Nasa: The Spirit of Apollo

The most impressive thing about this hip-hop collaboration between a North American producer and a South American DJ (hence Nasa) is the guest list. Shepherding Chuck D, MIA, David Byrne and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard on to one album is no mean feat. (It helps that Sam Spiegel, the Na component, is the brother of well-connected director Spike Jonze.) It's surreal fun to hear Tom Waits alongside rap eccentric Kool Keith, and Gifted, which unites Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li, is bleepily brilliant. For such an ambitious project, however, it's a pity more musical risks weren't taken. The production is never anything less than solid, but rarely more.