M.I.A: Arular

(Herald rating: * * * *)

Maya Arulpragasam, aka M.I.A (Missing in Acton/Action) is the daughter of a fighter in the Tamil Tigers, she spent her early years experiencing civil war hell before her family moved to West London.

After graduating in film from London's St Martin's College, M.I.A. fell in with Elastica, who commissioned her to make their tour documentary with Peaches, the electro-clash vixen who introduced her to the joys of the 80s, low-budget drum machine.

The result of this creative melting pot is an album full of bleak, bouncing basement beats as rootless as her life, and musical influences that extend to New York, Rio and Kingston. To classify her as strictly hip-hop would be to ignore the album's chaotic landscape of British garage and grime, and exotic versions of funk, dancehall, and reggae. Over the top is her unusual street slang rap, like Neneh Cherry doing political nursery rhymes over Timbaland.

The album's a mish-mash of tracks that could play in any club in the world, with industrial production from boyfriend Diplo that incorporates steel drums, brass and electro, and even a collaboration with Pulp's Steve Mackey.

Chuck it on at a party and you'll be amazed at the results.

Label: Shock