t looks like Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have pulled a fast one. If you go for this disc, merely based on the name of the group, you’ll be sorely disappointed. This is definitely not a new release of Thievery Corporation originals. But collecting a variety of tracks and throwing the weight of their tastes around is nothing new for the duo. The premise this time around is Garza and Hilton globe-hopping to acquire a balance of chilled-out dance songs. As such, the judgment of their creative output is a moot point. Instead we need to take a look at the quality of their selections.

In many ways, The Outernational Sound has everything a good party mix should have. Short bursts of groove-centric songs (with a particular emphasis on the groove), each two to four minute sampling stacked on top of each other along with the occasional oddity.

The record itself ends up in a delicious groove of sorts. From Thievery Corporation original “Lagos Communique” to Karminsky Experience’s “Shall We Dance” the tracks flow in a ceaseless shuffle of beats, bass, and horn stabs. In the midst of this are surprises that keep the party rolling. Check Breakestra’s rendition of “Cramp Your Style”. I dare you to listen to that baritone sax lick and not remember the Ed Lover Dance. And that’s not the only highly recognizable hook in the game. Alan Lorber Orchestra’s brief cover of Sgt. Pepper’s token George Harrison song, “Within You Without You” slips its way into the mix as does the ever-kitschy Asian string hook (most notably found in “Kung Fu Fighting”) in Alan Moorhouse’s “Expo in Tokyo”.

It’s the subtle contrasts between songs that keep The Outernational Sound fresh and fun, combining elements both familiar and truly foreign. The duo move between genres with such fluidity that the shifts in styles are hardly noticeable at all.

The aim of this compilation is a bit hard to gauge. In all likelihood, the goal of finding a unique blend of mid-tempo dance tracks has been accomplished. Missteps like the unnecessary and flat “Mathar (Discovery of India Mix)”, whose blend of sitar and standard rock structure does nothing for the album, keep this collection from reaching higher plateaus. Some of the most of infectious rhythms of the year take front stage here, though. Beatfanatic’s “Cookin’ (Version)” dusty breakbeats, trumpet and vocal hooks set the place ablaze. And moments like these, where you’re either shaking your hips or nodding your head, are the true mark of its strengths.