Asian artist Sawhney has always dealt in musical fusions, and Prophesy, his fifth album, is his most ambitious yet. It became a worldwide odyssey, recording the words and beats of everyone from Nelson Mandela to a Chicago cab driver. He went to Madras to mix a 93-piece string section with Natacha Atlas' soaring vocals, did jam sessions in Soweto and rap-metal in LA, sampled Aboriginal dreamtime in Australia and came home to record the sumptuous harmonies of the London Community Gospel Choir. Despite the varied influences, this is not a global mish-mash--moving from the widescreen context of Sunset to the bitter trip-hop of Cold and Intimate, Sawhney has carved out a very personal, haunting and unified collection. --Lucy O'Brien