National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Croatian rocker Darko Rundek is a veteran of the '80s Yugo-rock scene and the former lead singer of popular Zagreb-based band Haustor. Back in the day, Haustor was known as a progressive rock band willing to take chances, adding a brass section to the usual drums-and-guitars lineup and flirting with reggae, African, South American and Croatian folk influences.

After the fall of communism in the former Yugoslavia, Rundek decamped to Paris, where he indulged his theatrical side and scored many live works for theater. But he soon returned to recording ever more eclectic fusions, releasing two solo albums in the late '90s. In 2002 he formed his current outfit, the Paris-based Cargo Orkestar, who continue to explore Rundek's multicultural musical vision. So far the Orkestar's two albums have incorporated everything from Slavic polyphony and theatrical progressive rock to lurching sea chanteys and mutated African blues.

Not surprisingly, Rundek offered NGWM an extremely eclectic list of world music favorites, from the Colombian club sounds of sidestepper to the Slavic stomp of the Nightlosers.

Click Here To Launch Darko Rundek's Picks

Sidestepper: "Deja"

"This is an interesting and joyful crossover of Latin and hip-hop influences, with a lot of humour and creativity, and a sense of dynamic and sophisticated sound production.

One Giant Leap: "My Culture"

An interesting attempt to marry rural traditions and modern urban music. The whole album is eclectic in its range of styles and invites a wide range of collaborators gathered from many exotic countries the producers travelled through along the way.

Rez Abbasi: "Snake Charmer"

A very spirited meeting between jazz and traditional Indian music that could only happen thanks to the personal—and practical—musician's experience of both worlds.

Souad Massi: "Yemma"

This is very noble folk-pop, with tasteful and freshly colored arrangements, vivid musician's personalities and a surprising marriage of North African and Californian sounds.

Seu Jorge: "Sao Gonca"

Seu Jorge is an amazing personality, a critical and uncompromising spirit, rich in ideas, reduced in forms. His entire album is well balanced and seductive.

DJ Dolores: "Azougue"
This is an example of mixing acoustic and electronic music with a lot of taste, humor and balance.

Various Artists: Origins of Guitar Music: "Colette"

I can hear so much here: the presence of humor, soul, invention, and simplicity. This music is simple and direct, and the traditional becomes modern and timeless.

Nightlosers: "Dragostea-i ca si o raie"

This is an example of the joy, humor and irony of putting together American blues and Balkan wildness.

Walter Ferguson: "Callaloo"

This documents the spirit of a passing calypso generation, living out its old age so beautifully and naturally. It is pleasure to spend some time with this old gentleman.

Sandra Luna: "Tango Varon"

There's passion and beauty married in this specific kind of tango. One can smell the night air of Buenos Aires.