Various Artists - 'Rhythms Del Mundo' (Universal) Released 20/11/06

Rhythms Del Mundo takes a spin on many a well known track and gives the tunes a Cuban quick step from the Buena Vista Sound as rediscovered by Ry Cooder. Raising a mojito and twirling to piano and brass section, it's hard to conceive how many of the tracks could take on the Afro-Cuban spirit of the Buena Vista Sound with such ease. With arrangements by Demtrio Muniz, Miguel Patterson and Kenito, the original orchestration has been stripped down and re-molded to the Buena Vista sound with the vocals often intact. Many an artist has given this project their backing with funds from every sale going towards Climate Change Awareness and Natural Disaster Relief Funds.

Lots of Top Twenty moments then with Coldplay's 'Clocks' and a fluidity from brass hoots and short piano keys, Jack Johnson's 'Better Together' has gently swaying percussive lilt, and Dido & Faithless with 'One Step Too Far' has sultry vocals to a batucada rhythm. Ever protective of their recordings, Arctic Monkeys were so enamoured by the take on 'Dancing Shoes' that the nod was given to this funky spunky hybrid dressed in Cuban heels that seduces the dancehall - "...put on your dancing shoes/ you sexy little swine...".

Overdubs come from Coco Freeman getting to grips with U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' with a fresh take that gets up off its knees to set the pews and aisles amoving. Interpretations of classics are proffered by the Grandmaster of Bolero Ibrahim Ferrer crooning 'As Time Goes By' in Spanish ala Nat King Cole (which became his final recording), and Omara Portundo with 'Killing Me Softly' has a Grand Dame eloquence, the two forming a duo for 'Casablanca (As Time Goes By)' - a sublime pairing sadly not to be repeated.

Beatific moments come from Maroon 5 with a rumba on 'She Will Be Loved' that has the delights of a summer shower, and 'Fragilidad' from Sting singing in Spanish to a chirpy accompaniment. Post-modern Cuban twists of Kaiser Chiefs 'Modern Way' and Franz Ferdinand's 'The Dark Of The Matinee' culminate with Radiohead's 'High and Dry' which sounds like its been a jazz standard of X-many years.

Like the Trojan sounds of old where Jamaican musicians would record their versions of tunes heard on the radio, which themselves became classics, these Cuban sounds add a personality of style and lightness of touch, a spirit elan. Hardly a duffer to be found. The primary aim of this compilation is to highlight Climate Change and our personal responsibilities. Sure, we don't appreciate carping on, but this album puts the coffers where its mouth is, with many fabulous renditions.