Thievery Corporation, 'Radio Retaliation'

Backstory: D.C. production/DJ duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton never quite fit into the electronic/dance world. Their beats and sounds verge closer to lounge, while their (very outward) politics leanings edge far left. On “Radio Retaliation,” the group goes international, collaborating with musicians from Nigeria, Brazil, India, Slovakia and more.
 
Why you should care: The revolution will be…mellow. On the non-instrumental tracks (“Vampires,” “(The Forgotten People)”), words of social injustice mix with sitars, bongos and hazy reggae beats. Sometimes, the influences are obvious: “The Numbers Game” could easily be a long-lost Isaac Hayes record from the early ‘70s, while the breathy “Beautiful Drug” is essentially Portishead. That said, the sheer variety of sounds here is impressive.
 
Verdict: Thievery’s juxtaposition of quiet, jazzy grooves and loud politics is stirring.

X-Factor: TC’s global sound has a great pedigree: among the featured guests are sitarist Anushka Shankar (daughter of Ravi) and Afro-beat legend Femi Kuti (son of Fela).

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