The music of Darren Jordan Cunningham aka Actress is not necessarily accessible. His electronics lurch, sludge and crackle. Like the previous album
LXXXVIII (2023), Statik is predominantly minimal with meticulously constructed productions. The emphasis is on low-fi, with a tendency to hypnotize his listeners. In addition to smooth synths, echoing beats and dull drums, he also uses sounds like
… crackling fire to create that intoxicating effect. Very occasionally, amidst all the bubbling sounds and repeating melodies, he briefly shakes the listener awake. The stinging ending of Cafe del Mars is a case in point. As on previous was, it's best to surrender to the subtle pinpricks Cunningham dispenses in his mesmerizing songs. (YvQ)more
