Karma & Desire
Studio album by
Actress
Released23 October 2020 (2020-10-23)
GenreElectronic
Length68:28
LabelNinja Tune
Producer
Actress chronology
88
(2020)		 Karma & Desire
(2020)		 LXXXVIII
(2023)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Beats per Minute76%[3]
Clash9/10[4]
Exclaim!8/10[5]
The Quietus[6]
Under the Radar7.5/10[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

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

LXXXVIII track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fire and Light"Darren Cunningham1:16
2."Angels Pharmacy" (featuring Zsela)
  • Cunningham
  • Zsela Sterlin
4:41
3."Remembrance" (featuring Zsela)
  • Cunningham
  • Sterlin
2:41
4."Reverend"Cunningham2:59
5."Leaves Against the Sky"Cunningham4:38
6."Save"
5:06
7."VVY" (featuring Sampha)
2:37
8."XRAY"Cunningham3:31
9."Gliding Squares"Cunningham3:07
10."Many Seas, Many Rivers" (featuring Sampha)
  • Cunningham
  • Sisay
8:11
11."Loveless" (featuring Aura T-09)
  • Cunningham
  • Marcia Pinna
4:40
12."Public Life" (featuring Vanessa Benelli Mosell)
  • Cunningham
  • Ames
  • Young Paint
4:00
13."Fret"Cunningham1:28
14."Loose" (featuring Christel Well)
  • Cunningham
  • Rebekah Cromwell
4:19
15."Turin" (featuring Aura T-09)
  • Cunningham
  • Pinna
7:13
16."Diamond X"Cunningham3:51
17."Walking Flames" (featuring Sampha)
  • Cunningham
  • Sisay
4:10
Total length:68:28

Personnel

  • 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

  1. ↑ "Critic Reviews for Karma & Desire". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Actress – Karma & Desire". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Roseblade, Nick (19 October 2020). "Actress – Karma & Desire". Clash. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Sylvester, Daniel (20 October 2020). "Actress Nimbly Balances Many Ideas, Moods and Collaborators on Karma & Desire". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Arnone, Joey (3 December 2020). "Actress: Karma & Desire". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ↑ McDermott, Matt (15 July 2020). "Actress releases new album, 88". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ Bloomfield, Phil E. (21 October 2020). "Actress Walks Us Through His Moody, Atmospheric Albums". Bandcamp. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Actress Karma And Desire". December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Magzter.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Clash Albums Of The Year 2020". Clash. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ 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.
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