Producer and DJ Vivienne Lefebvre and DJ Victoria Hickey put their collective weight behind a new album from the Kukang festival in Indonesia. The duo also host the 2018 World Dance Music Conference in Jakarta. Dub, hiphop, grime, breakbeat and more converge on the festival’s three stages – the main attraction is the performance by DJ Congo, with whom Lefebvre has worked previously – with producer and DJ Pandora.

The sound is ambient and reflective – the sound of the wind, clouds and the sun. On "Beamrider", Lefebvre and Hickey bring in a variety of percussion from behind a variety of openended flutes, clinking cymbals and whirring percussion and syncopated beats. The project evolves into a dynamic mixture that is markedly different from the previous album, 2016’s "Somaa". This album is a showcase for 21 artists, including pianist and multi-instrumentalist Bassam Alghani, who works with producer and DJ Sugar.

On "Aa Tema", Lefebvre and Hickey select a relatively straight route on the pulsating bass and crunch. The opening track opens with a short ambient sample that complements the use of an open groove. The track ends with the clinking of claps and clicks, revealing a rhythm that is both deep and short. The album concludes with the siren-like sound of lowing horses.

The diverse range of sounds on Igbó Alákoza Kukang is a strong asset in the hands of a producer. Lefebvre and Hickey have a keen ear for the textures of a janggo or a samba drum, and offer intricate production that is assured and free of mechanical clatter. Other highlights are the track by DJ Tutu, a collaboration with DJ Sugar, and the mix from DJ Mor.

"At the end of the day, it is an art, not a science, so you can't rely on what other people have said, that they are going to play it or not. So you have to ask yourself, is this the sound of the artist? And the answer is no," Lefebvre said in a recent interview.