The moniker and record title are deceiving: the stress on colour and ethnicity could easily lead one to lump them in with shouty political groupings like Asian Dub Foundation or Fun-Da-Mental.
If Asian agit-pop is what you are seeking, however, look elsewhere. Indeed, Black Star Liner's music is steeped in Eastern influences, what with the lush Indian instrumentation and Choque Hosein's toasting style. What the band isn't, however, is a vehicle for direct sloganeering - an art honed to perfection by Hosein's peers.
This record is both a celebration and dissection of Indian cultural values in a British setting; sitars and tablas, riffs and bleeps are all vital to Black Star Liner's sound.
The band's cross-cultural make-up explains the multitude of influences. Even Hosein, who hails from Leeds, was born Jonathan and used to play in punk and ska bands. Pink Rupee is a tribute to Bollywood soundtracks, and a pioneering ode about the Asian gay community.
The electro-driven Gurdeep's Yellow Funk is more Kraftwerk than Kashmiri. When it does tread on Asian territory, the sound is authentic and convincing - something you can't say about the likes of Kula Shaker.