VOYAGER is an impressive and intriguing debut from Monsta X's KIHYUN

It would have been easy, then, for him to take the balladeer route for his solo debut, as many have done before. It would be a safe choice, bound to produce nice – if uninspiring – results. Voyager, thankfully, sees Kihyun embark on a different journey, a refreshing pop-rock album that points his compass in an exciting direction.

The title track is at once anthemic and relaxed, simultaneously easy-going and in-your-face. It’s a bold statement without trying hard to be one, presenting the image of a Kihyun who is settling into himself. The lyrics “I'm free / the relaxation of my red-hot life / I can feel the fluster I've been forgetting” feel significant, reflective of a new, more comfortable approach to making music after seven relentless years in Monsta X.

", (Comma)", continues in this vein, the title an analogy for taking a moment to pause, “a small point for me to rest”. From start to finish it is compelling, with gorgeous melodies and continuous shifts in tempo. Kihyun’s warm vocals wrap around each word and every note with earnest sentimentality. It’s a song with energy even in its reflectiveness, and proves him as an artist as well as a vocalist.

The closing track, "Rain", is filled with the R&B tones Kihyun is best known for on Monsta X b-sides. It builds from subtle verses to a cinematic chorus and steals your breath for the full three minutes that the song runs. Arguably the highlight of the song, and the album, is the rare glimpse at the singer’s lower register, which is as exquisite as his famed falsettos.

Voyager is an impressive and intriguing debut, one that matches Kihyun’s tone – both as a vocalist and a person – well. It’s regrettably short, given the singer’s countless other commitments in Monsta X, but no matter. Kihyun has only just set sail.