This Israeli duo brings complementary backgrounds to this very enjoyable collection of airy, down-tempo beats. Growing up in the desert, Gotam's ears attuned early to the subtleties of the sounds that inhabit open spaces: although the moving sands could roar fiercely, their background hum would be a sound that he heard as we hear traffic. "There is something very unique in such a quiet ambience," he explains. "Because of the silence and open distances, you become aware of otherwise unheard sounds at any given time of the day." This was good training for his career as an audio engineer. 

Kartick (Patrick Sebag) came from the other end of the spectrum, his cosmopolitan urban background exposing him to a wealth of music from around the globe. 

This fine collection weaves the experience of both into a sonic tapestry as bright as any Arabian rug. Delightful programming is super-sensitive to the mood of each track. The beats are light and spacious, reflecting the subtlety that Gotam grew up with, but these are often a gently swaying platform for an international bunch of singers to perform over. 

Highlights include the exuberant, dance-inflected tabla-fuelled energy of "Shiva Sheva;" the psychedelic and hypnotic "Door Open Door," which sounds like something that George Harrison might have brought to the Beatles; and the light funky beats of "Supreme Chaos," which is what the Alan Parsons Project might sound like if they made a concept album about city traffic in the Middle East. 

Best of all must be the near-perfect opener, "Bonjour," where everything comes together just right: a gorgeous, rich duduk that shares improvisational duties with a subtle flute over some insistent, easy beats. It's hard to know whether its melody or its groove is the better. On another day, the strangely contrasting follow-up, "Tamil Bossa," which lives up to its name, would also be a highlight. It's like an Indian lounge ballad with a floaty Theremin-like sound popping in over the top, along with jazzy trumpet (think: exotic Groove Armada).
 
There are some average tracks, but the whole is better than the sum of its parts and there are always fresh nuances to discover. This is highly accessible world beat that you can happily leave on repeat and should particularly appeal to those who enjoy acts like Röyksopp. Lovely stuff.

Download: Bonjour, Tamil Bossa, Door Open Door, Supreme Chaos