Mixing fluidly between afro-beat, reggae, rock, Brazilian, soul, easy listening, electronic and rare library music, Thievery Corporation create a set that takes the listener on a trip of truly global proportions. The Outernational Sound is a seamless recording from many nights of sonic exploration with the turntables and a crate of records. From warehouse parties in Caracas to elegant soires in Honolulu, and root downs in Kingston, Garza and Hilton have played a lot of rare wax for a broad spectrum of listeners. Now, in a one-hour mix CD, the sound system has been mashed up and the whole world can share in Thievery Corporation's Outernational Sound.
Getting back to their turntables after the all-original work on 2002's The Richest Man in Babylon, Thievery Corporation dust off a collection of soulful wax for The Outernational Sound. Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have gone with an increasingly organic approach since their relatively electronic and modern Mirror Conspiracy, looking more back than forward. Happily, the duo has good taste. If that wasn't obvious after the collections on Babylon and 2001's Sounds from the Verve Hi-Fi, Outernational ends the argument. The record rambles through Brazilian jazz, afro-beat, and a kaleidoscope of funked-up rhythms that only a serious purveyor of world beat chill tunes could unearth. Their big ears, however, can't always keep up with their DJ skills; 20 tracks are smooshed into just over an hour, and you can feel Garza and Hilton sweating to make the different musical bloodlines congeal. You'll likely find yourself playing only sections of the record, depending on your mood. Still, whatever section you settle on should supply a hearty dose of satisfaction. --Matthew Cooke
