filastine

Burn It

World music can be a funny old beast, do it right and you're likely to get a Grammy in the process (hello Ry Cooder), do it wrong and you're destined to bargain-bin hell for eternity, the laughing stock of the credible music scene. In recent years trends in world music have shifted rapidly and people (music critics included) have been much more open to suggestion from the rest of the non-english speaking world, thanks in part to the rise of file sharing and the internet. When one can take a punt on music for free it is much less worrying grabbing a bargain-bin mistake, you can just delete it. Thankfully this hugely accomplished debut album from Filastine on DJ Rupture's Soot label is one that will stay on your playlist without fear of deletion. Taking influence from the four corners of the world; blending Brazillian funk with Jamaican riddims, Indian vocal honey with French rapping... this is a veritable world cruise (albeit without the pub-singer crooning). Filastine manages to distil his worldly influences without coming across trite or contrived, never while listening to 'Burn It' did I stop and get cynical, it's just not that kind of record. An excellent achievement and a huge recommendation - don't burn it, BUY IT.