Music
Xen
Kanye-approved producer plays with soft, surreal sounds
Alejandro Ghersi (a.k.a. Arca) is the young producer responsible for some of the artiest moments on Kanye's Yeezus – he's deeply uninterested in coloring inside the lines. But his debut LP is a reminder that he cut his teeth in the Venezuelan indie-pop scene, lending a certain delicate quality to his clamoring music. Xen plays with watery, surrealistic synths and skewed interpretations of reggaetón ("Slit Thru," "Thievery") and vogue beats ("Now You Know"). What sets these tracks apart from any trend, current or foreseeable, is their emotional punch. Arca has built a robotic, alien world strengthened by its beating heart.