Karma & Desire
| Karma & Desire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 October 2020 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Length | 68:28 | |||
| Label | Ninja Tune | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Actress chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Beats per Minute | 76%[3] |
| Clash | 9/10[4] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[5] |
| The Quietus | [6] |
| Under the Radar | 7.5/10[7] |
Karma & Desire is the seventh solo studio album by British electronic music producer Actress, released on Ninja Tune on 23 October 2020. Its announcement was preceded by the surprise release of a single-file album by Actress named 88, which included a PDF hinting towards Karma & Desire's track listing.[8][9] The album was officially announced on 1 September 2020 and described by Actress as being "a romantic tragedy set between the heavens and the underworld".[10] The announcement of the album was accompanied by the release of the lead single from the album, "Walking Flames", featuring British singer Sampha.[11] The album was included in 'Pitchfork's 41 Most Anticipated Albums of Fall 2020.[12]
On 23 October 2020, Karma & Desire was released through Ninja Tune, along with an accompanying short film of the same name directed by Lee Bootee/ The film stars Actress, Sampha, Zsela, and Aura T-09, who all feature on the album. American musician Yves Tumor also appears.[13] The album reached number 4 on the UK electronic album charts and was well received by critics, with Actress being acclaimed for further developing his sound.
Critical reception
[edit]Phil E. Bloomfield of Bandcamp described Karma & Desire as "warmer and more generous than anything [Actress has] released to date",[14] In a 10/10 review, Ela Minus wrote in Future Music that the album is "a masterpiece of ethereal, smudged contemporary electronic music" and "perhaps Actress' most accomplished work to date".[15] It was named the 41st best album of 2020 by The Guardian[16] and the 31st best album of 2020 by Clash.[17] At the 2021 Libera Awards, Karma & Desire was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Record,[18] ultimately losing to Caribou's Suddenly.[19]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fire and Light" | Darren Cunningham | 1:16 |
| 2. | "Angels Pharmacy" (featuring Zsela) |
| 4:41 |
| 3. | "Remembrance" (featuring Zsela) |
| 2:41 |
| 4. | "Reverend" | Cunningham | 2:59 |
| 5. | "Leaves Against the Sky" | Cunningham | 4:38 |
| 6. | "Save" |
| 5:06 |
| 7. | "VVY" (featuring Sampha) |
| 2:37 |
| 8. | "XRAY" | Cunningham | 3:31 |
| 9. | "Gliding Squares" | Cunningham | 3:07 |
| 10. | "Many Seas, Many Rivers" (featuring Sampha) |
| 8:11 |
| 11. | "Loveless" (featuring Aura T-09) |
| 4:40 |
| 12. | "Public Life" (featuring Vanessa Benelli Mosell) |
| 4:00 |
| 13. | "Fret" | Cunningham | 1:28 |
| 14. | "Loose" (featuring Christel Well) |
| 4:19 |
| 15. | "Turin" (featuring Aura T-09) |
| 7:13 |
| 16. | "Diamond X" | Cunningham | 3:51 |
| 17. | "Walking Flames" (featuring Sampha) |
| 4:10 |
| Total length: | 68:28 | ||
Personnel
[edit]- Darren Cunningham – production (tracks 1–11, 13–17), mixing (all tracks)
- Noel Summerville – engineering
- Aura T-09 – production (11, 15)
- Young Paint – production (12)
- Kara-Lis Coverdale – co-production (17)
- Unseen_Werk – creative direction, photography
- Inventory Studio – graphic design
References
[edit]- ^ "Critic Reviews for Karma & Desire". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Actress – Karma & Desire". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Willems, Jasper (23 October 2020). "Album Review: Actress – Karma & Desire". Beats per Minute. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Roseblade, Nick (19 October 2020). "Actress – Karma & Desire". Clash. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Sylvester, Daniel (20 October 2020). "Actress Nimbly Balances Many Ideas, Moods and Collaborators on Karma & Desire". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Sharma-Patel, Kashif (22 October 2020). "The World, The Flesh, And The Dancefloor: Karma And Desire By Actress". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Arnone, Joey (3 December 2020). "Actress: Karma & Desire". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ McDermott, Matt (15 July 2020). "Actress releases new album, 88". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Cetin, Marissa (1 September 2020). "Actress details long-awaited new album, Karma & Desire". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Eede, Christian (1 September 2020). "Actress Details Second Album Of 2020, 'Karma & Desire'". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Torres, Eric (1 September 2020). "Actress and Sampha Share New Song "Walking Flames": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "The 41 Most Anticipated Albums of Fall 2020: Cardi B, Sufjan, Phoenix, 2 Chainz, and More". Pitchfork. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (28 October 2020). "Watch Actress' New 'Karma & Desire' Short Film Featuring Yves Tumor, Sampha, and More". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Bloomfield, Phil E. (21 October 2020). "Actress Walks Us Through His Moody, Atmospheric Albums". Bandcamp. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Actress Karma And Desire". December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Magzter.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Snapes, Laura (18 December 2020). "The 50 best albums of 2020: the full list". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Clash Albums Of The Year 2020". Clash. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ Grein, Paul (22 March 2021). "Phoebe Bridgers, Run the Jewels & Perfume Genius Among Top Nominees For 2021 Libera Awards". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Grein, Paul (17 June 2021). "Phoebe Bridgers & Run the Jewels Are Top Winners at 2021 A2IM Libera Awards". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved 22 August 2023.