Realize may be Karsh Kale's first full-length solo release, but the percussionist/songwriter has already established himself as one of the leaders of the Asian Massive movement. Karsh Kale (pronounced Kursh Kah-lay) cut his teeth playing tabla and electronic percussion and has since collaborated with America's renegade super-producer Bill Laswell on Tabla Beat Science which assured Kale's place in the burgeoning world dance scene. He leads one of New York's coolest ensembles, and his monthly spins at Paisley and Joe's Pub are some of the hottest tickets on the New York scene.

Kale, who was born of Indian parents and grew up in the US, has long played Indian classical music on the tabla, the paired hand drums of northern India. On Realize, he comes up with an irresistible fusion of both East and West. "I don't think of them as two different worlds anymore," he explains. "This record expresses how they've become one world for me." With his trademark electronic tabla sound propelling the songs along, Kale weaves strands of Indian ragas through one of the most distinctive albums of electronica to come along since the legendary Anokha collection launched the career of his longtime colleague Talvin Singh and the Asian Underground.

With Realize, Karsh Kale is ready to jump-start the Asian Massive movement. It's a sound that goes well beyond the confines of London's South Asian Underground. "These musicians are in India, Japan, all over the States," Kale says; "it's a category of artists that represents a whole world." Realize shows that the music can be massive and still fly.