Hip hop

The latest releases reviewed.

NASA

Spirit of Apollo Anti****

There was every chance that a hip-hop album starring David Byrne, Lykke Li, Tom Waits, Kanye West, Santigold, Lovefoxxx, Sizzla, Amanda Black, Chuck D and assorted members of the Wu Tang Clan, Jurassic 5, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Red Hot Chili Peppers would be unlistenable. A fabulous list to be sure, but big names alone don't always make for great albums. All credit, then, to American DJ and producer Squeak E Clean and Brazilian DJ Zegon for spending six years marshalling this cast for an album of feel-good, block-rocking tunes. Squeak E Clean is the man with the contacts (Spike Jonze's bro has already made his bones as a remixer and producer), but the real juice comes when the stars skip in and out of each other's lines. Chuck D and David Byrne are marvellous on Money, while Spacious Thoughts(where Tom Waits and Kool Keith go head to head) is a study in the art of the weird.

JIM CARROLL

www.myspace.com/ northamericasouthamerica

Download tracks: Money, The People Tree, Spacious Thoughts