Album: Various artists, London's Calling (Proper/Culture Clash)

What's great in theory doesn't always work in practice.

But in this instance, getting a bunch of London-based multicultural musicians to cover old and new London-themed songs has resulted in a varied yet cohesive album full of pleasant surprises. From a woozily psychedelic Indian take of "Itchycoo Park" to a spirited and sexy Moroccan/Sephardic version of Costello's "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" this is a great sonic portrait of today's capital.