A EUROPEAN ANTHOLOGY

In this feature, The Times’ pop-music writers spotlight albums--old or new, obscure or mainstream--to which they have a special attachment. Album: “WOMAD Talking Book, Volume Three: An Introduction to Europe.”

History: WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, and England’s WOMAD Foundation describes itself as an “educational charity dedicated to promoting and introducing to a wide audience music from around the world.” Its ambitious Talking Book series takes up the task that was once so well performed by Folkways Records’ international and ethnic collections. Featuring 12 artists from several European countries, this volume follows the worldwide and African anthologies, all sharing a knack for quality and variety. WOMAD, which also sponsors concerts and other events, is opening up the ears of the world to its own musical treasures, many of which were in danger of being lost forever. Volumes on Asia and the Caribbean are in the works. Information: WOMAD, third floor, 85 Park St., Bristol, England BS1 5JN.

Sound: While the emphasis here is on folk music, the selections also include experimental jazz and pop. Despite the diversity, most of the artists have something in common--a great talent for expressing strong emotion in forms that are exotic and startling, yet immediately moving to more adventurous American listeners. Among the highlights are the sinuous voices of Bulgarian singer Nadka Karadjova and Turkish singer Selda, a rousing shanty from Ireland’s Pogues, stinging political folk from Scotland’s superb Dick Gaughan, the incredible Portuguese guitar playing of Pedro Caldeira Cabal, representative lavender haze from the English-Scottish trio Cocteau Twins, a lovely lament from Hungary’s Muzsikas and colorful flamenco from Spain’s El Nino de Almaden. Not quite as notable but still interesting are tracks by Mad Professor (British dub-reggae), Germany’s Stockhausen, Bruninghaus, Studer (avant-garde jazz), the Soviet Union’s A. Sidouchkina (simple traditional song) and Breton dance tunes from Ti Jaz. Much of the musicianship and invention on this well-recorded album put the “daring” of most Western pop stars to shame.