From the first heavily produced notes of "Fault Lines" from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan"s collaboration with Michael Brook, Bliss dances lightly into a relaxing exercise in musical solitude. Several interesting and notable artists are included in this quilt of choice songs plucked from already-released albums. Among the more interesting of the synthed tunes are Sarmila Roy"s "Svetasvatara Upanisad," emitting an eerie, lovely color rooted in Indian classical music; the nocturnal and darkly soothing "Mekong" from Jam Nation; and Sheila Chandra"s "Excerpt from ABoneCroneDrone," featuring long, thick synth under her delicate, exotic voice. Holding up the slightly livelier tone of the album"s second half is Afro Celt Sound System"s "Inion," a melancholy yet punchy little number. With music from Southeast Asia, the Far East, Africa, and Europe, Bliss handsomely meshes the spiritual beyond with the here and now. --Karen Karleski