kiCK iiiii

With the Kick project, Arca took her listeners through the entire spectrum of her music and emotions, using every volume to enrich and enhance its narrative. On kiCK iiiii, Alejandra Ghersi ends the project with what sounds like another beginning. Building on the gentler mood of kick iiii, its largely beatless and instrumental pieces, like the music box melody of "Pu" and the softly hopeful "Estrogen," suggest rebirth, a feeling later echoed by the highlight "Tierno." The albums contemplative mood is light-years away from the projects earliest installments, and Ghersi gives its pieces plenty of space to sink in; both "Ether" and the aptly named "La Infinita" seem to soar past the heavens. As on kick iiii, its refreshing to hear her sustain a mood this delicate for so long, especially as she brings the album and project to a close skillfully on kiCK iiiiis second half. She makes the albums connections to the other Kick volumes particularly clear with "Sanctuary," which features electronic music godfather Ryuichi Sakamoto reciting lyrics linked to the Shirley Manson collaboration "Alien Inside" from kick iiii over a much more serene backdrop, and on "Musculos," which gives the impression that Arca is rebuilding herself piece by piece as intricate acoustic percussion brings her trademark percussion back to her music. By the time kiCK iiiii ends with "Crown"s earth-shaking beats and wistful piano, Ghersi has come full circle after exploring the multitudes within "a body so petite." Its a bittersweet and ultimately satisfying end to a hugely ambitious project that always remains true to the emotions driving it -- but Arca fans would expect nothing less. ~ Heather Phares