Essential Asian Flavas Vol. 1 (2002)

Yes, another compilation album full of Asian tunes. Quite good one also. Essential Asian Flavas is like a rainbow, lots of different scenes and artists. Many of them very well known. Panjabi MC, Rishi Rich, Punjabi Hit Squad, Jakatta, Badmarsh & Shri, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Trickbaby, Nitin Sawhney and last, but not least, Craig Armstrong with Swati Natekar. This album is like a candy store. It's full of sweets like the artists mentioned above. There aren't too many compilation albums out there that has got so many famous artists on it. Are they any good on this album though?

I have to say that Rishi Rich has produced many better tracks than Nahin Jeena. It's not crap, of course, but it's average. Panjabi MC is represented on this album with their world wide known hit Mundian To Bach Ke. No comments needed.
Punjabi Hit Squad has a good track on this album. Hasdi Hasdi (Hit Squad Mix) is so tender and sweet that every woman on the dancfloor would take her shirt of without noticing it. It's just the track to play when your'e in a good position.. er...i mean hugging and kissing of course. It's just the track to play on your CD player. Maybe it's just me, but it sounds a bit erotic. What do you think?
Jakatta is, of course, with So Lonely (Afterlife Remix). Just like Panjabi Mc, well know and no comments needed. Quality track!
Badmarsh & Shri's Signs is one of my favourite tracks from Asian scene. Bonobo mix is the best mix I've heard and this together makes it a very good track indeed! Something like a trip-hop music? This surely is something to listen again and again.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is classics, right? His track Tere Bin Nahin Lagda, which is mixed by Partners in Rhyme, is just awesome! Love it! Great minimalistic breakbeat is the result of the mix. By the way, it's from a soundtrack from a movie called Bend It Like Beckham. A very popular Indian movie!
Trickbaby, who's more known to me with a track Fighter, is represented with Neelaa. Neelaa is one of the best tracks on this album and that's a positive surprise to me! Great club track and a good music to listen at home also. Listen to her track Fighter and also Neelaa, here!
Nitin Sawnhey's Punjabi is interesting. Reminds me bhangra, but it's not quite right. Anyways, not my type of music, I think.
Craig Armstrong is as sad as always. Swati Natekar makes it even more unhappy with her cryingalike vocal. A very beautiful track indeed, but the last flavor is too sad. I guess there has been many flavors that are sweet as a candy and there had to be something that tastes like sadness. That's what makes the album to be like a rainbow. You find all kind of music from it.
Not to mention unknown artists that i liked very much: S. Kaliwalia, Orient Expressions, Bollywood Breaks (fantastic Bollywood track!)
14 more or less excellent tracks makes it a very good album.

This is also the only Asian music album that I have bought from Estonia. It's sad that there aren't yet too many Asian artists sold here. I hope to promote the music more here and let's hope, things will change. Kurma Das already started promoting the music with his set at the Party Of Love in the middle of August in Tartu, Estonia.