Elsewhere: Joining the global village

By GRAHAM REID

As our local world becomes more cosmopolitan, it's inevitable that our listening habits reflect more of the global village. Here is a column, then, which is a rapid-fire roundup of the sounds of elsewhere, all available somewhere near you.

Orchestra Baobab: Pirates Choice

(Herald rating: * * * * * )

Senegal's Orchestra Baobab recorded these tracks back in '82 but this double-disc adds six extra tracks from the same session to give breadth to an already exhilarating blend of Afrobeat and Latin grooves. OB brought languid old-time dance grooves to the Dakar club they founded in 1970, but by the time of this album they were creating the perfect blend of Afro-Cuban and traditional Wolof sounds. Widely considered the best album this septet (with vocal quartet) recorded, this reissue is a treasure of soulful vocals, mellow moods and fluid guitars which should earn multiple repeat plays, especially from those who've enjoyed recent albums by old fellahs out of Cuba but want to hear a different take on those addictive sounds. Recommended.

Label: World Circuit/Elite

Trilok Gurtu: The Beat of Love

(Herald rating: * * * )

Tabla player Gurtu came into pop culture from Indo-jazz fusion with John McLaughlin's group Shakti and this swirling melange of trip-hop, Indian instruments, pumping bass (and production) from Wally Badarou, plus vocals from Indian and African singers, is recorded in Bombay, Johannesburg, England and various places in the States. Needless to say, the high-energy results defy conventional categories. But think gritty guitars, punchy programming, keening vocals and a bouncing bottom end. Exciting and exotic, but perhaps an acquired taste and best sampled by those with catholic tastes.

Label: Blue Thumb

Various: Global Beatz

(Herald rating: * * * )

Gurtu kicks off this 12-track frequent flyer collection which drops you in transit lounges as distant as Tahiti, Japan, South America, South Africa and Cairo. Airto weighs in with the experimental See Ya Later featuring his old compadre, from 70s jazz fusion act Return to Forever, pianist Chick Corea; there's the dreamy but driving Dadra by tabla player Sarvar Sabri; and an appealing Latin-Native American crossover by Eric Casillas on Ya-Ta-Hey. Liner notes background the groups and players but not the tracks. A useful sampler but a warning: the cover reads, "File Under Percussion".

Label: Arc

Lucky Dube: The Rough Guide to ...

(Herald rating: * * * )

Dube is a South African reggae singer who is immensely popular in the Pacific but whose vocal style is sometimes so close to that of the late Peter Tosh that accusations of originality need not apply. This 15-track collection offers a fair representation of his ganja-free Rasta-pop, some a little grounded in slick but soulless 80s production. In the same series are readily available and well-annotated introductions to bluegrass (Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, the McCoury Brothers) and Americana (Townes Van Zandt with Hank Williams' Lost Highway, Dave Alvin, Neal Casal, Long Ryders). Like the travel books from which it takes its name, this Rough Guide series is very useful.

Label: World Music Network

Various: Future Sound of Budapest Vol 3

(Herald rating: * * )

Only a native-born Hungarian might be able to say what elements come specifically from Budapest in these 13 (mostly) slo-mo dance and ambient tracks, but it seems Indo-drones and didgeridoo samples belong to everyone in downbeat music these days. Wiry and insidious, best used late in the evening, but watch out for Warpigs' Analogue late in the piece which is a spooky and dark stripped-back revision of something by a Hungarian rock band here reconfigured for clubland. Overall, interesting but not exceptional.

Label: Juice

Various: Pure Groove: Pacific Origin

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Funky Pasifika pop and techno-ambience from French Polynesia, Hawaii, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Solomons with slippery nu-jazz soul from Directions in Groove out of Sydney helmed by former Aucklander Rick Robertson. Traditional sounds brought into the contemporary world by big production values and thumping grooves. Warm nights blown by Polynesian breezes on an inclusive collection from this French label.

Label: Oceania/King

Electro Mana: Jet Lag

(Herald rating: * * * )

And if all these travels have tired you out, then wind down over the duty free with this vaguely Pacific-influenced ambience from a French duo (plus guests and samples from Tahitian recordings) who also bring in sitar, santoor and tabla for the fully rounded global village experience. And it asks that age-old musical question: In these troubled times at the check-in counter, is Utopia Airlines still flying? Let's hope so, it sounds like it offers plenty of leg room to stretch out in.

Label: Oceania/King