Yasu Cub Drift Through Liminal Dreamscapes on New Record my early years, your spiral arms

Yasu Cub is the musical project of Jacob Oki Ahearn and Rory Hoffmeister, a duo who met as students in Portland, Oregon, and now base themselves in Tokyo, Japan. Known for their sonic blend of piano-led intimacy, textured guitar work, and understated rhythmic drive, the pair first appeared in 2023 and have maintained a steady flow of releases ever since. 

And so, with the introductions now out of the way, I am honoured to introduce you to my early years, your spiral arms, Yasu Cub's brand new nine-track album. 

Meticulously pieced together over the years, the duo's latest offering is expansive, floaty, and utterly hypnotic. Tunes like tulip, picking at grass, and sea glow pull you into a slow, almost suspended state that you wish didn't have to end. And that's not to say the other tracks aren't just as dreamy and immersive - it’s just that I’ve "developed favourites" in a completely unbiased and definitely-not-emotional way.

If one had to distil the themes of the record down to one word, it would have to be liminality. From songs that contemplate cosmic vastness (my early years, your spiral arms) to others written from the perspective of Jacob's grandmother crossing the Pacific in the 1950s (sea glow), the album exists in that sacred, in-between space. And it does so with a beautifully understated grace. Exceptional stuff!

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