Cusp (album)

The album was recorded at Flora Recording & Playback, alongside producer Peter M. Murray.[1]

The first music video to "Émigré" was released on December 1, 2017.[9]

The second single "Ether and Wood" was released on January 12, 2018.[10] Alela explained the single "is a reflection on the different lives that are lived within a lifetime. The doors along the way that often open and close without notice. I live in a very old house, and love thinking about all the people who lived and died within these walls."[11]

Cusp was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87 based on 7 reviews.[2]

Nicholas Glover of The 405 explained how the album revolves around mother and daughterhood that is "brought to life in the music by a straightened, glittering piano backing and gently pulling strings."[3] Writing for The Guardian, Dave Simpson said: "Her thoughtful, dreamy vocals drift across a grand piano, providing both pretty and wistful songs with emotional wallop. The album title comes from Menig’s near-death during childbirth, and her subsequent realisation that we are forever "on the cusp" between death and life, heartbreak and euphoria, all of which are in fulsome supply here."[4]

The release appeared on international charts, debuting at number 109 on the Belgian Ultratop Flanders chart,[12] number 88 on the Belgian Ultratop Wallonia chart,[13] number 106 in France,[14] number 173 in Netherlands,[15] and number 84 in Switzerland.[16]