I was introduced to Sudan Archives with the song “Non for Sale” from their debut EP Drown In 2018. I have been a die-hard fan ever since. With each album, she finds new ways to craft her violin’s sound, distorting it contrary to expectations.
athena found him interacting with it, making its rhythms largely recognizable and organic, turning from experimental pop towards more ambient passages. natural brown prom queen Adopted the sound collages, samples and aesthetics of modern R&B, blending its violin with more overtly electronic elements. bpm It features recognizable violin passages, but fully embraces the more technical elements of the Sudan Archives sound.
The album begins with “Dead”, which begins with light orchestral tones and a processed, but recognizable violin. Then, at 1:30, the beat drops – it sounds as if high-pitched vocal chops are dancing around the stereo field, and a wavy synth bass pulls her completely onto the dance floor. The track serves as a mission statement, with several movements exploring different incarnations of the Archives sound as she asks, “Where is my old self? Where is my new self?” Responding to each one herself by saying “right here, right here.”
What follows is a volatile tour of dance music, from the four-floor funk of “My Type” to the trap-in-the-cheek sex rap of “Ms. Pac Man” – “She’s Got Pain” even has an Irish jig in the middle. Throughout the record, there are flashes of autotune, drum ‘n’ bass breaks, house piano stabs, techno synth bass, and of course, soaring violin flourishes. Often, a single track contains several of these things as Archives avoids typical pop song structures, jumping from one genre to another.
Not surprisingly, the momentum is on BMP It is generally extended compared to most previous records in the archive. But it’s not all club bangers. “Come and Find You,” winks at the R&B of the ’80s and early ’90s from acts like Sade. And often the lyrics turn to matters of the heart, “I’m gonna find a way to get back to you Even when we’re not in sync, I’m gonna find a way to get back to you Even when it’s really hard I still love to push and pull,” she sings on “David & Goliath.”
bpm is a dense, busy record that revels in its unpredictability and sonic shrapnel. It’s also my favorite record of 2025. Despite only coming out in mid-October, it was my most-listened-to album according to my Apple Music recap. Sudan Archives bpm Available on Bandcamp and most streaming services including Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Spotify.
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