Tokyo-based experimental pop duo sofabed have once again blurred the lines between genres, emotions, and time itself with Water that Comes and Goes, their latest full-length album. Released on February 15, 2025, this 9-track collection is the English counterpart to their acclaimed 2024 record Megurikuru Mizu, which captivated Japanese listeners with its dreamlike fusion of jazz, contemporary pop, and dub-inspired textures. With Water that Comes and Goes, sofabed invites a global audience to drift into their world—one where melodies shimmer like reflections on water and rhythms ebb and flow with hypnotic unpredictability.
From the very first track, Riverside, sofabed sets a tone that is both intimate and cinematic. The duo, known for their meticulous approach to songwriting and production, crafts an immersive soundscape that evokes the gentle yet unstoppable movement of a river. The arrangement feels organic, as if the music itself is breathing, subtly shifting between delicate piano chords and off-kilter rhythms that recall the intricate beats of artists like Karim Riggins.
As the album progresses into We Go into the Haze, the mood deepens. There’s a soft melancholy to the track, a feeling of wandering through a fog-draped memory. sofabed’s signature blend of warm acoustic instrumentation and electronic flourishes creates a sense of weightlessness, mirroring the sensation of getting lost in thought. Like much of their work, it’s music that doesn’t demand your attention—it gently pulls you in.
The third track, Door, opens up a space of sonic curiosity. Here, the duo leans into their avant-garde tendencies, layering experimental textures with jazzy improvisation. It’s the kind of song that feels like a quiet revelation, reminiscent of Radiohead’s more introspective moments, yet distinctly their own. Each note, each pause, feels intentional, like stepping through a threshold into the unknown.
Then comes Beach, an instant highlight of the album. The track carries an understated groove, a rhythmic flow that is both soothing and infectious. It embodies the fleeting essence of a shoreline—waves rolling in and pulling back, each movement leaving a different imprint on the sand. With hints of Wilco-like classic songwriting, sofabed manages to fuse nostalgia with forward-thinking production, making Beach feel both familiar and entirely new.
Halfway through the album, Poet of Rain delivers one of the most poignant moments. The song unfolds like a quiet meditation, its melody delicate yet weighted with emotion. It’s here that sofabed’s jazz influences shine most clearly, as their fluid arrangements allow instruments to converse naturally, never feeling rigid or overproduced. There’s a patience to the song, an understanding that sometimes, the most powerful moments come from restraint.
Eternity follows, with a sense of expansiveness that justifies its name. It’s a track that seems to stretch time, drifting between ambient textures and softly pulsing rhythms. Just when you think you have grasped its direction, the music shifts—like watching clouds rearrange themselves in the sky.
With Song of a Dog, sofabed brings a playful yet introspective energy to the album. It’s a track that feels deeply personal, its melody tinged with both warmth and longing. There’s an unspoken narrative embedded within the song—one that listeners will interpret in their own way, making it one of the most emotionally resonant pieces on Water that Comes and Goes.
As the album nears its conclusion, Time that Comes and Goes stands as one of its most striking compositions. The title itself speaks to the album’s overarching themes of impermanence and transformation. The track unfolds slowly, like the turning of seasons, embracing a minimalistic yet deeply affecting approach. Every instrument, every texture, feels placed with care, as if sofabed is guiding the listener through a quiet reflection on time’s passage.
Finally, Shirakawa closes the album with a sense of peaceful resolution. It’s a track that encapsulates the essence of Water that Comes and Goes—a gentle yet profound journey through sound, memory, and emotion. The final notes linger, leaving an impression long after the music fades.
sofabed has crafted an album that exists beyond simple categorization. Water that Comes and Goes isn’t just experimental pop, nor is it strictly jazz or ambient—it’s a living, breathing piece of art that shifts with each listen. With its elegant balance of structure and spontaneity, the album stands as a testament to the duo’s ability to create music that feels both intricate and effortless.
For listeners who appreciate the boundary-pushing arrangements of Cornelius, the melancholic beauty of Radiohead, or the ever-evolving textures of contemporary jazz, Water that Comes and Goes is an essential listen. It’s an album that invites you to step into its current, to let go of expectations, and simply drift along with the music.
