“Estrogen” is where one of the major ideas of the album is revealed. In the album, there is a repeating theme of duality between tones which vary in dissonance. Vocals and synth tones harmonize in unison, several octaves away from each other, creating an undertone that takes up its own space.
“Chiquito” sustains a similar tempo but allows the melody to vary more through highs and lows. Here, a warm bell tone slowly repeats a hypnotic melody, invoking a dream-like state. It serves as a palette cleanser in preparation for track two, “Pu,” setting the tone of the album. The first track, “In the Face,” features jarring ASMR vocals that tickle the back of your brain. kiCK iiiii moves away from this observation with 12 tracks seeming to sync together poetically from movement to movement. One of the biggest observations from critics in previous Arca releases was the lack of cohesiveness between tracks and the perceived underdevelopment of ideas. This allows airy spaces to be peppered with distorted percussion and sharp falsetto vocals with primarily Spanish lyrics. KiCK iiiii departs from Arca’s usual robotic tones and introduces a more organic, dreamlike, arpeggiated foundation.
kiCK iiiii, the final chapter and the focus of this review, was the icing on the cake after a full course of experimental sounds and abstract concepts.
The albums range from cyberpunk takes on Baroque to a formless pulsating collection of abstract sounds. Each installment is a statement about multiple states of self and the compartmentalization of personalities. When asked by a fan, “How do you battle dysphoria while transitioning?” She said, “I remember euphoria.” With her latest, simultaneous release of four albums, Arca grants us entry onto the roller coaster ride of her most vulnerable joys and sorrows.Įach album-respectively titled KiCk I, KICK ii, KicK iii, kick iiii, and kiCK iiiii - takes us on an intense ride through metallic tones and synthetic vocals. In a 2017 Instagram Live, Arca took questions from viewers about her gender transition.
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