KCRW: Sounds Eclectic
KCRW'sMorning Becomes Eclecticprogram has always  managed to capture some of music's most talented voices, some of them  just young bands with a cult following, others who are seasoned vets  returning to the beloved California radio station that gave them their  first live broadcast. The latest series is yet another winsome venture,  encompassing folk and pop performances so delicate and fresh, it's hard  to believe no retouching was performed (KCRW's disclaimer swears it  wasn't).Becktips his hat  with a baritone cover of the country classic "Lonesome Whistle," which  segues nicely intoDavid Gray's tender  performance of his Triple-A hit, "Babylon."Travis's  "Driftwood" single benefits greatly from its production-free moment,  allowing singer Fran Healy's charming brogue to shine; likewise,Badly Drawn Boy(a.k.a. Damon Gough) steps up to the mic with "Magic in the Air," a  pre-summer ballad that serves as a great pitch for the Brit performer's  offbeat charm.Bebel Gilberto's  lustrous "August Day Song" and Yo-Yo Ma's Bach prelude widen the  album's scope, proving KCRW's "eclectic" banner is not a gimmick, but a  philosophy that has made Nic Harcourt's program a necessary refuge for  experimental listeners.--Kristy Martin