QILAASH - How The West Was Won

Qilaash is a concept album. It could be understood as an introductory overview of Nation Records' roster-their own "Asian Underground". But the inclusion of the global eclecticism of a cosmic rocker like Sasha Crnobrnja (Codek Records) defies any genre. Qilaash is a compilation that showcases how the flavours of world music can be used to spice up the uncompromising ethos of the punk dance scene. Angry young men like Mercury nominees Asian Dub Foundation and Fun Da Mental. Rock the mic with impassioned socio-cultural critiques, the former represented by a rebel war cry from their debut LP of indo-dub baselines and ragga-fuelled bhangra, the latter with a sparse but highly charged Prodigy-style agit-rap. Nation Records pioneer Talvin Singh appears with the benchmark 1995 remix of "Duden", where the tabla maestro's fusion of technological and live percussion with Natacha Atlas' Arabic vocals has retained its freshness. An infectious, club orientated cut from Joi and an unusually downtempo tabla & bass excursion from French duo Recycler also stand out. However, the inclusion of tracks like the Earthtribe remix of Transglobal Underground's techno-electro epic "Body Machine" displays a disappointing lack of quality control. --D.Isaac Stander

Label: Unknown
Studio: Nation
Released: 1996-05-27
Format: Audio CD