BAKA BEYOND

East to West Narada World, $16.98 .

The proliferation of Afro-Celt groups is a rewarding byproduct of the evolution (or is that revolution?) of world music. On its latest album, Baka Beyond is more Celt than Afro, but the group proves anew that distant cultures can combine to produce sounds that are gorgeous and uplifting.

"East to West" makes only the slightest use of the Baka people of southeastern Cameroon, who inspired the group's title. Instead, it's the Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita and the Ghanese instrumentalist Nii Tagoe who provide most of the indelible music from Africa that's on this album. The first song, "Awaya Baka," begins (for 14 seconds) with a pure chorus of Baka chants but quickly settles into a (nice) synthesis of give-and-take vocals featuring Keita, Tagoe and United Kingdom singer Su Hart, one of the Baka Beyond's founders. Irish whistle, violin, kora, mandolin and other instruments give the tune a full flavor that starts the whole CD on its way.

The Baka people (whom travelers and some journalists sometimes call "Pygmies" -- a label they reject) are also featured on the song "Wandering Spirit," but the album's seven other songs are devoid of their drumming and voices. That's OK because Baka Beyond, which is based in the United Kingdom, already has such a lively, dense (and often danceable) style that could be classified as Solas meets Baaba Maal's backup band. On "East to West," it's a satisfying mix.

-- Jonathan Curiel