In other instances Kissom’s pulsating ambience pumps XEXA’s lolloping rhythms with a bit of life. 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. Her singing bends as much as her synths do, but rather than feel vague or ethereal, her voice—deep in tone and prominently placed in the mix—is rich and full-bodied.

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. These flurries are dynamic and varied and, most importantly, feel like they all belong in the same world—unlike Vibrações de Prata, where “Nah Dêdê”, “SectionAudio” and “Clarinet Mood” could have belonged to folk, classical, and ambient albums, respectively. Kissom only feels disjoined when a track like “Xtinti” concludes before it has the chance to develop into anything more powerful.

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. “Quem És Tu” is even more evocative. Over the course of 12 minutes, a brooding synth line eventually reaches a climax of sitar riffs and rattling wood percussion. “Quem És Tu” is an outstanding moment in XEXA’s quest for futurism. Batida has always been about finding your own lane, but the boldness and depth of Kissom’s psychedelic world prove that XEXA’s not just in her own lane—she’s light-years away, in another galaxy.