Song Review: Lee Chanhyuk (AKMU) – Out Of My Mind

Lee Chanhyuk’s second solo album is only days away and promises to mine many classic sounds of the 80’s. Prior to its release, he’s shared new track Out Of My Mind (돌아버렸어). From what I can gauge from the highlight medley, its synth-heavy sound is emblematic of what we’ll be getting on the full project.

It’s been fascinating to see which direction Chanhyuk takes for his solo work. There are tinges of the 80’s in a couple AKMU songs, but that’s never been a driving force in their music. Out Of My Mind feels like an extension of the textures he was working with back in 2022, tethered to an airy song that acts as more of a vibe-setter than a highlight all on its own. Out Of My Mind is strikingly simple, essentially looping around the same melody over and over again. This will likely work better in the context of an album than on its own.

As for the production, Out Of My Mind is as close to synthwave as K-pop will get. It favors an insistent moodiness over noticeable peaks and valleys, making it ideal as a soundtrack. It’s not the style of 80’s music I tend to gravitate toward, but it sounds like there will be bigger moments on the album so I’m eager to see how this fits into the story.

Grade: C+