ARCA: KiCK i

SCORE: 91/100













Arca delved more into hip-hop territory with her 'KiCk' series, with this first installment being a huge change from her first album; with the usage of vocals in the tracks and the slow & steady build of 'Nonbinary', 'KiCk' starts off on a lower note before exploding into the gorgeous and wonky production style Arca is so well known for.

It manages to be even more experimental and messy compared to its debut album - but it still works incredibly well; with elements of Latin hip-hop & pop as well as Arca's signature glitch-filled production style, they brought in some star-studded helping hands for the conception of the album to make it that much more incredible on all fronts.

'KiCk i' is a delightful bundle of sounds, with each song exploring new horizons and managing to still come together into a cohesive and sometimes strange LP, it's an instantly recognizable sound that will leave you wanting even more from the Venezuelan producer. It's a project that only Arca could pull of - and it pulled it off well.

The album is truly one big mix of experimentation coming to life at every turn, with the album working much better than it realistically should while it blooms into something much bigger. It's an even more ambitious project than some of her previous work - and yet it comes together just as excellently. 

Arca used her collaborators to boost this project to new heights, with ROSALÍA delivering incredible vocal performances that were chopped and mixed to absolute perfection; with each track being glitchier and crazier than the last, 'KiCk i' doesn't let up for even a second of air.

It's a style that takes some time getting used to - but it's worth the initial doubt that quickly grows into love. It isn't an album that everyone will love; but it's something so unique everyone should give it at least a bit of a chance before turning their noses up at it. Arca manages to make music that is the perfect blend of too strange to work and absolute electronic excellence, making for unique album experiences that you simply will not find from any other artist.

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