Sheep (mixtape)

Sheep is a DJ mix by Venezuelan electronic producer Arca. It was released on January 15, 2015 for free download. The mix is an eleven-song musical score Arca performed at Hood by Air's show at the Pitti Uomo 87 fashion event in Florence, Italy.
Background and release.
"Sheep" was released a few weeks after Arca's cover of Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" for "Dazed" after being placed at #3 on the "Dazed" 100, a list of the hundred most influential people shaping youth culture. On the same week of the mix's release, it was revealed that Arca would be co-producing Björk's Vulnicura record. The mix served as the soundtrack to the 2015 Hood By Air fashion show for Pitti Uomo 87 in Florence, Italy. She shared the mix on SoundCloud after performing it at the event.
In an early press release, "Sifter" was titled "Faggot", but was renamed "Sifter" on the final track list. Similarly, downloading "Sheep" reveals that the file is titled "Pity the Homo". Arca confirmed via Twitter that these were her working titles, and that she changed them herself to be "more subtle." Some of the tracks on "Sheep" were later reprised on to Arca's second studio album "Mutant", which was released later that year.
Critical reception.
"Sheep" was featured as "Pitchfork"s "Best New Track", stating that "Arca is still setting the trends." "Tiny Mix Tapes" wrote: "The mix splendidly downplays the melodic nuances that worked so well on "Xen"; those interjecting high tones and bass-heavy counterpoints bleed into each other here to provide an unwavering soundscape. It's like a scrapbook of equally lavish and boisterous ideas that leap out of the page; though not fully formed, they make up a remarkable whole. These ideas bridge each "stage" in a fashion so dissimilar to the clearly defined "&&&&&" or anything at all from the "Stretch" EPs, forcing Arca's aesthetic to sound more debauched than ever. "Sheep" works as a platform (or even a catwalk), then, for Arca to celebrate [her] most off-kilter preferences." Sputnikmusic said that ""Sheep" is fascinating in that it makes a complete stylistic detour from "Xen" while retaining the latter's core-aesthetic, manipulating it in such a way that the two become polar opposites, atmospherically. The extra-terrestrial vibe that appears to be something of a signature for Arca remains, but [her] characteristically warm, endearing, nonchalant approach has shifted towards something more deliberate and maddening." "Consequence of Sound" said "the mix runs the sonic and emotional gamut, from moments of pounding aggression and galactic wooziness to pulsating sensuality and even hymnal meditation." "Dummy Mag" said the mix "builds and releases in waves of terrifying and angelic sounds."
Track listing.
Sample credits