Although this is the fourth installment of Water Music's Tantra Lounge compilations series, you're likely to see the following repeated when I talk about every one of them; When it comes to far or near Eastern downtempo there are few other compilations that rise to the level of class and quality that Water Music's Tantra Lounge series rises to. This is Indian and Middle Eastern music inspired by the Desi attitude, as much Eastern as Western, enamored with the modern but clearly in love with its ancestral roots.

1. Akim El Sikameya "Aini"
2. Adham Shaikh "Ohm (transfix mix)"
3. Naked Rhythm "Sundinaya"
4. Niyaz "Allahi Allah (Carmen Rizzo remix)"
5. Zohar "Raga (feat. Riffat Salamat)"
6. Roger Abboud "Beirut Chillout"
7. Thievery Corporation "Shiva (Govinda remix)"
8. Mr. Cubanix "Tantric Moments"
9. Mosavo "Mystic Caravan"
10. Edson X "Flight 828"
11. Angel Tears "Mystic Desire"
12. Natacha Atlas "Leysh Nat' Arak (TJ Rehmi remix)"
13. Petrol Bomb Samosa "The Baghdad Groove"
14. Bombay Dub Orchestra "Beauty and the East"

To make comparisons, we'll consider one of the top players in the downtempo compilation market, Buddha Bar. While the Buddha Bar series have built their brand on the Buddha image, the music chosen for their numerous double-disc compilations covers a range of cultural influences far beyond those of India and the Middle East. When Buddha Bar does delve into Eastern sounds they often take a more "spiritual" path, choosing songs that step closer to the border of New Age music than downtempo. Instead of solid percussion, the focus is placed on sweeping synths. Clearly, this approach has been successful, but for those who are looking to deepen their exposure to Eastern rhythms and melodies in a more focused environment, Buddha Bar is far from the only choice, and when held up against the Tantra Lounge series, aren't the best either.

This issue starts off with a fair bit of tranquility with tracks by Akim El Sikameya and Adam Shaikh. Once you're mind has been properly toned for the sound, Naked Rhythm comes on with some smooth, hip hop beats and soft male vocals. The song is titled "Sundinaya". One of Six Degrees' best discoveries, Niyaz, comes next and at this point, the Western beats take lead in a remix by Niyaz co-founder Carmen Rizzo. The vocalist is Persian-blend Azam Ali, who you may also know from her solo work and the band Vaz. This is an incredible mix of "Allahi Allah" that really pushes it into the club space.

After such a strongly percussive song you can pretty much expect things will step back a bit and cool off. So that's exactly what you get with Zohar's "Raga" featuring Riffat Salamat. Though it carries a strong, mellow breakbeat, the emphasis is on the vocal work.

After that, things flip back around with the beautifully percussive "Beirut Chillout" by Roger Abboud, which is followed a remix of Thievery Corporation's "Shiva" remixed by Govinda. Govinda and Niyaz share a lot in common so it's not surprising to find them both in this collection.

The Eastern percussive wonders don't cease with tracks from Mr. Cubanix, Mosavo, Edson X, and Angel Tears, whose moods alternate from serpentine tantric, to Indian revisioned of the Eyes Wide Shut soundtrack.

The TJ Rehmi remix of Natacha Atlas' "Leysh Nat' Arak" is the only one to move into Eastern jungle territory. It's nice to see Petrol Bomb Samosa get a track in here. I discovered their sound a long time ago, but so much time passed without hearing more that I thought that was going to be it. They present "The Baghdad Groove" here and it delivers both the Baghdad and the groove for sure. Bombay Dub Orchestra close out Tantra Lounge Volume 4 with sitar-laden epic of "Beauty and the East".

Although there were two or three songs on here I'll be living without, if I had to give it a star rating, Tantra Lounge Volume 4 gets a solid 4.5 out of 5 from me.

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