Album of the Week: Kučka

Kučka’s breathy vocals, working overtime on “Heaven,” belie the fact that this is only her second album. Her first EP came in 2012, followed by scores of work—just not much of her own. Debut LP, Wrestling, didn’t come out until 2021 and for most fans, that was their first known interaction with the Australian pop-producer/songwriter. Eager pop and rap fans may have seen her credited as a singer on several Flume songs or on tracks by Vince Staples and A$AP Rocky.

All this to say, Kučka’s a pro, no matter her discography. Nothing supports that more than the different styles on Can You Hear Me Dreaming? “Cry Cry Cry” vibes like a classic Paula Abdul song, perhaps a bit less melodramatic. When the drums drop out of “Heavyweight” and she says, with more than a little directness, “What’s it gonna be?” the listener may actually feel compelled to answer. Somewhere between poem and rap, “Communal Reverie” leans toward Sleaford Mods without the silliness of their tough talk. Ditto “Gross Body” which leans heavily on spoken-word imagery (“Gross Body is the holiest night club/ A torn-up boot of the soul.”)  “Mountain” moves slowly and carefully like a pre-drop J-Pop track while her vocals inspire youthful longing. The swerving beat of “Messed Up” could just as easily serve as an addition to the Erased Tapes catalog.

Most of the dozen tracks feel like they are on the cusp of a major explosion. Instead, a stray drum fill or heavier synth joins in the airy fun, creating a slightly heavier sound but never a “lost in the moment” drop. The intent permeates throughout; Kučka’s purposeful withholding of dance music’s overused hack draws attention to synth and vocal choices. The opener “Wasting Time (til the end of the world)” focuses intently on the vocals—the synth and drum sounds simply hold down a necessary groove when she belts “Go insane.” It’s a look directly into the camera: I am in control. By the time the R&B sultriness of “Not There” arrives, it’s long forgotten that the beats underdeliver on trickery. “Meet me in the places we dream/ I know you’re better there.” Truly,  the cloudy synth and effervescent lyrics answer the album’s question: we can hear you dreaming, Kučka.