Arca

by 
AlbumApr 07 / 201713 songs, 43m 16s
Art Pop Glitch Pop
Popular Highly Rated

Venezuelan producer Arca typically makes compelling, lyrical music without saying a word, twisting digital dissonance and gorgeously rendered synth tones into songs you could practically hang on the walls of the Guggenheim. But on his self-titled third album, words become the focus. While an abrasive, intricately programmed instrumental like \"Castration\" says a fair bit on its own, \"Anoche\" and \"Piel\" reach a spellbinding new level for Arca, as he sings Spanish-language poetry about shedding identities and the messiness of love over truly haunting textures.

8.5 / 10

The more Alejandro Ghersi gives of himself, the larger his music as Arca grows. His latest feels both intimate and expansive, a connection between his melodic past and a chaotic future.

A-

You can’t overlook the voice of Dan Bejar, a nasal yowl that has a captivating way of meandering around a melody, often scrambling its way toward the end of a lyric as his tongue shoehorns more words between the remaining beats. But you might miss what an important service that voice provides to the first six albums…

5 / 10

8 / 10

Arca's latest plays out like a modern day electronic opera, with all of the dramatic urgency, impassioned histrionics and cinematic flourishes of its Baroque stage counterparts.

Self-titled albums often mean an artist is making a definitive statement, and Arca is a prime example: Alejandra Ghersi's third album as Arca is by far her most revealing, putting her voice, and the beauty of her music, at the forefront in a new and often-stunning way.

8 / 10

Last year, Venezuelan producer Alejandro Ghersi followed up his stunning sophomore full-length Mutant with an ultra-dark mixtape called Entr...

8 / 10

On his first two records ‘Xen’ and ‘Mutant’, Arca – real name Alejandro Ghersi – built nebulous structures from a

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8 / 10

9 / 10

Photo: Daniel.

75 %

The more Arca consolidates his sound, the more he reveals how much more space he has left to explore.

8 / 10