Arca - KiCk i ALBUM REVIEW

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There’s always that one artist that can’t ever be put in a specific genre. Their sound is always changing, and I love that when it comes to an artist. I think that Arca is one of the best artists that can be put in that category. She’s worked with mainstream artists like Kanye West and Frank Ocean but has built up a very eclectic sound in her solo albums like Xen and her self-titled album. I personally haven’t adored her solo projects like her fans, but I can’t ignore her signature sound. Now, KiCk i, the first in a new trilogy, is expanding her sound even further than before. Let’s get into KiCk i and see what makes Arca so special.

KiCk i is an electronic album with avant-pop, psychedelic, and deconstructed club undertones. Most of the album is sung in Spanish by Arca herself, but there are also some English vocals from the legendary singer Björk. KiCk i is also Arca’s happiest sounding record, compared to her past albums. Specifically, on KiCk i, I’ve found that there are two types of songs on here: the bangers and the sentimental tracks. Each of them has their duds, but I really prefer the ‘banger’ tracks on here like “KLK” with Rosalia and “Nonbinary.” I find that “Time” is also a great track, but the second half of this album is so weak compared to the first. “No Que Nada” feels a lot longer than it should be, and the SOPHIE-assisted “La Chíqui” felt very basic for a SOPHIE track. The message is also pretty great, with inclusivity and activism being center stage. KiCk i also has so much personality to it. This is a sound that I barely hear in any genre of music, and I’m genuinely impressed by Arca’s abilities to lure the listener into her world.

KiCk i is the start of a new chapter in Arca’s career, being the start of a trilogy and all. This is her most experimental album to date, which also makes it the hardest of her solo work to get into. While I don’t think that this is Arca’s best album, this is still pretty good. I’m now interested in this new KiCk trilogy, and I’ll be there whenever the next two installments will be released.


7/10


Stream KiCk i here

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