You know, I could say I have swami-esque characteristics myself. In the Asian music industry, probably 8 times out of 10, you SHOULD judge an album by its cover. Why? You may ask. Well for me, if a desi album has an eye-catching cover, it means two things. Firstly, that the record company have invested money in their project in every department, and secondly, they would only have a great looking cover if the album was great, and usually the front cover is a good sign as to how the album will be, and what kind of feel it will give. Of course this isn't always the case, the debut album by MC's Metz and Trix was absolutely brilliant, but the cover wasn't too clever, the same could be said for the Punjabi Hit Squad's last album. Then again a top front cover doesn't always mean quality product, Audiorec always spend time on their on their artistes album covers (I'm talking about the Love2Love series), but as their talent is signed up by bigger labels, and as the Love2Love series nears double figures, their latest offerings have been, quite frankly crap, and have undone the great work of the innovative 2Kool and VR1.

Anyway one guy who has come to prominence over the years is top producer DJ Swami, if his album sales were just dependant on talent, and the classy album covers; he'd be mega rich (then again I bet he ain't doing too bad either, cos this guy is class). When I saw his album cover I knew it would be worth the money I paid for it, I had actually heard a snip-it of it on America's Most Wanted by Sanj, and I was already impressed.

We kick off with "Eh Yo" (Jann Jhoga) featuring MC Sarpanch. Most of you would already have heard this track on Zee Music, and though the video is a huge let down, the track itself isn't. The MC'ing could be better but I will talk about that in a bit. Viewers on Zee are actually not being treated to the full song, and therefore lose a good minute or two, and this could affect your appreciation of the track. This song has some top Punjabi lyrics with the badass tumbi sounds, which Swami jee has blended with such class to a wicked UK garage beat. The MC'ing is ok, however MC Sarpanch's brummy accent makes it sound a bit fresh, which undermines some good rhyme, but all in all a really good tune.

When I saw the next track was Naina, I thought "Bloody hell, not another Naina cover, (The senator has definitely started a trend here). I actually looked forward to DJ Swami's version cos he could make Riksha sound good. Jokes aside I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's a completely different track, which happens to share the same name as the legendry track. I doubt if this song will rise to such legendry status, but it certainly isn't a let down. Again MC Sarpanch features heavily, but this time he shows a lot of promise, if only he could lose that touch of freshyness! Sarpanch has actually come out with his own lyrics this time, so no use of "danger" or "flava" so Metz and Trix will be pleased. Again the tumbi has been fused with an old skool garage beat quite well, giving us the sound so typical of DJ Swami. It's slightly faster paced and a good tune to rave to.

Next up is a track called Eh Sonieh. Again it's a fast paced tune with tumbi ever present, though it is pretty similar to the first two tracks, it is given some zest with some thumping base. The singing can get annoying if you have the tune playing constantly, and is better appreciated when you hear it once in a while, but still a pretty good track.

Onto numero quatre, which is Sun Yaar Veh, sung by Mr Kuldip Manak, who really gives this track a chilling feel to it. Unfortunately the garage beat is similar to the last three tracks, hopefully this will be addressed on the rest of the album. Oh did I mention the tumbi? This time it really smashes it after sounding ordinary in the last track, I was thinking where the DJ could stick it, but the innovation with the Tumbi is class.

This is followed by the tune Kush Khabree, and the good news is MC Sarpanch is back again. I have to say for all my whinging, Sarpanch actually smashes it in this track with real original rhyme and no freshness-hooray! Just as I thought maybe we should get rid of the tumbi, it is back as usual but it certainly isn't out of place. This time Swami sahib has fused it with a mainstream UK garage tune (which for the life of me I can't remember the name cos its used so subtlety, just as you think you know what tune it is the tumbi and bass take over). A top club smash I think in the making, but will it get the right video exposure? Let's hope so.

Onto 'Haar' which has sung by Kuldip Manak. At this point I think the album should have been called pure tumbi. It's got a slightly less garage feel, but loads of bass for those who like to test their base boxes on Southall Broadway. For me Manak's crooning isn't really for me in this Boliyan style track, this tune reminds me a bit of some of the So Solid Crew's mixing, but I think it's time to press the skip button.

Track 7 is Shear, with MC Sarpanch "inside the area" as he likes to say. Again he has done a good job, he sounds a bit like neutrino this time (is this guy an impressionist or something?). Sabar Koti gives the track a smooth feeling to a different garage beat; yes I did say different garage beat. It's an ok track to chill to I guess, but nothing special.

I was hoping the final track namely Nach Babiyah would totally smash it, but unfortunately doesn't really live up to the billing as finally the tumbi gets to you, and you wish you could shine it up real nice, turn it sideways, and anyway, the singer is unknown so I can't slate him, it's probably for his own good cos I feel like shooting him cos he can't sing. The only thing that saves the song from total dissing is the garage beat fused with tumbi, repetitive, but effective.

All in all, it's a very innovative album, just as we have come to expect from DJ Swami. Eh Yo, Naina, and Kush Khabree are top tracks, however Swami seems slightly one dimensional in the garage department, and that's not good news for a garage. There is also a bit too much tumbi, and you could get sick of it sitting in a traffic jam. MC Sarpanch has the talent but needs to work really hard on getting his sound right as well as some of his less innovative lyrics. On the positive note though, I would definitely recommend this album as finally we have a break form the normal Bhangra mixes of late, and this is a very well produced album, 7.5/10 in the end, DJ Swami innovates with style and is very close to the standard RDB have set of late. Who said never judge a book by its cover, the swami has spoken, go and buy.