Roomies "ECHO" CD

A thrilling musical experience in 2025! The latest second album by the Tokyo-based neo-soul band, Roomies! A dreamy world filled with soulful and sweet vocals and a sound packed with the essence of soul, AOR, city pop, and more, creating a euphoric feeling! Don't miss out on this music!

Roomies is a four-piece neo-soul band formed in 2019 by Sosuke Oikawa (Syn). The band has been gradually gaining attention for their urbane sound, fronted by the soulful voice of Kevin, whose vocals are often compared to MJ. This is their second and first physical album.

The album opens with the exhilarating prologue-like number "When We'll Be Together," followed by "Like This Before," the most straightforward pop tune on the album; the captivating medium tempo "Hypnotized," which lives up to its title and has a Maze meets MJ vibe; a mellow retake of "Sweet Dreams," a Teddy Pendergrass + Hall & Oates + alpha remake of "Sweet Dreams," the 7-inch single released in March that sold out; the D'Angelo-esque ballad "Close to Being in Love," which features Kevin's appealing vocals; the groovy "Stay as You Are," which is full of 70s-80s soul feel; and the danceable title track "ECHO," which is the closer and lead single.The album features nine songs in total, all of which are attractive for their well-crafted arrangements and skillful performances.

The result is a super sweet and pop album that expresses the band's love for soul and AOR, sometimes in a straightforward way and sometimes with a modern sensibility!

■Track list