New Izumi Makura: “Makura”

Whether this “Makura” is a proper introduction of sorts to Izumi Makura ahead of next month’s Identity album, or just a first-person number focused on a woman the Fukuoka rapper thought up, isn’t immediately clear. But either way, the song offers a reminder of what makes the mysterious, only-represented-by-cartoons artist so intriguing. Over a sparse but shifty beat, she raps and eventually sings come the hook, her voice being drenched in slight electronic effects, giving “Makura” a few moments of out-of-body-ness. Listen above.