Narada World: Global Vision
A collection of 29 tracks from almost as many albums,Narada Worldoffers more than 125 minutes of an easily digested assortment of contemporary, mostly instrumental selections that are adorned with varying degrees of international or traditional flourishes. Though some genuinely scintillating works are included here--most notably flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook's two selections and an arresting Persian/Indian hybrid, "Astrae," by the exotic vocal/percussion duo Vas (fromSunyata)--the album is largely an easy-listening collection of modern music embellished with world music accents. This is not such a bad thing. The two-disc set's highlights are its Celtic and Latin/flamenco pieces, which dominate this package. Other tracks include traces of Far East, African, and Native American influences; and on occasion, the juxtapositioning of such far-flung musical styles creates some peculiar segues on the two discs. Yet the overall mood is sanguine and refreshing, a fact that may disappoint earnest world-beat adherents but will satisfy less critical ears. Highlights: "The Road North" by champion Celtic fiddler Alasdair Fraser, Bernardo Rubaja's charming mix of pipes and charango on "New Land," the saintly female vocal offerings of Scartaglen and Connie Dover, and the flamenco dramatics of Oscar Lopez on "Lucia."--Terry Wood