Bleep

In the second volume of Arca’s ‘Kick’ series — the Venezuelan producer’s ambitious, back-to-back multi-album project with XL Recordings — her detailed pop twists and reaches into contorted Latin rhythms. Liquid, shape-shifting textures are grounded in the weight of her ragged, industrialised reggaeton, with leading singles ‘Prada’ and ‘Rakata’ driving bodily movement through swirling resonances. Despite KICK ii’s mind-bending abstractions, her foray into mainstream pop with ‘Born Yesterday’ features vocals by the Australian singer Sia and adapts experimental electronica into the conventions of melodramatic pop balladry. Arca’s sound, as always, comes across as a substance never before yet discovered. But in demonstrating astounding versatility, KICK ii still hones her razor-sharp focus.