[TF Focus] CLOSE YOUR EYES, Until a Fleeting Moment Becomes Eternity

30-Day Mini 4th Album '256th Note' ReleaseThe 'Literary Boy' Who Opened His Eyes Will Showcase a More Solid EssenceA Result of Growth, Not RepetitionCLOSE YOUR EYES will release their 4th mini-album, '256th Note,' on the 30th. Inspired by the 256th note, one of the shortest notes in the world, the album records fleeting emotions. /Uncore[THE FACT | Reporter Jung Byung-geun] The boys who emerged saying they would deliver music that is convincing even with their eyes closed are now telling us to open them. CLOSE YOUR EYES, who has called themselves 'Literary Boys' since their debut and focused on emotion, appears ready to unfold that emotion within a broader musical scope.CLOSE YOUR EYES (JEON MINWOOK MA JINGXIANG JANG YEOJUN KIM SUNGMIN SONG SEUNGHO KENSHIN SEO KYOUNGBAE) will release their fourth mini-album, '256th Note,' today (30th). Following the pre-release of the first track, 'Open Your Eyes,' on the 18th, they completed their warm-up by performing the new song for the first time at '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS(TMA)' on the 19th, raising expectations more than ever.The most noteworthy aspect is the pre-release song. Recalling the beginning of CLOSE YOUR EYES, the title 'Open Your Eyes' is intriguing. The team name signifies not only visible performances but also the intention to present music that is convincing even when listened to with closed eyes. Conversely, the command to 'Open Your Eyes' sounds like a declaration that connects the team's past and present, marking a transition to the next chapter.The expression 'next chapter' might be premature for a group approaching their second anniversary. However, the narrative they have built in the process is quite solid and sufficient to move towards the next chapter.CLOSE YOUR EYES's strength lies in the sensibility that matches their aspiration of 'music that is convincing even with closed eyes.' Their debut album, 'ETERNALT,' translated that aspiration directly into music. Just listing the titles like 'All the Poems and Novels Within Me,' 'My Lyrics Become Subtitles in This Movie Featuring You,' 'How to Dance in the Rain,' and 'Pretending Not to See' reads like a collection of youth short stories.Amidst the competition of stimulating sounds and intense performances, they chose the members' vocal tones, stories, and lingering emotions. Thus, a rather distinct character of 'Literary Boy' was created.The mini-album 2, 'Snowy Summer,' also maintained that thread. From the contrasting image of snow falling in summer to 'Paint Candy' and 'Bubble Tea in My Left Hand,' which turned ordinary daily life into excitement, their approach to subject matter was witty. While moving between genres like New Jack Swing and House Pop, the core of the music remained fresh emotions and stories.In mini-album 3, 'blackout,' the atmosphere shifted significantly. With 'X' and 'SOB' as double title tracks, they unleashed strong energy to break through fear and limitations, actively embracing diverse genres. In April of this year, with the digital single 'POSE,' they blended the energy of Brazilian Baile Funk with 2000s hip-hop.For CLOSE YOUR EYES, mini-album 3 and the single were a process of bringing not only sensibility but also performance and groove into their domain. Opening the new album with 'Open Your Eyes' perfectly connects with the narrative they have continued. Above all, their unique sentiment is embedded within that connection and flow.After experiencing various types of music, CLOSE YOUR EYES more clearly confirmed what they do best and returned to the pages they had written. It is the result of growth, not repetition. The photo shows them receiving the Global Hot Trend award at '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' held on the 19th. /Reporter Park Heon-wooThis movement is intertwined with the growth of their fandom. 'ETERNALT' started with a first-week sales volume of 316,047 copies, and 'Snowy Summer' recorded 308,179 copies. Although the first-week sales slightly decreased, the first-day sales significantly increased from 139,385 to 202,297 copies. And 'blackout' surpassed 570,000 copies in first-week sales. It was a moment to reaffirm their support and direction.'256th Note,' released after such growth, interestingly returns to the essence. Inspired by the 256th note, one of the shortest notes in the world, it records fleeting emotions. Drawing inspiration from the freedom and improvisation of jazz, the album's core is to respond honestly to the emotions of the moment rather than using standardized expressions.After traversing various genres, they have refocused on the pure and simple sensibility they showed at their debut, but with a much broader range of expression.'Open Your Eyes,' the starting point, exemplifies this well. Experimental piano arpeggios repeat rapidly, and the drums push the song forward relentlessly. Above it, Johan Kim's piano and Jacob Schesney's saxophone intertwine, and the vocals move fluidly between rhythms rather than forcing power. It's a way of bringing jazz instruments and textures into the grammar of hip-hop and R&B.Most importantly, the title is significant. Those who were 'Close Your Eyes' are now shouting 'Open Your Eyes.' The content, which speaks of opening one's eyes and facing one's world after passing through darkness and wounds, even incorporates the starting point where the seven members came together through a single project. It clearly revisits the past and present, and vividly reveals what comes next.The title track 'Drop That!' is expected to show growth in another direction. It reinterprets Yoon Soo-nae's 'Let's Enjoy This Night,' a precursor to Korean Jazz Funk, in a 1990s street hip-hop style. While the pre-release song interpreted the improvisation of jazz through modern R&B and hip-hop, the title track takes old jazz funk from Korean popular music and transforms it into a street sensibility.Although the concept is 180 degrees different from 'Open Your Eyes' on the surface, it is sufficiently connected within the same album in that it 'translates the freedom and groove of jazz into the language of today.'A total of 7 songs follow, including 'Vibe Check,' 'Slowly Bleed,' 'Fool For You,' 'Baby Bossa Nova' featuring R&B artist Joo Hyerin, and the final song 'Eternity,' in which all members participated in the lyrics.The composition, where '256th Note,' meaning the shortest moment, ends with 'Eternity,' meaning 'eternity,' is also characteristic of Close Your Eyes. The album's message, that fleeting emotions accumulate to become memories and ultimately form a person's story, is condensed in the titles of the album and songs, and their arrangement.CLOSE YOUR EYES's strength is in its lingering impact rather than its intensity. Although they have created powerful music and expanded their performances, they have never abandoned their sensibility. After experiencing various types of music, they more clearly confirmed what they do best and returned to the pages they had written. The anticipation for '256th Note' stems from the fact that this return appears to be a result of growth, not repetition.kafka@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]