"The Queen of British Soul Music"

This week's Gilles Peterson Radio 1 show is up now and features live tracks from Alice Russell taken from the video above at the Maida Vale sessions. You can listen to the full show here.





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Watcha Clan - Diaspora Remixed

Free Download - Watcha Clan - Goumari (EarthRise SoundSystem remix) - From Diaspora Remixed on Piranha Records

Listen/Buy from Amazon or iTunes

The French city of Marseille is a melting pot of cultures, a gateway French port-city that was founded by Greece over 2500 years ago. Marseille is also home to Watcha Clan and their sound is a 21st Century reflection of their backgrounds, their musical interests and their time. Mixing traditional Berber music with contemporary Dub, Hip-Hop and Electronic productions Watcha brings heat to dancefloors and headphones alike. The free download on the blog today is off of their brand new album, Diaspora Remixed, if you like the free track you will love the rest of the album which features heavy remixes from some of Europes finest, including Dunkelbunt, DJ Click and Transglobal Underground. If you are in the U.S. Watcha Clan have performances in SF and LA this week and more extensive dates at the end of the summer!


Watcha Clan are a French band that fuses together influences as
diverse as its members’ heritages. Drawing on North African, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, French, and modern electronic musical styles for inspiration, the Clan claim a nomadic ethic, calling no single style “home.” Since their inception at the turn of the century, Watcha Clan’s touring schedule and lifestyle have been as nomadic as their philosophy. Their compositions feature Hebrew, Arabic, French, English, and Spanish lyrics, drawing in listeners from all sides of the Mediterranean.

post by Señor Oz

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OMFO: The Sorcerer

Free Download - OMFO - "The Sorcerer" (click on downward arrow next to wave form to download)


Music doesn't always have to be so serious. It's rare in the "Global Grooves" scene to find the sense of fun and whimsy that pervades the catalog of the artist who calls himself OMFO. Originally from the port city of Odessa in the former USSR, the man who was born German Popov has just released a new album on the fine Essay Recordings label, (home to such other great artists as Shantel and Senor Coconut.). While I have enjoyed OMFO's prior releases, this new one, Omnipresence kicks things to the next level with a really fresh mix of middle eastern influences, electro beats, dubby goodness and yes, a great sense of humor that in no way takes away from the power of the grooves.

Thanks to our buddy Jean Trouillet at Essay Recordings for allowing us to share this track with you today



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Evan Bluetech - Free Call Of The Wild EP

Free Download - Evan Bluetech - Call Of The Wild EP

I recently had the pleasure to meet one of my favorite electronica artists Evan Bartholomew aka Bluetech in his last swing through San Francisco. Evan has been putting out a variety of gorgeous releases of many different styles under a variety of names (Evan Mark, Evan Bartholomew & Bluetech). Although the approach on the records may vary, what remains constant is Evan's impeccable production skills as well as his singular approach to sound and arrangement. He has recently posted a free EP on his site at http://www.bluetechonline.com which is well worth you checking out. He describes his motivation for this release by saying

"In my increasing frustration with the broken mechanics of the music industry, I've been constantly thinking about why I actually make music. Since I'm barely able to survive doing this, and no matter what I do people will pirate my releases within a few hours of release, I've thought about what I would do instead. I keep feeling this tug from the natural world to bring myself into alignment with a more organic approach to life, to finding myself in a flow of clear water."

Do your self a favor and after you get the freebie, move on to further explore the many gems in this fascinating composer's catalog.




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Céu - Free Download - 'Bubuia' from Vagarosa

Free Download - Céu- Bubuia (from Vagarosa - July 7th release date)

Pre-sale at Amazon
and at The Six Degrees Shop

Second albums are notoriously challenging affairs. Especially in the case of someone like Céu, whose debut was both commercially and critically successful. Expectations regarding a sequel are inevitable, as are pressures on the artist to come up with a suitable follow up affair. When we first starting receiving music from Céu's Vagarosa sessions, it was as if none of these issues existed at all. As the world can now hear, Céu and her able collaborators Beto Villares, Gustavo Lenza and Gui Amabis have crafted a sophomore release that builds on all of the promise of its predecessor and travels confidently into new sonic realms. To my ears, Vagarosa is the work of an artist who transcends the boundaries of categories like "world" or "Brazilian" and who is now simply "world class". I truly believe that if Portuguese was not the dominant language on Vagarosa, we would be comparing it to works by artists like Bjork & Tom Waits, without any pre-conceived "global music" prejudices.

Enjoy this free taster from an album which is sure to become one of the essential soundtracks to the summer of '09.









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Weather Pending - And How!

Free Download - Weather Pending - "Tide" from And How!


Buy/Listen on iTunes - Amazon


Weather Pending is a San Francisco based band whose debut And How! has just been released. Vocalist Janie Oliver's (Six Degrees staff represent!) lush vocals give the breezy jazz and downtempo songs a depth and emotion that resonates and draw listeners in.
If you are in the Bay Area the band will be having a cd release party at Mojito on Sunday July 5th!
Be on the lookout for remixes of the album coming soon, featuring some really exciting producers mixing up the WP sound.
Check out the bands website for more info.
Dig the video below directed by Roger Landon Hall and featuring the SF Critical Mass bike ride!



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Vieux on Tour: Spin Bonnaroo Review & Tour Photos/Reviews

photo: Ankur Malhotra more Madison photos here

So far this has been an epic summer for Vieux Farka Touré, touring in support of his new album Fondo. Check out the recent NY Times review of his show at Highline with Blk Jks, and this amazing bit from Spin's Coverage, giving Vieux a "Best of Bonnaroo" for

"Best Unexpected Guitar Heroics: Vieux Farka Touré"
I'd heard of the young Malian singer-guitarist Vieux Farka Toure before seeing him play at Friday's African music-heavy Other stage (he's the son of well-known musician Ali Farka Toure), but I had no idea of the things he could do with an electric guitar. Whether spitting ringing clusters of notes, spilling forth with long, snaking phrases, or banging out metallic open chords, Toure, rocking a pair of black leather pants, played with a master's sense of pacing and flow and a showman's knack for knowing exactly when his Arabic-influenced songs needed a guitar goosing in order to ascend to the next level of badassitude -- and beyond --

Don't forget, Six Degrees and Jambase still have tickets to giveaway for all of Vieux's remaining shows on his current tour.
Click here for more info.


Vieux and band with famed banjo player Béla Fleck and Toumani Diabate.(photo Jon Kertzer)

more photos after the break



Tourmani Diabate and Vieux (photo Jon Kertzer)


Ashely Hollan (contest winner) and Vieux Farka Touré

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