Master Musicians Of Jajouka

Those in search of something different should immediately investigate this disc. A most unusual recording, the Master Musicians Of Jajouka's self-titled disc is a dazzling fusion of Middle Eastern, dance, and ambient sounds. Throughout the album's 11 tracks, the ancient and the modern are seamlessly intertwined. The end result is a truly mind-expanding experience -- thanks to dance music producer Talvin Singh. For the uninitiated, the British-born tabla master Singh won the U.K.'s much-coveted Mercury Music Prize last year for his album "OK" (he's also remixed for such one-named artists as Madonna and Bjòrk). Now, following in the footsteps of former Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, who recorded with the Morocco-based Master Musicians a year before his death, Singh pushes the envelope, creating a frenetic, techno-splashed soundscape. The set also features Bachir Attar, the current leader of Jajouka. Between Attar and Singh, an explosive ray of light now hovers over and surrounds the Master Musicians Of Jajouka.