Various: Out of the World: Womad NZ

By GRAHAM REID

With Womad on our doorstep again - in New Plymouth from next Friday - this 14-track collection is a snapshot of some of the unfamiliar sounds on the bill (along with Che Fu's Trust and Te Vaka's Nukukehe).

So here are Mexico City's tropica-punk/traditionalists Los De Abajo (more traditional than rocking on Matame Amour), Temple of Sound going big beat and Latin (Chica Bonita), the transatlantic sound of Cheikh Lo who melds West African juju guitar with Cuban sounds, Algerian rebel rocker and dance innovator Rachid Taha (again a musically conservative selection with Comme un Chien) and more.

Fat Freddy's Drop are included (No Parking) and so is Cachiato Lopez who has recently cancelled.

No matter, if you've got the in-auto technology this is the one to play on the way to the 'Naki.

(Womad/Border)