Cuushe | Do You Feel Me

It’s not a secret that I’ve been a big Cuushe fan since I first began writing about the Tokyo artist back in 2012. Last year, I listed her record, “Butterfly Case”, in the No. 9 spot for Their Bated Breath’s Best Albums of 2013 — ahead of much better known artists who also created good records, like Neko Case and Kanye West. Though she had moved to Berlin the last time I had written about her, she’s still linked to a nation who produces artists who are taking modern digital and melodic sound to a new creative level. I’ve always felt it was a revolution of sound by quiet measures. This latest single, “Do You Feel Me”, is a prime example. Ryan Hemsworth, of the Secret Songs label, an artist in his own right, released a 10-song compilation of new singles, one of which is by Cuushe. “Do You Feel Me” still features some of the familiar Cuushe lushness, but it seems she’s graduated to better production and even more creative layering of skittered beats, echoed backing vocals, dreamy child-like lead vocals and repeated phrases. It’s a beautiful, uplifting sound collage of blips, percussion, and voices. Follow Cuushe at facebook. — David D. Robbins Jr.