The ladies of�miss A sensually purr in their latest release, "You touch my heart, baby. Touch, touch..."
If you were expecting just another catchy dance pop number this time around, needless to say, you will be disappointed with "Touch". However, surprises and expectations aside, this hypnotic ballad-meets-dance-pop single�is certainly one of their best songs to date.

Just like any other JYP penned track, "Touch" packs an easily digestible melody with a specific and carefully planned out vocal delivery. There's always a strong emphasis on simplicity and expression, and that's exactly what "Touch" focuses on. What we're experiencing with every miss A release is the JYP production team continously modernizing their craft. It's tempting to say the track is a disappointment because we don't have an infectious "You Don't Know Me!" chant like their debut single "Bad Girl, Good Girl", or a high-energy aerobic dance choreography as with their following single "Breathe". But once you absorb the sweeping romantic melody of the verses and the spellbinding synth lines, you'll be sure to get hooked. JYP isn't innovative with "Touch", but he does make things pretty interesting with his eccentric sound choices, and for a second, we're fooled into thinking that we're hearing something completely fresh (Not quite, but almost there!).

But those unsatisfied with "Touch" will most likely find the next track, "Lips" much more appealing. Opening with blaring progressive house chords, then dropping with an 808, Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" percussion combo for the verses, the party track sits kindly between the boundaries of K-Pop and Western dance music. Much like "Touch", the track is just a few decibels away from being mind blowing, but it's a small number of poor choices in mastering at the JYP camp that prevents it from being just that. Not only in production, but the aforementioned songs share a common theme of craving for intimate contact lyrically as well. With that said, we can establish that there's already a net weaving between the songs on the mini album.

Like we brushed upon earlier, we're hearing interesting influences and possibly samples in this miss A album with some diplo-like magic in "Lips" and even some� Monsieur Oizo? Yes, those familiar with the French electronic musician should be familiar with his cult classic, "Flat Beat", and in miss A's "No Mercy", we're hearing an interesting take on the wonky synth. The track itself sounds like an infusion of old school�Girls Aloud and sounds from the last Wonder Girls' album, which is a great treat for all kinds of K-Pop fans.

In a wider�perspective, the mini album serves its purpose and then some. It reintroduces missA to the K-Pop scene with a new rejuvenated look and sound without tampering with the modest�racy-lacy�concept miss A is known for. It provided a eye-catching music video that could already be revered as this year's greatest K-Pop video yet. However, miss A's 4th project, much like most other JYP productions, lack that refined sound that SM and YG productions always seem to deliver. It could be part by choice or part by fault, but if you're listening to "Lips" (Lips was produced by Fuego best known for his exceptional work on Chris Brown "Turn Up The Music.") at a club with a decent sound system, you'll notice many of the instruments sound quite muffled and many of the frequencies don't seem to really shine through the mix. Although "Touch" is a tamer production, it fails to really elevate and accentuate the vocals of the track when really, it should be the main focal point. The remaining tracks fare much better which is nothing to complain about, except for the fact it kind of creates a just-barely�noticeable�gap between the first half of the mini album and the second half in terms of richness in sound and clarity.



In the busy world of K-pop, there's a clear distinction between artists that deliver music as mere cash projects, scrapping remains of last month's hot trends and those who deliver music of their own pedigree. I'm sure all of us can agree that it's refreshing to see a K-Pop act NOT wearing a knock off 2NE1/Big Bang outfit or scrambling shuffle steps on stage. It's clear that miss A has a unique sound and image that remains consistent and provides a reasonable measure of what to expect for their forthcoming releases. Most times when awaiting for a K-Pop comeback, we're slapped in the face with a wild card. One day it's a Brave Brothers reject track, another day it's one of those hit-or-miss Shinsadong Tiger tracks. We can't have true artists in K-Pop because instead we have idols, but having a pop unit that provides a consistent strain of music and performances at least provides the illusion of a true artist.�miss A doesn't follow trends, but doesn't really set them either, which makes them all that much more special; the ladies of miss A have placed themselves in a class of their own.

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