Arca – Kick ii

The album was recorded between 2018 and 2021 and follows Kick i as part of a multi‑album release strategy that saw Arca drop four records in quick succession. Kick ii is distinguished by its focus on reggaetón and Latin electronic textures, co‑produced with Venezuelan DJ Cardopusher, Boys Noize, Chris Clark, Mica Levi, and others. The cover art, created by Frederik Heyman, reflects the surreal, digital aesthetic that runs through the series.

Musically, Kick ii is taut and elastic, with brittle dembow rhythms and glassy synths underpinning Arca’s heavily processed vocals. Tracks like “Prada,” “Rakata,” and “Tiro” showcase her reimagining of reggaetón as futuristic club music, while “Luna Llena” and “Lethargy” dip into shadowy atmospheres. More experimental cuts such as “Araña,” “Femme,” and “Muñecas” dissolve into glitchy, iridescent textures, emphasizing her avant‑garde instincts. The album also features “Born Yesterday,” a collaboration with Sia, which adds a pop‑leaning counterpoint to the otherwise fragmented soundscape.

Critics praised Kick ii for balancing Arca’s uncompromising experimentation with more accessible songwriting. Reviews noted that while her earlier work sometimes resisted conventional structure, here she achieves a sharper consistency, creating tracks that are both challenging and memorable. The album’s 33‑minute runtime makes it concise yet dense, a collage of styles that situates reggaetón within a broader avant‑electronic framework.