Elsewhere: Atmospheric airwaves from suave source

By GRAHAM REID

Radio Tarifa: Cruzando El Rio

Label: World Circuit/Elite

Third excellent instalment of exotic, mesmerising, transcontinental sounds from this Madrid-based outfit which names itself for the southernmost town in Spain which almost touches Arab-Africa. That band name is significant then, because it suggests a radio station drawing its playlist from Morocco and flamenco Spain equally.

The melding of these various styles - the high keening vocals, meandering North African melodic lines and Latin passions - makes Radio Tarifa unique. And this time out with electric guitar added to the rocking folksy mix of acoustic guitars, lutes, brusque flutes and so on they offer even more entrancing musical diversity.

Within a few bars they can transport you to a backstreet in Tangiers, a lively Andalusian bar, a starless night in Castille a century ago, or a Muslim marketplace in Granada. And those who recall them from the first Womad here (when they were a sensation in part because of the incendiary presence of flamenco dancer Joaquin Ruiz) will need no further information to check out this lapel-grabbing, sensuously summery album.

Radio Tarifa might be a fictitious station, but the airwaves it commands courtesy of this band's powerfully atmospheric and evocative music is as real as it gets. Much recommended.

ALSO RANIt didn't seem all that long ago that albums were made for different reasons than many are today. Judging by the sheer volume of dance and nu-jazz compilations,, there seems to be a larger market in DJs, bar owners and brasserie managers than there is for the home consumer. Here then is a quick rundown of some collections you can expect to hear next time you hit the clubs or cafes.

Welcome to Club Jazz (CinqEtoiles/Rhythm Method): Eurobeats and Latin flavours from the likes of Llorca, Dimitri From Paris, the always terrific Montefiori Cocktail (with the moody Anamaria), Down to the Bone and others, which is high on the bpm count so should appeal to bar owners. If they bang it on at 10 pm, by the time Belladonna hit in with the sax-funk of Shy Lover those alcopops will just be flying across the counter.

St Germain des Pres Café (Wagram/Border): Named for the area of Paris where jazz clubs sprung up during and after the Second World War, this considers itself "the finest electro-jazz compilation" and kicks off with Duran Y Garcia's original Round Midnight, which also opens Welcome to Club Jazz. It gets better with Vert's bass-driven Original Oddstep, then heads into tracks by Jazzanova, Ian Simmons, genuine jazzman Bugge Wesseltoft, St Germain (as always) and Grand Tourism featuring Terry Callier. A slightly less attention-demanding collection than the above, so bound to be heard in sophisticated brasseries.

Do It As: Brick Rouge (MagX/Border): Previously unreleased French house by people you've never heard of here remixed by Ludovic Llorca and David Duriez. Clubland may consider itself the better for it, what with it being mostly obscure, and we know that counts with DJs. But the average civilian couldn't pick these artists or tracks out of a lineup, even after multiple plays. Comes with a video programme, but frankly I couldn't be bothered. Polite and lush.

Hotel Costes Quatre (Wagram/Border): There were three previous volumes? Thumbs up for packaging, too, on this adventurous collection mixed by Stephane Pompougnac (who he?) which includes Thunderball's lovely Solar, Dublex Inc's Tango Forte, Doctor Rocket's seductive Café de Flore and the much hailed Gotan Project who specialise in welterweight dub coloured with the sounds of Argentinian bandoneon. Mr Pompougnac has an interesting world view and impeccable taste, and of all of the above collections this has the virtue of sounding distinctive with tracks chosen not for the similarity of their beats but for their intrinsic merit. Much recommended - and not just to owners of suave cafes.