*** VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Silencio = Muerte / Red Hot + Latin,” Red Hot/H.O.L.A.

The 10th edition of the AIDS benefit Red Hot series (this one targeting the disease in Spanish-language communities) is a formless, eclectic mix that jumps from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Fishbone’s irresistibly chaotic ska version of Burt Bacharach’s “What’s New Pussycat?” to Cibo Matto’s memorable rendition--in perfect Portuguese--of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Aguas de Marco.”

This set of mostly original songs follows no conceptual line whatsoever. You start with Los Lobos and Money Mark and finish with Sepultura, and in between you get to hear Melissa Etheridge’s, er, interesting Spanish version of her “Nowhere to Go” and a Ruben Blades slow salsa that’s way below his standards.

But ultimately this aimlessness doesn’t matter, because the artists come up with mostly good songs, and the 18-track album is pretty much controlled by rockers--assuring plenty of edge. And the pairings of Cafe Tacuba and David Byrne, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Fishbone, and Aterciopelados and Diego Frenkel alone are worth the price. Support the cause and hear some matches made in heaven.

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* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https:/ /www.latimes.com/soundclips