Xen (Audio CD)

It was overhyped by Pitchfork.There are cuts that are enjoyable, while other cuts don't have much substance but are big spacey elements that wander in and out like a fog. Recommend for fans of Nosaj Thing.

There’s just something strangely delicious about the sound of Arca. Although this London based, 24-year old Venezuela native has already released two albums prior, it was not until his 2014 offering by Mute that got me bopping my head. And now, after I’ve already picked Xen as one of the Best of 2014 selections (alongside Actress and FlyLo), I’m still unraveling and peeling away the intricate layers of his unusual approach. I suppose this writeup would be incomplete without mentioning Alejandro Ghersi‘s previous production contributions for Kanye West‘s Yeezus and FKA Twigs‘ LP1, but I promise you that it was none of the above that really got my attention.The kaleidoscopic collection of Arca’s arsenal consists of twisted keys, broken melodies and experimental beats. Take a look at the cover art, and you may get a glimpse into the sonic territory of the warped sounds underneath. The instruments appear to be limited to a particular...Read more