Arca's New Album 'XXXXX': NME Reviews the Psychedelic Electronic Experiment
Arca (Alejandra Ghersi) released her new album 'XXXXX' via XL Recordings on July 31, 2026. Where 2021's ambitious five-part 'Kick' series pushed toward avant-pop crossover, NME describes 'XXXXX' as a retreat inward — Arca running at full speed through chaos and distortion, self-described as "everything happening at once."
Key Tracks
Distortion is where 'XXXXX' feels most at home. 'Heart,' 'Raver,' 'Futurality' and 'Grip' each showcase a different flavor of broken soundscape. 'Finisher' is Arca's take on classical composition — ominous strings layered with unsettling synths in an almost entirely instrumental piece, closing with a whispered prose poem before bleeding into 'Taconeando,' which swings between low-end drum hits and explicit lyrics without hesitation.
NME singles out 'Fxck' as the album's standout, built on a stripped-down reggaeton skeleton with lyrics running parallel between eroticism and an anti-patriarchal statement. On 'Eidolon,' Arca's Auto-Tuned voice cries "let Troy burn" as glitch effects detonate right after the shout. Closer 'Sueño' returns to something softer — NME likens its mood to her early record 'Xen,' hovering on the line between vulnerability and rage.
Ambient interlude 'Throb' and the tension-building 'Syncope' act as connective tissue, offering brief breathing room during the album's most intense stretches.
NME's Verdict
According to NME's review, 'XXXXX' occasionally loses its sense of flow, with noise taking over to the point that listeners may need to pause and reset before continuing. But that friction and dizzying juxtaposition are exactly what Arca is going for — proof that her sound has no borders and no commercial obligations. NME calls it a major win for IDM purists, even if it risks alienating a wider audience.
What We Know
- Album: 'XXXXX'
- Label: XL Recordings
- Release date: July 31, 2026
What's Not Confirmed
The source article does not mention any upcoming tour dates, live shows, or Asia stops tied to this release.