and, more recently, YOUNITE. BDC’s newest release — a ballad album — further cements this worry. Idol ballads don’t automatically portend hiatus, but they’re not the kind of release an agency funds to grow a group’s fan base.

Blue Sky is a stark piano ballad, putting all its focus on the guys’ vocals and a sentimental melody line. It’s a lovely track, but feels like the final song on an album filled with bangers – the kind of thing a group might whip out a capella during a stop at Yu Huiyeol’s Sketchbook. It does a nice job showcasing this trio’s skills, even if the song never builds toward one or two knockout moments in the way many great OST ballads do.

In the end, tracks like Blue Sky are difficult for me to review. I just don’t listen to this style of ballad unless it’s part of a great album or has some special element that pulls me in. I can’t fault Blue Sky. It does what it says on the tin. I’m a fan of the melody and really enjoy the symphonic elements that emerge mid-way through. But, I’m much more likely to go back to Moon Rider for the umpteenth time than close my eyes and let Blue Sky’s sentiment wash over me.