Alela Diane is one of those American folk authors who was slowly and non-intrusively building her spot in the music world. She self-released her debut The Pirate's Gospel before signing on to few labels. The actual record Cusp was released under AllPoints and shows Alela anchored in recognizable sound. She always has similar themes and motives, and with each new record she managed to raise the bar and reach the new audience. She was on tour with Iron & Wine, The Decemberists and Fleet Foxes. Remarkable bands.
The singer's signature is her transparent and mellow vocal which leads the whole story on all of her albums, and when you add the theme of nature to it, the result is approachable and warm sound. Cusp is an album about motherhood. Alela wrote the album after she gave birth to her first daughter, and recorded it after she gave the birth the second time. The title is a symbolic reference to the complications she experienced while giving birth that brought her close to death. The album is a reflection not only about motherhood, but also about fluidity of everything, transformations, crisis and perceptions of history.
The song Etner & Wood, my personal favorite, reveals the singer contemplating about all the people who lived in her house before her. The moment of recognizing tradition and the flow of time is the essence of Cusp. Maybe it would be better If the songs were played on guitar instead of piano, but Alela's thumb injury prevented such scenario from happening.
When the album unfolds with Albatross, it becomes clear that she did not step away from her style. Her vocal is still suggestive, with only difference being in the stronger presence of piano. The Threshold is sonic nostalgia, while Emigre speaks about immigration crisis and those who suffer the most in such a crisis - mothers and children. Song For Sandy is on a similar trace, as it was dedicated to folk singer from the 70s who lost her life after giving birth.
Cusp sounds like Alela Diane finally being born in the sphere of known and respected artists.
