Los Angeles' KRCW station releases its fourth collection of rare live cuts culled from its "Morning Becomes Eclectic" program. This latest "Rare On Air," like its predecessors, lends an intimate feel both to alternative favorites and underground talents.

Despite being the only hip-hop track, Ozomatli's "Cut Chemist Suite" is an inspired opener, full of warm energy and a fluid, impromptu sensibility that sets the tone for the album.

There are plenty of vocal-and-guitar moments, from Radiohead's shimmering "Subterranean Homesick Alien" to Tim and Neil Finn's "Only Talking Sense." In the latter, it's a treat to hear the Finns singing together again now that Neil has gone solo.

Among the scarce upbeat tracks here are Soul Coughing's stuttering "Disseminated" and Cafe Tacuba's ska-meets-mariachi "El Fin de la Infancia." Tacuba's spunky horns and all-Spanish rapid-fire lyrics are a wonderful break at the center of this mostly low-key collection.

The album's flow is impeccable, never boring the listener. Sarah McLachlan's "Good Enough" is lackluster on its own, but sandwiched between Jeff Buckley's blistering "So Real" and Tom Waits' elegiac "The Fall of Troy," it seems perfectly placed.

"Rare on Air Volume Four" will please fans of any artist on the disc -- and is just eclectic enough to turn listeners on to something new.
-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in BAM.