Last week K-Pop rookies CLOSE YOUR EYES released their fourth mini album, 256th Note, and it already stands out as one of the strongest releases of the year. The group debuted just last year, after competing in the global survival show PROJECT 7, and they’re already standing out in the crowd. They secured their first music show win in South Korea just six days after their debut, and now CLOSE YOUR EYES have released what just might be one of the best EPs of the year.
Title track “Open Your Eyes” is a collaborative effort between the members, pianist Yohan Kim, and saxophonist Jacob Scesney. 256th Note has a pretty heavy jazz influence overall, and it dives headfirst into that sound immediately by blending it seamlessly with a bit of R&B. The EP’s title refers to a 256th note, a note played for 1⁄256 of the duration of a whole note, mirroring the album’s concept of everyday life’s fleeting moments. “Drop That!” interpolates Yoon Si-nae’s “이 밤을 즐겁게,” adding a ‘90s hip-hop twist to ‘70s Korean jazz funk. Following that is “Vibe Check”, where a groovy instrumental meets modern rap.
One of the major highlights of this EP is “Slowly Bleed,” using elements from electropop and alternative R&B to create a dreamlike atmosphere and a hypnotizing chorus. Next is “Fool For You”, a cute and catchy R&B tune that was designed to stay stuck in your head for days. “Baby Bossa Nova” is another collaboration, featuring an excellent performance from rising R&B artist Joo Hyerin, and heavily influenced by Brazilian bossa nova. 256th Note ends softly with “Eternity”, a heartfelt ballad addressed to the group’s fans (called CLOSER), complete with writing contributions from all seven members.
Sonically, 256th Note is one of the most interesting bodies of work released in the K-Pop sphere in 2026; a welcomed refresher amongst this year’s trends. The songs flow together beautifully, and the journey through the album feels like going on a nighttime cruise in the car. It’s quite a solid release for a group that’s still early in their career and finding their footing. The vocal performances fit the tone of the album perfectly, the collaborations and genre explorations feel earnest and fleshed-out, and the concept is truly unique.
Listen to 256th Note here!