with a soulful, ear-splitting sample of Pakistani sufi Qawwali chanting by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party. I’m already a fan of ethno-goulash such as this, to a certain extent. This compilation taught me several things I didn’t know before. The notes are copious and deal often with ethical and political issues not often discussed in mainstream ethnic recordings. If you’re familiar with Womad and their annual festival, rest assured that the Talking Books are up to snuff. If you’re a novice to ethnic music, you’ll find this album by and large quite enjoyable and well worth the higher-than-average price.
