Various ArtistsWorld 2003Review

For Londoners at home on a Saturday night, the best soundtrack to cooking dinner is, without question, DJ Charlie Gillett's BBC London show. This, along with his marvellous World Service programme is open-minded broadcasting at its best, with a reassuringly human touch. There's loads of cutting edge world and roots music plus guest musicians, an easy going way with a microphone and the occasional marvellous stretch of 'dead air'. All of which serves to remind you there's a real person on the other side of your speakers. For the past four years, he's also been compiling double CDs of the best material aired during the year on both shows, "guided by listeners, prods from friends and exposure to live performances at clubs, theatres and festivals". And here's the latest instalment..

As usual, the choice of material and the way it's sequenced makes for inspired listening. It's much like an extra-long show, but without interruptions from the news, or Charlie's dulcet tones. Regular listeners will know pretty much what to expect, and the contributions from the likes of Mariza, Manu Chao, Orchestra Baobab and Ojos de Brujo will probably be familiar, as will the wonderful opening track from French stars Noir Desir, who, like many others here would be virtually unknown in the U.K. if it weren't for Mr. Gillett's work.

Newcomers should probably be warned that not all the material is actually from 2003 and there's something of a bias towards music from Mediterranean and West African countries, with little from Latin America or Asia. Spanish and French artists are particularly favoured this time around. But every DJ has their favourites, and there are also plenty of surprises in his choices. Foremost among these for me were Pakistani singer Naseebo Lal and the cumbia/ska hybrid from Russian group Markscheider Kunst.

Everyone will have their own, depending on how much and when they get out. One thing's for sure; this is one series that deserves to run and run.