LA TERRA

Aktuala's second album is one I find a bit more compelling than their rather unfocused debut. Props have to be given to new member Trilok Gurtu, who had joined the band after a couple of members did some side-project work with him and invited him in. His mastery of a diverse range of percussion instruments adds flavour to the band's meandering world music explorations, which seem to display a better understanding of the musical forms they visited on the previous album. On the whole, the album seems less superficial than the debut, and as such I think it might be worth a listen for those especially interested in "world music", but I still wouldn't make it a high priority.