Various: Asian Chill

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Another in the series which has previously included a couple of World Chill albums and African Chill, this seductive collection turns its face to the exotic east for an intelligent selection of tracks by Nitin Sawhney, Dan the Automator with DJ Baba G, and Badmarsh and Shri. So far so similar to the above perhaps?

But there's also Pandit Ravi Shankar (the tantalisingly brief variation of the theme from the film Genesis), the late Nusrat Fateh Khan (a remix of the traditional, soaring Piya Re Piya Re) and newer names in the Asian Underground, such as Karsh Kale who applies electronica to a traditional track, and the American outfit Shabaz who merge Egyptian vocals and Pakistani qawwali over tickling guitar and a funky beat.

Chillout albums are cheap currency these days, but this is an exception. Less "chill" than "very cool".

Label: Manteca