After making one of favorite albums "Access All Areas" this much anticipated release "UNDISPUTED" was going to be a hard act to follow. What will be interesting to see is whether the recent signing of Sahara to the UntouchablesUk label would help improve on the already successful and unmistakable Sahara style or detract from it.

If you haven't guessed it from the title, or from my tenuous link with the boxing terminology that the title of the album is loosely based around the boxing idea of undisputed champion etc and the intro is very much on the same lines, with a boxing announcer style thing going on, with the necessary music to match, not bad.

The album explodes into life with almost nuclear force with a track that has the potential to be just as much of an anthem as Soniye Ni Soniye. "Lal Ghagra" has all the components to be a dance-floor sensation. The untouchables influence is evident with the high-quality bass in tandem with some tabla to take us into the chorus, this is what you call fusion, the likes we have not seen for a long time. Herbie's singing is full of life and energy as always and as for the lyrics; you can almost instantly start singing along to the chorus. The lyrics also have that uplifting quality which just makes you want to get up and shake it.

Firstly let me astound you with the vast, all encompassing and almost encyclopedic knowledge of music I hold in the cerebellum of mine. The intro to this track, as all you hip-hop loving ppl, especially you southerners (we know how much you like your hip-hop) will recognize as being taken from an old N.W.A track called "Chin Check", the 'inspiration' for the Mc portion sounds similar to a Dr Dre track called 'Bang Bang'. The track is called 'Dhoka' which means betrayal, so the lyrics follow that vibe. The music is ok, with a crisp punchy bass, again keeping it real with the desi instruments.

The music used in 'Nahi Labna' is a flashback to a real oldie. Its instantly makes me smile, cos I hear this all the time as it's the polyphonic ringtone on my mates phone! (You know who you are). The music in question is 'Push It' by salt and pepper, not exactly the same but modified or as they say, 'with a desi twist'. While reading this there are more than a few of thinking, what the?! But its not jus another crappy sampled track, this one actually works. The fact that they are not hiding it and do reference to the original is good. The lyrics are very similar to that of an old bhangra track, the difference being this is sung from the point of view of a female, that track was called 'Tere Vargi'. I liked that track and the same goes for this one, the type I like to listen on the drive to Uni in the morning, to get me in a good mood for the day ahead.

Up next is collaboration with a singer from a Qawali group that has been doing the rounds at the Mela's, Sohail Salamat of Bakshi Jawaid Salamat. It's a slow love song called "Mahia" it does have that Qawali feel to it, not only because of the singing but also with the music, which is very minimalist, allowing all the attention to be on the lyrics which are powerful and emotive. It's a bold move to use Qawali in a track, something that isn't really used with great frequency. It does however show that the group is willing to try something new and not afraid to try something which they know may not be received that well by the public.

London Sara is distinctly a Sahara style song, a very nice, simple song, which is thoroughly worthy of a listen to. The music correctly isn't trying to do too much and sticks to the basics with a subtle bass and a strong dhol accompaniment. The lyrics do the job, but inexplicably, Mr. Herbie decides to do shout outs to various countries at the end, which is unusual but fair enough. What gets me is why he needs to say them all in a freshy style? So Canada becomes kan-ay-da etc. Listening to it without it bringing a smile to your is almost impossible. Maybe it's to make the Indian market feel more comfortable; apart from that minor indiscretion it's a very good track nonetheless.

Dushmani seems like a track that means business as it gives off a sinister vibe. The music, which incidentally is from Beyonce's track, Naughty Girl, has been adapted well to match the track, as it does not stand out blatantly. With an appearance from the very impressive E=MC, who's lyrics only add to the whole serious mood of the track.

This is another track in the style of proper Punjabi tracks that Sahara has done before. 'Rab Ne' has a nice mix of dhol along with bass (I might as well mention rhythm, I know your all thinking it). The lyrics are in the style of the classics that everyone is familiar with, so playing this in the house wont cause too many objections! Herbie's voice is so well suited to these types of songs and so does pull it off very well, in fact once you have heard him a song like this, if any other singer were to sing the same song, it wouldn't sound half as good. The type of track that would sound amazing if performed live cos of the extensive use of dhol, so watch out for it!

'Aja Nach Ke' following in the same vein as the previous track. The type of song that would persuade your older aunty to stop stealing chicken roast from the wedding meal menu into her purse and get onto the dance-floor. A real desi-style party starter.

We take a break from the classic formula to something with a hint of the modern. "Dil Mangdi' has such a smooth and melodic musical composition, that it you just have a immediate rapport for it. Accompanied by catchy lyrics it definitely gets a tick in my book despite having appeared before, sung by Sahara, on a little known album called Ruff Kutz.

Next up is a very emotional track, 'Teri Yaad' talks of someone thinking of their mum who is back at home. The music is similar to that you would find in a bollywood song with the equivalent sadness. May be especially poignant for those who are leaving home to go university, this is certain to make you feel a bit homesick. Aaj kal we have come accustomed to tunes barely lasting 3 minutes so in comparison this one is a desi marathon; lasting an eternal 8 minutes with the story behind it keeping you interested all the way.

Hidden and seemingly relegated to the end is this absolutely fantastic track. Hold up, all you boys (and girls) warming up your amps, you can save yourself the trouble. This is a love song in the purest form, which is appropriately entitled 'Pyar.' The real test of a love song is the effect it has upon you, sat alone in my room, this certainly is making me think. Don't know what's wrong me these days, I'm liking a lot of these reflective songs (NO, I haven't got a girlfriend and subsequently gone soppy if that's what your thinking, I'm way too busy for that sort of thing) its probably just phase. But if that type of track is to your taste and unlike many you can actually understand the lyrics and their connotations you will be hard pushed to find anything better in a bhangra album.

Sahara have done it again, they have managed to 'keep it real' to their original sound but just have given themselves just enough of an upgrade to still be viable in the market today, no doubt the untouchables link-up has help facilitate that. Fans of Access All Areas will be more than happy with this new album and it is without question that on the basis of this album there will many new followers of their work. If you look beyond the odd sample you can see clearly they have worked hard to produce an album that has more of a modern touch then anything they have done previously, but without doubt it maintains its strong Punjabi characteristics, which is the trademark of the group. So if your desi and you know it, and you really want to show it, buy this now. It gets a well-deserved 8 out of 10.