While this is hardly the first compilation to dwell on the ancient trade route called the Silk that ran from Europe to China and Japan, it's a topic big enough to accommodate more. In this case the loveliest pieces come from the Eastern edge of the world, with Liang Tsai-Ping's "Winter Crows Gliding on Frozen Water" being deliciously evocative in the Chinese manner, while Japan's Etsuko Chida offer an ethereal vocal on "Evening Beauty." The emphasis here is away from Europe and the Middle East (although Mounir Bachir's "The Mad Ud" is definitely worth a listen), and by taking the space of two discs, it's possible to paint a fuller picture of the musical cultures. The biggest shame, though, is the missed opportunity of presenting the pieces in geographic order, which might have offered a way to show how cultures influenced each other. Instead, we jump around from Pakistan to Japan to Kirghizstan to Greece. The music remains satisfying, but it could perhaps have been more. The booklet is informative, with good notes on each track. For all it's enjoyable and informative qualities, though, there's just a sense of slightly missed opportunity here.