Arca (album)

On 28 February 2016, Ghersi announced via Instagram that her new album would be titled Reverie and was almost finished,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/63845-arca-announces-new-album-reverie/|title=Arca Announces New Album Reverie|work=Pitchfork|date=28 February 2016|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313153041/http://pitchfork.com/news/63845-arca-announces-new-album-reverie/|url-status=live}} although on 22 February 2017, she announced that the album would in fact be self-titled Arca.{{cite news|url=http://crackmagazine.net/2017/02/arca-announces-self-titled-album/|title=Arca announces self-titled album|date=22 February 2017|work=Crack Magazine|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-date=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409112439/http://crackmagazine.net/2017/02/arca-announces-self-titled-album/|url-status=live}} She explained in an interview for i-D magazine that she didn't want the album to be eponymous, it's more that every other name felt wrong: "I went through a whole year of trying different names, they all felt foreign. But because I use my singing voice in a way that I've never done before, it didn't feel unnatural to call it Arca."{{cite web |url=https://i-d.co/article/dance-to-your-own-rhythm-arca-is-shot-and-interviewed-by-wolfgang-tillmans/ |title=Dance to Your Own Rhythm: Arca Is Shot and Interviewed by Wolfgang Tillmans |last=Tillmans |first=Wolfgang |author-link=Wolfgang Tillmans |date=23 February 2017 |work=i-D |access-date=8 April 2017 |archive-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713212743/https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/dance-to-your-own-rhythm-arca-is-shot-and-interviewed-by-wolfgang-tillmans |url-status=live }}

The use of her voice on the new album was inspired by collaborator and friend, Björk:{{cite news|url=http://crackmagazine.net/2017/02/arca-reveals-working-bjork-helped-find-voice|title=Arca reveals that Bjork helped her find her voice|date=23 February 2017|work=Crack Magazine|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-date=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409200442/http://crackmagazine.net/2017/02/arca-reveals-working-bjork-helped-find-voice/|url-status=live}}

I don't know if I would've ever sung on this record if it weren't for Björk. We were in the car together and I had been singing for fun and she turned to me very casually and asked me if I'd ever considered singing on my music. I just dismissed it. But then I took her very seriously because I respect her so profoundly as a vocalist. She gave me so much guidance, so I really want to celebrate that when I talk about the record. It was a big deal. She was so nurturing throughout the whole process and I don't know if I would've been so brave to do this without her as a friend.{{cite news|url=https://i-d.co/article/dance-to-your-own-rhythm-arca-is-shot-and-interviewed-by-wolfgang-tillmans/|title=dance to your own rhythm: arca is shot and interviewed by wolfgang tillmans|work=i-D|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713212743/https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/dance-to-your-own-rhythm-arca-is-shot-and-interviewed-by-wolfgang-tillmans|url-status=live}}

Ghersi said the lyrics on the album are "all recent and all – except for one song – improvised" and that she "never sat down and wrote a word and then changed it to a better word," further stating: "I recorded lots and lots of melodies and lyrics, if they were pure enough I left them like that. I didn't let my critical mind interrupt the outpouring." Many songs include references to her influences, such as the lyrics of "Anoche", which reference Björk's 1995 song "I Miss You"{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18815-arca-anoche/|title="Anoche" by Arca Review|work=Pitchfork|access-date=13 April 2017|archive-date=9 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709025746/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18815-arca-anoche/|url-status=live}} and some of the lyrics of "Reverie" which are taken directly from the Venezuelan folk classic "Caballo Viejo", composed by Simón Díaz.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18887-arca-reverie/|title="Reverie" by Arca Review|work=Pitchfork|access-date=13 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413005800/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18887-arca-reverie/|url-status=live}}

Ghersi announced the album's title and release date via Twitter along with the opening track off the album, "Piel" on 22 February 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/63960-arca-announces-new-album-shares-new-song-piel-listen/|title=Arca Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Piel": Listen {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=22 February 2017|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=16 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316095754/http://pitchfork.com/news/63960-arca-announces-new-album-shares-new-song-piel-listen/|url-status=live}} The track listing includes the previously shared "Sin Rumbo", which appeared on her previous release, Entrañas and "Urchin", which was released on 29 December 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17892-arca-urchin/|title="Urchin" by Arca Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327075851/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17892-arca-urchin/|url-status=live}} On 24 February, she released the second track, "Anoche" along with a music video directed by longtime collaborator Jesse Kanda, who also designed the cover art of the album.{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/71849-arca-shares-new-video-for-new-song-anoche-watch/|title=Arca Shares New Video for New Song "Anoche": Watch {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=24 February 2017|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318085354/http://pitchfork.com/news/71849-arca-shares-new-video-for-new-song-anoche-watch/|url-status=live}} Billboard listed Kanda's cover art as one of the worst of 2017.{{Cite magazine |last=Cirisano |first=Tatiana |date=2017-12-27 |title=25 Best & Worst Album Covers of 2017 |url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/best-worst-album-covers-of-2017-top-25/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423085941/https://www.billboard.com/photos/8070310/best-worst-album-covers-of-2017-top-25 |url-status=live }} On March 16, Ghersi released another video directed by Kanda for "Reverie".{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/72290-watch-arcas-video-for-new-song-reverie/|title=Watch Arca's Bloody Video For New Song "Reverie" {{!}} Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork.com|date=16 March 2017|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318084552/http://pitchfork.com/news/72290-watch-arcas-video-for-new-song-reverie/|url-status=live}} On March 24, "Saunter" was released. In addition, "Saunter" and "Reverie" were released on a limited run of 12-inch singles along with the album's release.{{Cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/arca-saunter|title=Arca 'Saunter'|website=Exclaim.ca|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326230024/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/arca-saunter|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.xlrecordings.com/buy/arca-reveriesaunter|title=XL Recordings|website=xlrecordings.com|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326230721/http://www.xlrecordings.com/buy/arca-reveriesaunter|url-status=live}} On April 10, she released a music video for the tenth track, "Desafío".{{cite web|last=Arca 1000000|title=Arca – Desafío|date=2017-04-10|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXOgzmTbVU|access-date=10 April 2017|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201145240/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXOgzmTbVU|url-status=live}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 8.2/10{{Cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8590/Arca-Arca.aspx |title=Arca by Arca reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=27 August 2019 |archive-date=27 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827144303/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8590/Arca-Arca.aspx |url-status=live }}

| MC = 87/100{{Cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/arca/arca |title=Reviews and Tracks for Arca by Arca |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709025659/https://www.metacritic.com/music/arca/arca |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|5|5}}{{AllMusic |id=mw0003028349 |title=Review of Arca |last=Phares |first=Heather |access-date=16 November 2019}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A−{{Cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/live/new-pornographers-arca-joey-badass-and-more-weeks--253252/entry/404 |title=Arca's self-titled third album exposes his humanity to intoxicating effect |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=7 April 2017 |work=The A.V. Club |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171505/http://www.avclub.com/live/new-pornographers-arca-joey-badass-and-more-weeks--253252/entry/404 |url-status=live }}

| rev3 = Consequence

| rev3score = B+{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2017/04/album-review-arca-arca |title=Arca – Arca |last=Sackllah |first=David |date=5 April 2017 |work=Consequence |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809011009/https://consequence.net/2017/04/album-review-arca-arca/ |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Financial Times

| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e1fd147a-1999-11e7-9c35-0dd2cb31823a |title=Arca: Arca — 'glitchy beats and whipcrack effects' |last=Hunter-Tilney |first=Ludovic |date=7 April 2017 |work=Financial Times |access-date=11 May 2019 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511012434/https://www.ft.com/content/e1fd147a-1999-11e7-9c35-0dd2cb31823a |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5score = {{rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/06/arca-album-review-xl |title=Arca: Arca review – ecclesiastical grandeur meets bleeding-edge dissonance |last=Aroesti |first=Rachel |date=6 April 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709025747/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/06/arca-album-review-xl |url-status=live }}

| rev6 = Mixmag

| rev6score = 8/10{{Cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/june-2017-18-albums-you-need-to-hear-this-month/10 |title=Arca 'Arca' (XL Recordings) |last=Kretowicz |first=Steph |date=2 June 2017 |work=Mixmag |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=31 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031175416/https://mixmag.net/feature/june-2017-18-albums-you-need-to-hear-this-month/10 |url-status=live }}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.5/10{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23063-arca/ |title=Arca: Arca |last=Lozano |first=Kevin |date=5 April 2017 |work=Pitchfork |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407180109/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23063-arca/ |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=Arca: Arca |last=Howe |first=Rupert |journal=Q |issue=372 |date=June 2017 |page=102}}

| rev9 = Resident Advisor

| rev9score = 4.3/5{{Cite web |last=Keeling |first=Ryan |date=7 April 2017 |title=Arca – Arca |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/20645 |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408081956/https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/20645 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |access-date=21 March 2022 |website=Resident Advisor}}{{cbignore}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 8/10{{cite journal |title=Arca: Arca |last=Martin |first=Piers |journal=Uncut |issue=241 |date=June 2017 |page=23}}

}}

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 87, based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". AllMusic's Heather Phares praised Ghersi for pushing her boundaries on Arca, further stating that "the vulnerability [she] displays makes it some of [her] most exciting and moving music yet." Nina Corcoran of The A.V. Club praised the album, stating: "If the skittering fluctuation of Ghersi's past releases gained [her] a cult following, then the open-hearted ballads sprinkled throughout Arca should earn [Arca her] well-deserved breakthrough." Clash magazine critic Shahzaib Hussain thought that Arca "rides a steady stream of minimalist melancholia, juxtaposed against Ghersi’s intense, operatic vocals – the effect is one of ceremonial transcendence."{{Cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/arca-arca |title=Arca – Arca |last=Hussain |first=Shahzaib |date=6 April 2017 |publisher=Clash |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406201849/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/arca-arca |url-status=live }} Consequence{{'}}s David Sackllah described the album as Arca's "most daring and enthralling record yet," adding that "By peeling back the layers of [her] persona, Ghersi breaks [herself] down in an attempt to find rebirth, trying to reconcile with [her] past and present." Bryon Hayes of Exclaim! said, "This back-and-forth is carried along throughout Arca, demonstrating that Ghersi hasn't lost [her] fondness for tempered electronic cacophony, but has expanded [her] palette, to mind-bendingly gorgeous results."{{Cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/arca-arca |title=Arca: Arca |last=Hayes |first=Bryon |date=5 April 2017 |work=Exclaim! |access-date=7 April 2017}}

Fact critic Miles Bowe praised the album's composition, claiming it's Ghersi's "most focused on [her] career" while noting that the vocals display her forward evolution.{{Cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/07/arca-self-titled-review/ |title=Arca review: Björk's electronic architect finds his voice with an immaculate collection of grisly love songs |last=Bowe |first=Miles |date=7 April 2017 |work=Fact |access-date=8 April 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408223622/http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/07/arca-self-titled-review/ |url-status=live }} Rating the album with a perfect score, The Guardian{{'}}s Rachel Aroesti commented: "Exquisite opener 'Piel' captures the interplay between poise and prostration that has made Catholic ritual such a rich artistic seam, while arch humour is provided by 'Whip' – hyper-real lashing accompanied by the sound of a powering-down robot – and 'Desafío', which takes disposable Eurotrash pop and makes it worthy of pious contemplation." Pitchfork critic Kevin Lozano labeled the record with the tag "Best New Music", mentioning that Ghersi's work is "still mysterious, but not as opaque—it doesn't keep you at an arm's length, instead [she] offers up [her] pleasures more readily." Resident Advisor{{'}}s Ryan Keeling described the record as "Arca's most accomplished work to date." Andrew Paschal of PopMatters thought that the record "refuses to ossify into a legible and easily recognizable shape, defying our expectations of the artist’s output while remaining untethered even to a clearly delineated internal logic," describing the result as "both emotionally enrapturing and conceptually thrilling."{{Cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/arca-arca |title=Arca: Arca |last=Paschal |first=Andrew |date=10 April 2017 |work=PopMatters |access-date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411221444/http://www.popmatters.com/review/arca-arca/ |url-status=live }} Andy Beta of Spin praised Arca for being Ghersi's "most engaging, emotionally draining and confrontational album to date."{{Cite web |url=http://www.spin.com/2017/04/arca-self-titled-review/ |title=Review: Arca's Self-Titled Album Is His Most Engaging, Emotionally Draining, and Confrontational Record Yet |last=Beta |first=Andy |date=6 April 2017 |work=Spin |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407033552/http://www.spin.com/2017/04/arca-self-titled-review/ |url-status=live }}

All tracks are written and produced by Alejandra Ghersi.

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| title1 = Piel

| note1 = {{Translation|"Skin"}}

| length1 = 4:07

| title2 = Anoche

| note2 = {{Translation|"Last Night"}}

| length2 = 3:36

| title3 = Saunter

| length3 = 2:09

| title4 = Urchin

| length4 = 4:00

| title5 = Reverie

| length5 = 3:12

| title6 = Castration

| length6 = 3:21

| title7 = Sin Rumbo

| note7 = {{Translation|"Aimlessly"}}

| length7 = 3:35

| title8 = Coraje

| note8 = {{Translation|"Courage"}}

| length8 = 4:31

| title9 = Whip

| length9 = 1:20

| title10 = Desafío

| note10 = {{Translation|"Challenge"}}

| length10 = 3:53

| title11 = Fugaces

| note11 = {{Translation|"Fleeting"}}

| length11 = 3:07

| title12 = Miel

| note12 = {{Translation|"Honey"}}

| length12 = 2:56

| title13 = Child

| length13 = 3:23

| total_length = 43:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition (bonus track){{Cite web |date=7 April 2017 |title=Arca by Arca on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/arca/1207983218?l=en |website=iTunes |access-date=24 May 2017 |archive-date=12 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412144203/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/arca/id1207983218?l=en |url-status=live }}

| title14 = Saunter

| note14 = reprise

| length14 = 4:59

| total_length = 48:16

}}

Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/arca-mw0003028349/credits|title=Arca – Arca {{!}} Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-date=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409112802/http://www.allmusic.com/album/arca-mw0003028349/credits|url-status=live}}

• Arca – vocals, production, composition, mixing, programming, instrumentation
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Jesse Kanda – artwork

{{notelist|30em}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Discogs master|1161309|Arca}}

{{Arca}}

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Category:2017 albums

Category:Arca (musician) albums

Category:Albums produced by Arca (musician)

Category:2010s Spanish-language albums

Category:XL Recordings albums

Category:Art pop albums