I just reread this entire thread, and have a few things to add.
On the first page,
Deep Forest got a brief mention but was left at that. I LOVE this group. Well, I more love their first album (also called Deep Forest); I'm quite underwhelmed by all the rest of their work. This first album uses samples from pygmies and blends it with a techno beat. It's not been off my top five list from the day I was introduced to them by my girlfriend in september.
If you like Deep Forest,
Enigma and
Afro Celt Sound System should also not be missed.
Skipping from one ethnic fusion to another, there is no kirtan (a form of Indian chanting) like
Krishna Das'. Most of his albums have too modern beats for my liking with this style, but his album
Live on Earth... For a Limited Time Only is the most beautiful, accessible, and addicting Indian music I have ever heard.
So, as a basic rundown of what I've said:
Deep Forest -
Deep Forest
Enigma -
MCMXC A.D.
Afro Celt Sound System -
Volume 3: Further in Time,
Volume 5: Anatomic
Krishna Das -
Live on Earth...For a Limited Time Only