Arca’s new album ‘XXXXX’ is presented as a return to the experimental intensity of her early mixtapes, reviving the fictional Diva Experimental FM world introduced on 2020’s ‘@@@@@’. The review argues that its abrasive digital sounds and unpredictable structures nevertheless express something deeply human, continuing Arca’s exploration of identity, consciousness and the relationship between people and machines.

The record follows a nearly five-year gap after Arca’s ‘Kick’ series, a period in which burnout led her towards fashion, performance art and painting before she rediscovered her enthusiasm for music. Tracks including ‘No End’, ‘Willow’, ‘Eidolon’ and ‘Heart’ move between ominous spoken word, rattling percussion, warped vocals and more melodic pop elements, with the reviewer calling the album a return to form comparable to her early work.