Actress's Ghettoville: A Funeral for Techno?

Darren Cunningham, known as Actress, has announced the conclusion of his musical persona with the release of his fourth album, "Ghettoville." This record is described as a deliberate artistic statement, deconstructing elements of Detroit techno, Chicago ghetto house, and rap into a dour, drone-infused soundscape. The album's press release and its stark musical content suggest a thematic end-times for electronic music. "Ghettoville" is characterized by its darker, nastier tone and a significant lack of dynamism compared to Cunningham's previous work. Many tracks feature minimal ideas and a stark, almost skeletal structure, creating a sense of bleakness. For example, "Forgiven" is a seven-minute loop, while "Time" presents a prolonged period of stasis. Despite the album's challenging nature, tracks like "Birdcage," "Gaze," and the closer "Rule" showcase moments of Cunningham's signature intricate production and melodic ingenuity, with "Rule" being a notable reworking of hip-hop elements.

Cunningham's intent with "Ghettoville" appears to be a confrontational artistic statement, forcing listeners to engage with his bleak worldview. The album rejects the interactive quality of his earlier work, demanding listeners accept his portrayal of a brittle, addicted world. This shift in focus, from musical innovation to conceptual declaration, leads to "Ghettoville" being perceived as more of a lecture than a conventional musical offering. The perplexing persona of Cunningham, usually overshadowed by his record-making abilities, takes center stage here, potentially shifting the balance of his artistic legacy.