Also making their official comeback early next month with their 2nd mini-album, GreenGreen, CORTIS has already been busy this week, unveiling their new lead single REDRED. However, as mentioned in my previous review, I think CORTIS might have another single up their sleeve come 4 May when the mini-album drops. This is CORTIS’s first comeback since their widely successful debut with What You Want and a bunch of other singles from their Color Outside the Lines debut mini-album.

In an unexpected turn of events, I actually enjoyed REDRED. While it does contain aspects similar to GO! and What You Want (i.e., the autotune and repetitiveness) that I didn’t necessarily enjoy in those songs, REDRED manages to find a decent beat, thanks to the abrasive nature of the experimental electroclash and indie hip-hop instrumentation, which, combined with the rest of the song, drives it forward. I easily found myself nodding along as the song went along, vibing with the energy that comes from REDRED. What was also nice about REDRED was CORTIS’s straightforward take-home message, which used the concept of ‘red’ and ‘green’ colours to describe what they stand for (i.e., freedom to do what they want, having fun, risk-taking) and what they oppose (i.e., narrow-mindedness, being constrained and conforming to societal norms). It would have been nice to have a more memorable melody to remember REDRED by, rather than the shouty delivery that the group seems gung-ho about maintaining as a distinguishing element in some of their songs. But honestly, I see REDRED as an improvement, given that I enjoyed it quite quickly.

The music video shows CORTIS hanging out and having fun, whilst breaking the smallest of rules of mundane everyday life to seek the thrill of being themselves – using the coins underneath the token dispenser, taking a second scoop of ice cream, and making a mess of the toilets. The way the music video was shot was dynamic and felt extremely fun, complementing the group’s mischief and the fun they were having. After all, it appears CORTIS and the production team, appropriately named IDIOTS, directed the 3:30-minute music video.

The choreography for the comeback struck an interesting balance of intensity and lightness. I also liked how it was continuous and never let up. It made for a good watch, overall.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10