Various Artists

On this compilation of international hits, mixmaster Steven Last uses a hip-hop pulse as his anchor. Last seems fully aware that the music born on the streets of Philly and the South Bronx already has influenced the entire world and remains a key to bringing that world together.

Last’s most extreme juxtapositions are his best. “Like an Angel,” a simultaneously startling and soothing suite, places Khadja Nin’s gorgeous Eastern-folksinger voice over acoustic guitar, bongos and bright keyboard counterpoints. The tension builds to a fast midsection of funky keyboard jamming, and when the music scales back to the original acoustics, a chorus starts chanting along with Nin. On another track, Zohov extends her operatic alto over funky bass lines, strings, chimes and guitar sounds to exhilarating effect. Again, Last proves his point — the greater the distances that separate us seem, the more rewarding the sounds when the walls come down.