''Stretch 2'' is an

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

by Venezuelan producer Arca. It was released on 6 August 2012 by UNO NYC, following its predecessor ''Stretch 1'' in April.

Composition

Primarily an electronic hip-hop album, ''Stretch 2'' features

avant-garde The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...

time signatures, warped pitches, and "a kind of post-millennial take on trip-hop with a debt to

Aphex Twin Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), best known as Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born British musician, composer and DJ. He is known for his idiosyncratic work in electronic styles such as techno, ambient, and jungle. Journalists from publication ...

", as well as influences from gangsta rap, garage, and

new age New Age is a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise definition difficult. Although many scholars consi ...

Critical reception

Andrew Ryce of ''

Resident Advisor ''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. It was established in 2001. ''RA''s editorial team provides news, musi ...

'' called ''Stretch 2'' "a mood record, unforgivingly dark and antisocial" and that "Though erplayful hip-hop vignettes are nice little curios, the album's real eye-openers are when hestretches out." Ryce praised the EP's "beautifully tortured production", use of harsh effects, and Arca's "sometimes (unsettlingly) legible" vocals. Birkut of ''

Tiny Mix Tapes ''Tiny Mix Tapes'' (also ''TMT'' or ''tinymixtapes'') is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, ...

'' called the EP a "remarkable listen that’s constantly negotiating what constitutes fun and fear".

Track listing

References

{{Arca 2012 EPs Arca (musician) albums Albums produced by Arca (musician) Electronic EPs Hip hop EPs Trip hop EPs Sequel albums