Moonshout

It's funny how what was once new can come to sound old skool. That's the way it is with Transglobal Underground. Their mix of world melodies and beats along with dub was groundbreaking in the middle of the 1990s, but these days younger acts with different ideas have outstripped them on the musical frontier. That's not to say they're no longer capable of delivering some great sounds. In fact, this seems more diverse than ever before, whether it's the semi-Indian madness of "It's a Sitar," which manages to rock and be humorous at the same time, adding touches of gleeful psychedelia to the mix. They've laid back on the dub a bit, but without sacrificing the bottom end. "Cape Thunder" is a standout, mixing delightfully wheezing South African accordions with beats and a rap. But they're all over the place, with "Dancehall Operator" looking to Jamaica. There are plenty of guests, each bringing their own influence, like Hungary's MC Rise on the title cut, while "Awal" has both Iraqi rapper Aiwa as well as the welcome return of Natacha Atlas, who began her career with TGU. "Swampland" edges warily toward country, while they do show a darker side on "Total Rebellion" (and the bonus music at the end of the disc is wonderfully amorphous. It might not blaze new trails, but this is TGU's most satisfying album in a long time. ~ Chris Nickson|