Various Artists | Mighty Asian Beats

For those who like their desi music with an edge, Mighty Asian Beats is a sharp slice through the UK’s urban music scene. Put together by Birmingham’s famous Shaanti club collective, this compilation boasts an eclectic mix of genres. Everything from bhangra, grime, hip hop, R&B to eastern break-beat, electro and house is present in this heady concoction.

A testament to the UK’s flourishing Asian fusion landscape; Shaanti’s head honcho, Manga, makes a decent job of selecting a variety of tracks that will, in turns, entertain, educate and possibly annoy music lovers.

Blockbusting beats come in the form of Rowdy by A.C & Terra featuring Des-C and Genesis Elijah, and Khada Soorma by Punjabi MC featuring vocals from the controversial Indian singer Chamkilla who was assassinated in 1988. Also familiar are Swami’s Electro Jugni and Disco Warrior by Kalyan, which exemplify eastern electronica at its best.

Lighting up the dance floor with a jungle twist is the ‘Orginal Nuttah’, UK Apache, who delivers a fierce performance in Arabian Nuttah Story. His machine gun, rapid fire spitting ensures his status as one of the UK’s most talented MCs. Hot on his heels are Foreign Beggars whose Jehst’s Wild Wild West Remix of Black Hole Prophesies is a fantastic blend of Hindi vocal samples, sitar riffs and street style hip hop.

The youthful energy of In Da Dance by MDK Cartel and Majestic by Sunit & Rakstar injects street cred into the album; illustrating the talent of the new generation of rising Brit Asian MCs. Commenting on their personal lifestyle and surroundings, their lyrics and tunes are both catchy and fresh.

Less enticing to the ear are Juttla’s dark, synthesizer heavy Khala and the dated drum ‘n’ bass influenced Heer Dholi by The Specialist. Gaudi’s Dub Yaar and an unnecessary bonus remix of Kalyan’s Disco Warrior, retitled Desi Warrior also fail to bring anything special to the table.

By including previously released and exclusive unreleased material, Shaanti’s selection of music for Mighty Asian Beats is mostly on the money. Experimental in sound, yet avoiding obscurity, if played at full blast it’s guaranteed to rock the house!

Article first appeared here.