Actress Karma And Desire

Album Review

- Ninja Tune

A decade and a half on since Darren Cunningham first introduced us to his Actress alias and the UK producer is still raising the hairs on the back of your neck like no other. Having first teased us all with mentions of a new album as far back as 2019, his highly impressive seventh studio album, Karma and Desire now finally makes its long-awaited arrival.

The record is rendered in stunning greyscale, pulling together an array of rhythms. Densely layered and richly atmospheric, the immersive soundscape subtly wraps itself around you and cocoons you into its distinctive world. Paring his music with vocalists for the very first time, Actress enlists the services of Sampha, Zsela, Aura T-09, and Rebekah Cristel, who all turn in memorable contributions. The addition of vocals gives an even deeper emotional impact.

Its breathy, enigmatic vocals bleed into the foggy and hazy productions to further enhance that sense of lost memories, secret desires and regret that lingers throughout Karma and Desire. The addition of Italian pianist and composer, Vanessa Benelli Mosell also adds a feeling of vulnerability and reflectiveness that has a knack of finding its way to the surface of the album and is never far away, even in the record’s more upbeat and upfront moments.

A masterpiece of ethereal, smudged contemporary electronic music that feels at once detached and plugged in emotionally, Karma and Desire is perhaps Actress’ most accomplished work to date. A perfect album for getting lost in, this record will keep pulling you back in when the real world does not feel enough. Tom Jones ADD THESE TO YOUR PLAYLIST:

Remembrance, XRAY, Turin

10/10

Ela Minus