Jai Uttal is one of the foremost innovators of Western-based Indian music. MONDO RAMA, his debut album on Narada, is an accessible mix of contemporary spiritual music - flooded with influences that range from rock and reggae to a contemporary jazz. Uttal's ecstatic chant-style lyrics give even pop-oriented fare like "Mood X" and "Exile" an uplifting, sacred feel. The instrumentation, provided by the Pagan Love Orchestra, is predominately Western, but is performed in a way that makes for an almost Eastern sound. The result is a seamless cultural blend that's easy to enjoy.