Xexa: Kissom

"Hi-hats sketch out the faintest outline of kizomba on "Kizomba 003," but the arcing rise and fall of the synths bolsters the beat into a forceful march. XEXA's singing also embodies these shapeshifting surroundings. "Tenho o coração apaixonado," (I have a passionate heart) she sings in a smooth contralto before warbling, "Como assim trabalhar," as though a lozenge were lodged in the back of her throat."

"Such a hearty foundation becomes a bed to cushion XEXA's freeform percussion. On "Pulse Bounce," stereo panning causes cymbals to crash off to the left, snares to spill over from the center, and hi-hats to surface right in front of us, while on "Será," toms explode as erratically as a fireworks display, and as softly as colourful bags of powder at Holi."

"When given time to unfold, XEXA's music can be wonderfully moving. After an opening of twinkling keys and doleful brass, the glowing synths on "Transversive Line" lose their anchor as the bass slips away, and they drift off like balloons from the hands of a child. It's a curious feeling-a sadness tinged with a fleeting wonder."

Kissom's pulsating ambience energizes XEXA's lolloping rhythms and sometimes sketches faint kizomba outlines while synth arcs bolster beats into forceful marches. XEXA sings in a smooth contralto that warbles and bends with the synths yet remains rich, deep, and prominently mixed. A hearty low-end foundation cushions freeform percussion with dynamic stereo panning that positions cymbals, snares, and hi-hats across the soundstage. Toms explode and soften like fireworks and Holi powders, creating cohesive sonic worlds even as a few tracks end before full development. Extended pieces let synths drift, producing sadness tinged with fleeting wonder.

Read at Pitchfork