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Damn!Ìý What an embarrassment of riches.Ìý You wait ages and nothing happens, then four come along at once...

Tigerstyle have been a powerhouse of remixes, one-off tracks, and other people's albums since they released 'Virsa' six (yes six!) years ago - but it's only by releasing an original album will they have a shot at cementing their place in UK Bhangra history.Ìý On the show they played three tracks including 'Asian Woman' (a frenzied slice of Punjabi drum and bass with UK Apache bringing the darkness), and theÌýLembherÌýtrack 'Jatt Mele Chaliya'Ìý (keeping all hardcore Bhangra fans happy) - But it's the rest of the album that's got me excited.Ìý Its as desi as desi can get whilst still keeping the leftfield and underground fans happy.Ìý They've managed to do somethingÌýI thought wasn't possible - make a Bhangra-Asian-Underground-Leftfield-Asian-Electronic album that'll keep everyone nodding their heads.

Tuesday came and so did Asian Dub Foundation.Ìý They nearly didn't in fact.Ìý We spent weeks trying to get them into the studio as they embarked on one of their biggest tours ever for their new album 'Punkara'.Ìý With constant gigs every week between now and February, Steve Chandrasonic explained how he felt that this album was their strongest since Community Music (agreed!), and how they had changed the way they recorded it.Ìý The past was about sitting in the studio piecing their ideas together, whereas Punkara came about through extended jam sessions.Ìý A listen to the album shows that however they did it - they have managed to move their sound in a different direction.Ìý And that's a good thing is it not?

Nitin came into Radio 1 later that night for my show with Nihal, to talk about 'LondonUndersound', his new album, and showed us what an intelligent individual he is - as well as a thoroughly decent chap.Ìý The album makes good use of my favorite vocal talent in the world right now, Reena Bharadwaj - and even has Sir Paul McCartney on it!Ìý Nitin may not like it but he's part of the musical establishment now, and surprisingly his album sounds even better for it.

Which brings us to the wildcard.Ìý Mr Panjabi MC.Ìý He has a lot invested physically and emotionally in his new album 'Indian Timing' - he owns the label it's getting released on, and it's advertised as his first 'proper' album since the heady days of 2003 and 'that' tune.Ìý Will he keep the hardcore Desi fans happy?Ìý Will the album be a paradigm shift like 'Grassroots' was?Ìý And does he still matter?

Tune in to the Friction Show tonight to find out - or listen again via ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer x

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