End of Year Listmania Part 4

The end of the year Listmania continues. Enjoy the two free tracks below that made the lists. Check out the full post to find out what music our friends The Pinker Tones, Derek Beres, Señor Oz and GlobeSonic Sound System were listening to this year.

FREE DOWNLOAD - Cheb i Sabbah - Qalanderi (Six Degrees Records)

FREE DOWNLOAD - Pimps of Joytime - San Francisco Bound (DJ OBaH remix) (Wonderwheel Records)

Best of '08

Compiled by the Pinker Tones,Barcelona based Electro-popsters.

Profesor Manso's choices:

Jamie Lidell - "JIM"
Best album of classic contemporary soul. In search of the perfect song...

Dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip - "Angles"
The discovery of the year! Masterfully unstructured beats featuring one of the best MC's of the moment.

Bon Iver - "For Emma, Forever Ago"
A beautiful heartbreaking story about love and misery. Intimate, warm and very personal.

Brazzaville - "21st Century Girl"
Our good friend David has released another great album. The fruit of an entire career creating his own suggestive universe.

Hellogoodbye - "Ukelele recordings" EP
Followinf the steps of Rosie Thomas or Damien Rice... Three delicious songs.

Mister Furia's choices:

Calle 13 - Los de atrás vienen conmigo
Probably the best live band of the whole latin alternative scene. Very imaginative production on this album.

TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Great album to get lost in. Fantastic songwriting and vocal arrangements. Something for Bowie and Beck lovers, who also have one or two Sonic Youth albums in their collection.

Dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip - "Angles"
A revelation, one of those great album that sound familiar and new at the same time.

Mexican Institute of Sound - Piñata
Its charming imperfection is simply unresistable.

The Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A
This album is actually from 2007, but I've discovered it this year. The best old school reggae band you can see live these days.

Top 10 Releases of '08

Compiled by Derek Beres- EarthRise Soundsystem, Author, DJ, Yoga Master.

Rootz Underground—Movement (Mystic Urchin)

Q-Tip—The Renaissance (Motown)

Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80—Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 (Disorient)

Al Green—Lay It Down (Blue Note)

Damon Aaron—Highlands (Ubiquity)

Les Primitifs du Futur—Tribal Musette (Sunny Side)

Bombay Dub Orchestra—3 Cities (Six Degrees)

El Hadj N’Diaye—Geej (Marabi France)

Seckou Keita—The Silimbo Passage (World Adventures)

Erykah Badu—New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War (Motown)



Top Twelve Records You Might Have Missed This Year (2008)

Señor Oz (Afrolicious, SF)

Ocote Soul Sounds - The Alchemist Manifesto (ESL Music)
Someone called this "mescalin music" , I don't know about that , but this collaboration between Adrian Quesada (Brownout) and Martin Perna (Antibalas) shifts takes elements of Afrobeat, Latin, downtempo and dub and turns it into pure gold!

Dunkelbunt - Cinnamon Girl (Chat Chapeau)
Balkan music influenced many electronic styles the last couple of years , but I hadn't heard anyone combine swing jazz, gypsy lines, dub and dancehall with deep beats until Dunkelbunt showed up in the record bin. Check the White Chocolate remix! Also check the Dunkelbunt spice mix!

Nappy G - Global Party System (Bagpack)
The veteran stickman comes correct, showing the world you can dance and be funky and still think about the world and how to Fight the Power! Check out the wicked remixes from Red Astaire, DJ Smash, Pleasuremaker and Kid Gusto!

Jeff Stott - Sono (Nickodemus remix) (Six Degrees Records)
Ouds and beats and East and West collide!

Curumin - Japanpopshow (Quannum)
Finally someone realizes you can have your classic Brazilian funk and your Baile funk all on the same record! A song for every mood, scenario and generation on this one!

Fania Remixed - I Like it Like That - (Fania)
This album got lots of spins at the Afrolicious party, very hard to name a favorite, but the Louie Vega remix of his uncle Hector Lavoe is pure magic and does everything a remix is supposed to do; bring modern production to a classic sound and make it relevant to a whole new generation of listeners and dancers.

Tony Allen - Lagos Shake (Honest Jons)
This remix project , which is a collection of 12" that were previously released separately, has a diverse line-up of artists re-fashioning the Afro-beat maestro's newer material. I loved this record because there is a style for everyone's taste. For the soul-jazz minded dig the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble's version of Sankofa.

Midnight Lab Band - Run Riot 12" (NYCTrust)
Beautiful 45rpm 12" pressing of an epic mid-tempo Latin Disco burner. You can't even buy this on mp3, get out your Technics!

Lightning Head - Afrobeat EP Lion Head Recordings
Remember Bigga Bush, well he went all Afro-beat for his Lightning Head alias and I hope he keeps bringing this heat! Also check out the Lightning Head album "Studio Don". Wicked!

Tal M. Klein - Rubs n Remixes Aniligital Music
Another one that came out all on vinyl (thanks Tal!). You still should cop the vinyl for the Snugs remix of Plastic Starfish!

Pimps of Joytime - Funk Fixes and Remixes (Wonderwheel Recordings)
Our East Coast cousins destroy all live venues they play, do not miss them if they come anywhere close to your town! If you like your funk with more thump cop this album!

TM Juke And The Jack Baker Trio - Boto & The Second Liners (Tru Thoughts)
When I first heard the New Orleans inspired cover of the classic dancehall anthem Heads High on this record I was dancing to dj Jeremy Sole at the Funk Sole party in LA and I completely lost it! What's in the water in Brighton?
RE-ISSUE/Compilation

Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story (Strut)
I'm an '80's hater! I hate Reagan, cocaine, Ray-Bans, Miami Vice, and I hate the current '80's revival even more (stop wearing neon, you will regret it!) But lately I've been trying to find the gems that are timeless and genre-bending. Strut records (thanks K7 for bringing them back) has pretty much done the job for me with this compilation of tracks recorded at Chris Blackwell's Compass Point studio in the Bahamas. Every track is a standout, all feature Sly and Robbie on drums and bass, there are a few tracks you know (Tom Tom Club) but the ones you don't (Guy Cuevas) are just as fresh!


TOP 10 MOST LISTENED TO NEW ALBUMS OF 2008

compiled by Fabian Alsultany / GlobeSonic Sound System
Big Blue Ball - Big Blue Ball (Real World)
Cheb i Sabbah - Devotion (Six Degrees Records)
Fania Remixed - I Like It Like That (Fania Records)
Krishna Das - Heart Full Of Soul (Nutone Records)
Jamshied Sharifi - One (Ceres Records)
John Brown's Body - Amplify (Eazy Star Records)
Manu Chao - La Radiolina (Nacional Records)
MJ Green Mountain - MJ Green Mountain (mjmuzic)
Morley – Seen (Polydor France)
Ours - Mercy (American Records)


Top-13 High Vibe Days in NYC when nothing mattered except for what was happening in that moment – you just had to be there!
compiled by Fabian Alsultany / GlobeSonic Sound System

the contagious optimism of Election Day
the divine comedy from Reality Sandwich’s 2nd Annual Ayhuasca Monologues
the ecstasy of over 1000-strong at GlobeSonic's July Summer on the Husdson
the explosively beyond expectation debut of Seun Kuti @ SummerStage
the illumination at Parashakti’s Dance of Liberation @ COSM
the magic and mystery at the 1st Evolver Party @ Jivamukti
the reinvention of Enter The Dragon by Karsh Kale @ Celebrate Brooklyn
the revelation and rhetoric of the Marley Brothers @ 3am at Amazura
the soaring voice of Salief Keita through the park @ Celebrate Brooklyn
the unexpectedly awesome NYC debut of MC Yogi @ Jivamukti
the unfolding orgy at Voodoo Culture Clash’s Halloween @ South Street
the unity community at the Sulha Benefit Concert for Peace
the urgency and big business at the United Nation’s World Water Conference.



-Read the full Post-

Happy Holidays from Six Degrees & the Real Tuesday Weld

FREE DOWNLOAD - THE REAL TUESDAY WELD - Into The Morning


Things are going to slow down a bit here on the blog as we take a well deserved break for the holidays. Rest assured that we'll be back in the '09 with a bevy of treats for your eyes and ears. In the meantime, here's some holiday cheer from Stephen Coates aka the Real Tuesday Weld to keep you in the true spirit of the season. Check out Stephen's inspired Christmas podcasts, the video holiday card from award winning animator Alex Budovksky and an extra holiday bonus treat of a previously unreleased and typically beautiful Real Tuesday Weld song called "Into the Morning" whose lyrical message seems to me to be quite appropriate as we careen into a fresh, new year.




The Real Tuesday Weld- Holiday Podcast 2006

The Real Tuesday Weld - Holiday Podcast 2007 -Read the full Post-

Sonantes

FREE DOWNLOAD - Sonantes - Quilombo Te Espera

As this year finally winds down, I can't help looking back at some of our
releases and analyzing how they were received in the global marketplace.
One of my faves of the year that seems to have "slipped through the cracks" for some people is the
Brazilian collective comprised of CéU and members of Nação Zumbi
and Instituto called Sonantes. This labor of love
project between São Paolo based friends is a genre-hopping musical
snapshot of how vibrant that city's music scene is right now.
Imagine Tom Waits and Portishead collaborating on the soundtracks for
a series of imaginary Brazilian films- and you may start to get an
idea of where the music is coming from. The Independent, a UK publication, just printed a rave review of the record that clearly "gets it", giving me an opportunity to offer up a free download for our readers and to once again call attention to one of the most interesting and unique Brazilian records of 2008 -Read the full Post-

Six Degrees Traveler Tribute to Radiohead

Our weekly internet radio show, Six Degrees Traveler is celebrating its 175th episode this week with a special musical tribute to Radiohead. The show consists of two hours chock full of super rare tracks, bootleg live recordings, mash ups and remixes.

You can get the show on i-Tunes' Radio Section (Under the Eclectic or Electronica headings) or at

http://www.live365.com/sixdegrees

Check out the full playlist here -Read the full Post-

End of Year Listmania Part 3

End of Year Listmania Part 3:
The Cavalcade of the Year's Best as picked by a global cast of friends and family continues...

Including Top 10 lists from
Mark de Clive Lowe, DK/ Bollygirl,Goonda, Monareta, and Crazy Baldhead

2008 Top 10
Compiled by Mark de Clive Lowe
Artist/ Producer purveyor of all things Jazzy/Funky:

1) The resounding call for Change, USA
2) Q-Tip - The Renaissance (Motown)
3) Venice Beach, CA
4) Freesoul Sessions London Finale at Cargo, UK
5) 8sixteen32 - Grime Theatre, Birmingham UK
6) Sandra Nkake - vocalist, Paris France
7) Warsaw Silent Film Festival, Poland
8) Touring with Beardyman, NZ
9) Phil Asher's Phlash & Friends project
10) Travel... despite my carbon footprint



Top 10 tracks dropped in Bollygirl (AVZ) '08 dj sets
Compiled by DK/ Bollygirl of Goonda

1. Mumbai Cells (Shiva Soundsystem)
2. Poison Dart (The Bug)
3. The Balance (Sub Swara)
4. Skank Ethics (Sharmaji)
5. Anoushka Shankar vs.Massive Attack (DimmSummer Mashup)
6. Eastern Jam (Chase + Status)
7. H.A.L (Sebastien)
8. Dum Maro Dum (Punkwallah Remix)
9. Sandstorm (Karsh Kale)
10. Mumbai Driving (GOONDA)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Top 10 tracks "Bollywood-Bhangstylz tracks" dropped in Bollygirl (AVZ) '08 dj sets
Compiled by DK/ Bollygirl of Goonda

1. Dum Maro Dum (Punkwallah Remix)
2. Nude-NADIA / Goonda vs. Radiohead (Rubber Goods Mashup)
3. Chura Liya (Bally Sagoo/GrooveRider Remix)
4. Twinkle Twinkle (Purab Aur Pachim)
5. Yeh Mera Dil (DON)
6. Bollywood Boy /Tina Sugandh (The Arch Cupcake Remix)
7. Immortal Bhang (Radiohiro)
8. Jiya Jale (djTarun Remix)
9. Telephone/Bikram Singh (Tigerstyle Remix)
10. Jimmy (MIA)



Best of 2008
Compiled by Monareta, Columbian Electro-Groovers:

1.VAMPIRE WEEKEND “Vampire Weekend”
Afro sounds meet indie rock.
2. NORTEC COLLECTIVE “Tijuana Sound Machine”
This album is one of the most interesting experiments in bass and beat textures with the power and groove from Tijuana’s folk instruments.
3. DUB SPECIALIST “Heartbeat”
Retro dance hall and dub with a compact and glitchy sound.
4. DUCHESS SAYS “Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs”
This band from Montreal has a hard power pop punk sound with thick distorted bass textures.
5. BE YOUR OWN PET “Awkward”
It’s an energetic album with great vocal melodies.
6. TONY GATLIF “Gadjo Dilo”
Even though the film Gadjo Dilo was released in 1997, Tony Gatlif, acclaimed French film maker released the sound track in 2008. The music is influenced by gypsy sounds.
7. RATATAT “LP3”
This band from Brooklyn has an instrumental sound balanced between rock and synth pop textures.
8. ROLAND ALPHONSO “Cleo’s Back 2”
Cool old school reggae.
9. THE BUG “London Zoo”
This project is one of the latest and cool experiments on U.K.’s underground dub step scene.
10. MENAHAN STREET BAND “Make the Road by Walking”
Old school instrumental funk influenced by an urban atmosphere.

Top 7 Albums/Compilations/Singles/Moments
Compiled by Crazy Baldhead (dubmission records)


1) TV on the Radio - Dear Science (4ad)

2) Bluetech - Phoenix Rising (Somnia)

3) The Bug - London Zoo (Ninja Tune)

4) Fat Freddys Drop - The Camel (Kartel)

5) Various Artists - On a Dubmission Volume 2 (Wakyo)

6) Adele - Hometown Glory (XL)

7) Mirror system - Live at the Glade Festiva -Read the full Post-

Maga Bo - ARCHIPELAGOES

FREE DOWNLOAD - Maga Bo - Beni - from Archipelagoes


Maga Bo is part of a new breed of "fusioneers" who are helping to make that phrase legit again. Somewhere in the 70's, the concept of "fusion" music became inextricably associated with jazz rock bands that seemed to be more interested in flexing their chops than in presenting music that was interesting and satisfying compositionally. Nowadays, in a world which has become ridiculously small, the idea of "fusing" the sounds of different cultures is equally fraught with the dangers of self indulgence and neutered mediocrity. At it's best however, "fusion" music can bring together the more interesting strands of different cultures into a new whole that is more interesting than it's separate parts. Much of what we do here at Six Degrees strives for this kind of "melting pot" approach. There are always going to be purists who are aghast at these hybrids- but anyone who knows the history of music knows that it is in fact a history of "fusions". In my opinion, this is what keeps the gene pool strong and healthy.

To my ears, Maga Bo's new album represents the best of this concept at work. Recorded "on location" during his extensive travels in Africa (no canned samples here), Maga Bo turned tiny hotel rooms and a variety of locations into impromptu recording studios, capturing not only the local talent but the local flavor as well. The beats are steeped in Bo's love of ragga, dance hall, Baile Funk, hip hop, reggaeton and other "street grooves" of various cultures and the final result has the feel of a vital block party which could be taking place on almost any street in the world.

Big thanks to DJ /Rupture, another peerless (and fearless) fusioneer, for allowing us to post this track from this fine album. All of the releases on Rupture's Soot Records are well worth your attention and we look forward to featuring more of them on this blog in the future.



Bio:

World music is music with truly global reach: 50 Cent, U2, Shakira.
ARCHIPELAGOES is the other thing - emissions from the flip side where (it's
happening, now) vocals recorded in one-room studios on a microphone taped to a refrigerator
in lieu of a stand get released on the internet and played over local sound systems that same
night. By the next day the track has been sampled again by youth 6-time-zones away and
mashed up with whatever local concoctions they got going on.
Maga Bo's tapped into that weird new force-field. He grew up in Seattle during the grunge
years, learning studio production (read: fetching beer & cigarettes for Soundgarden), but left
as soon as he could, resettling in Brazil after lengthy worldwide travels. That force-field
surrounded him the whole time. I don't know what it is, but it helped this album turn
beautiful... aided by a mix of knucklehead determination and the gifted accidents that fall
when understanding happens despite the friction of honest collaboration, despite itself.
ARCHIPELAGOES.
You can hear his production voice (low-end crafted for extra bump, those melodic string
stabs, his sound engineer skills in full flex) hold together music made by loitering after work
in Senegal, Zanzibar, Capetown. The stories of its making got pressed into the sound. Some
of the unGoogleable contributors are African musical luminaries, famous in places where the
street doesn't talk to the internet. The overall vibe pulls a bigger picture into focus. Or maybe
it is a process.
An album like this comes loaded with stories... the motorcycle accident (well, it was the old
dude's fault) which led to blackmailing cops in Zanzibar, making the 3 videos and how that
was, the clicking in that track with Teba, the drunk virtuoso he had to relentlessly cajole and
quantize... (just don't ask about the cardboard box in Madrid).

http://myspace.com/magabo

http://magabo.com -Read the full Post-

Karsh Kale's Tribute to Mumbai

Tribute To Mumbai created by - Millenium Jones
pictoral and musical tribute to one of the greatest cities in the world....
" Aftermath "
Music composed by Karsh Kale and Salim Merchant
Music produced by Karsh Kale and Gaurav Raina
Suresh Lalwani - violin, viola
Pandit Sunil Das - sitar
featuring the voice of Mahatma Gandhi


-Read the full Post-

Musical Notes by Bob Duskis: Tis the Season

Let's just cut right to the chase and come right out and say it. It's going to be a REALLY bad holiday season, capping off a difficult year for most businesses in this country. It doesn't look like the economy is going to be getting anything but worse for quite some time and companies that have been hanging on by their proverbial fingernails are now being pushed off the cliffs and out of business at an alarming rate. While this is by no means a phenomenon that is relegated only to the music business, the dominoes do seem to be falling in a particularly swift manner in our business and the body count is stacking up.

I bring this up to you today, not to be some dire, downer prophet of doom but instead to tell you that there IS something that you as consumers can do to help in the next few weeks (and certainly into the new year)- It is actually elegant in its simplicity.
If you want to support the independent businesses that offer you the kinds of choices that go beyond the bland and the mediocre, then this is the time to put your money where your loyalty lies. Let me be clear and tell you that this is not some plea for you to spend all of your holiday money on Six Degrees products (although that would of course warm the cockles of my heart). I'm talking about making an extra effort this season to support any and all of the indie oriented businesses that have brought the joy of diversity into your life. That means when it's time to get books for your friends and loved ones this holiday, skip the big chains and spread your hard earned dollars out to the many wonderful indie bookstores that are struggling to survive. If there are particular record labels that you love, this is the season to give their music as gifts and to either buy directly from them on their on-line stores or to purchase their releases from your favorite neighborhood independent record store (if there's still one around in your hood anymore). Buying direct from a label puts your money in their pockets quickly and eliminates any middle man. In general, take a moment to remember what a good value the gifts of books or music are. These are relatively inexpensive presents that bring resonance and pleasure to you and your loved ones way beyond most of the disposal trash that people exchange during this time of year. Few things can enrich a life as much as a great book or great music.
It's going to cost a bit more and lord knows we are all counting our pennies these days- but I promise you, if your favorite businesses go away, you are going to feel like that slight investment would have been a small price to pay the next time you can't find anything other than the mass appeal entertainment peddled by the big box retailers. Imagine a market place where the Walmart's of the world solely decide what will and will not be available to be sold. We are not that far from that scenario.

This is it, this is the season when your dollars are a kind of referendum on how much diversity and eclecticism a depressed market can bear. All I'm asking is that you take a moment to think about this when you are contemplating what you will be buying this season and where you will be buying it.

Whatever you decide to do, we here at Six Degrees Records are always in your debt. Your loyalty and patronage are something that we NEVER take for granted. Crazy economy or not, we appreciate your continued support of what we do. All of us here wish all of you and yours, the happiest and most restful of holiday seasons. -Read the full Post-

Bionic Love Soundsystem

Free Download - Bionic Love Soundsystem - Outernational Dub - Buy Here



Bionic Love Soundsystem is the brain child of Adrian Blackhurst, a producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of Vancouver's Beats Without Borders. I like the way Adrian has applied the "low end" aesthetics of dub and dub step with various other electronica genres to sounds from around the world. EthnosonicSubfunk Theories has an admirable use of "space" in the music as well, allowing the many global influences to breathe nicely along with the electronics. It's a pretty intriguing and unique approach to global fusion, well worth checking out for more adventurous global explorers.


Bio:

Adrian Blackhurst is a producer, multi-instrumentalist & DJ who has played in several amazing bands over the years and is currently focusing on solo productions, DJ'ing, remixes, & a few collaborations. He plays bass & electric guitar, laptop (the new almighty instrument), & the melodica. With his Bionic Love Soundsystem project he is working with players of sitar, tabla, bansuri, shakuhachi, violin, congas & other instruments that are passionately woven into electronic dance music to create something new. He creates & spins many various types of music such as Dub, Global Beatz, Downtempo, Nu Skool Breaks, Dancehall, Glitch-IDM, Ambient, etc... In November 2005 he released his first solo full length, "The Infinite Technique", a diverse album exploring elements of these genres & the fusion thereof. His 2nd full-length album, "EthnoSonicSUBfunk Theories" was released July 2008, and is available via cdBaby.com & iTunes. It explores dubstep, dancehall, dub, & breakbeats with instruments from India, Iraq, Korea, & Japan. (see MySpace or New Music Canada websites below to hear his tunes).

Adrian is also co-founder of Beats Without Borders, a collective of four musicians & djs that have been organizing large global fusion monthly events since 2004 in Vancouver, Canada. www.BeatsWithoutBorders.com

Contact Adrian :: bioniclove@gmail.com

Listen to Bionic Love Soundsystem tunes at :: www.myspace.com/blackhurst

Buy the album at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/blsoundsystem

Free dj mixes: www.beatswithoutborders.com/adrian. -Read the full Post-

Musical Notes by Bob Duskis: For Absent Friends:

I hope that today you will forgive a small detour away from the world of music and into matters of the heart. On Sunday I lost the best and most loyal friend I will ever have when we had to put our beloved dog Scout to sleep at the ripe old age of almost 17. Those of you who have lost a pet know how incredibly hard this is. It is amazing how much a beloved animal can become a part of your family.

We began looking for dogs when I had first left Windham Hill and my wife was worried that I was becoming depressed and spending too much time alone. One day, we were perusing pet ads in the paper when we spotted one from an animal rescue group that said something like: "Boxer mix. Incredibly special dog, one of our absolute favorites. Looking for the right family".

I had grown up most of my life with a wonderful boxer and we were intrigued enough to arrange to meet this mysterious beast in Dolores park, here in San Francisco. The people that ran the rescue group wanted to make sure that we were "compatible" so they drove him quite a ways for our get together. (it was almost like a blind date). Our first impression of Scout was how striking he looked. No one was quite sure of his mix- but they knew his mom was a boxer and their best guess was that he was mixed with black lab. Whatever his lineage, he was a uniquely handsome and strong dog. Because he had been in a shelter for a long time, he had some "aggression issues" with other dogs and his fierce bark was a bit intimidating to us at first but...there was just something there. My wife and I immediately felt a bond with him. Although we told the rescue folks that we needed to "think about it", I believe we were both already half way in love with him and were already visualizing our lives with him. The next week I had to go out of town on a business trip (shopping Six Degrees to labels in New York) and when I returned, my wife surprised me by picking me up at the airport with Scout in the car. It was signed, sealed and delivered... we were a new family.

Years later, the day after my daughter was born, I went home from the hospital to check on Scout and to bring him one of her baby blankets so that he could get used to her smell and prepare himself for the new arrival to his home. When this strange, tiny bundle of humanity entered his life, he was incredibly patient with her. When the baby would cry he would give us the most poignant look, as if to say "hey something's wrong with her, do something about it, make her feel better will you?".

When my daughter laughed for the first time as a baby, it was of course at Scout.
Somewhere along the line, Scout transitioned from being my dog to my daughter's dog. He of course continued to love us all with his same, sweet, pure and unquestioning loyalty but he had clearly decided that his main job in life was to love and protect the youngest in the clan. He began to sleep exclusively in her room and would mope around in the mornings until she finally woke up, signaling that his day could now officially start. They remained an inseparable team for the rest of his life.

In his later years, Scout began coming to work with me every day. He had always had separation anxiety as a result of being given up by his first family and he had always HATED being left at home alone. Our downstairs neighbors would tell us stories of the strange and pathetic keening and whining noises they would hear from upstairs when we were gone for long periods at a time. Coming to the office and being surrounded by people that lavished him with attention and treats, clearly suited him well- My wife often says that she thinks it's one of the reasons he lived so long. He quickly became territorial about the office, barking fiercely at the poor Fed Ex and UPS guys and bringing many a Six Degrees marketing meeting to a grinding halt with a particularly nasty dog fart.

In the end, he lived a long and wonderful life filled with love, attention and lots of treats. There are absolutely no words that can convey how much he brought to our family and how much we are going to miss him.

My favorite Scout memory (and the one I find myself continually going back to during this difficult time) is of him running on the beach, tearing at full throttle speed, chasing seagulls, looking like some incredibly alive cross between a race horse and a gazelle. My fondest wish for him is that he has found some endless stretch of beach where the chase goes on...

One of my favorite authors Graham Joyce , wrote a wonderful piece on his web journal when he lost his dog. His feelings so eloquently mirror mine that I enclose the link should you want to check it out.

The bond between human and canine is a wonderful, powerful and mysterious thing. Somehow we have found each other and helped each other through the trials of an often hostile world. It's almost enough to make you believe in some higher power that has thrown us together.

On this weeks edition of our weekly internet radio show, Six Degrees Traveler , I have channeled some of my feelings of grief and love the best way I know how, through music. I call it "Traveler's songs of loss and remembrance" . Music can be such a powerful medium for dealing with these feelings and it is my fondest wish that this week's show may resonate for you and the loved ones you have lost in your life. -Read the full Post-

End of Year Listmania Part 2

In which we continue our parade of "Best of 2008" lists compiled by a variety of world-wide sources.

2008 Top 10 Future Brazilian Classic Albums (In no particular order):
Compiled by Béco Dranoff- Producer, A&R Genius and all around Brazil-o-phile

PAULA MORELENBAUM: Telecoteco (Mirante)

LUA: Lua (Olôko)

JAM DA SILVA: Dia Santo (304 Estúdio)

CURUMIN: Japan Pop Show (YB Music)

FREVO DO MUNDO: Compilation (Candeeiro Records)

TAMY: Tamy (Indep)

3 NA MASSA: 3 Na Massa (Nublu)

ZUCO 103: After The Carnaval (Six Degrees)

DJ DOLORES: Um Real (Ziriguiboom / Crammed)

MESTRES DA GUITARRADA: Música Magenta (Candeeiro Records)




Five Favorite Graveyards and Graves of 2008
Compiled by Stephen Coates aka the Real Tuesday Weld

Pere la Chaise (Oscar Wilde) Paris, France
Montparnasse (Serge Gainsbourg) Paris, France
Highgate (Karl Marx) London, England
Bunhill Fields (William Blake) London, England








Five Favorites of 2008
Compiled by Silvana Kane- Vocalist with Pacifika

1.the Laguna Seca Moto GP... what an amazing race.
2.soundchecking at the Hollywood Bowl... it was magical magical magical.
3.driving down to California with the band and watching the fire lit skies.
4.eating brunch and reading a book at the Medina Cafe in Vancouver.
5.waking up every day.





List of Favourite Weirdness 2008
Compiled by Nick Page aka Dubulah aka Dub Colossus

1/ Ethiopiques and Dub Colossus concerts at Barbican, June26th 2008
and Addis Ababa festival May 2008.

2/ Best TV: Anything with Dylan Moran, and Father Ted on permanantely.

3/ Meeting phenomenal Greek singer and anti-diva Savina Yannatou in Athens to discuss the Greek album we are making with Jimi Papazanteas

4/ Favourite Film: “Lay Down Your Hearts”- about Hukwe and Charles Zawose and the Zawose family..a film by John Simpson

5/ Best Guitar Moment 2008: Getting to record Skip (“Little Axe”) Macdonald at Real World Studios for Dub Colossus album...

6/ Best Album Recording: Doing album with Syriana (Abdullah Chhadeh and Bernard O`Neill)

7/ Best Dubulah session for an album: Recording baritone and sitar guitar for Anjali Bhatia new album.

8/ Obama wins US election! Reasons to be cheerfull..1,2,3!

9/ Best Jazz album 2008 : National Jazz Orchestra of Spain (feat Natalia Farran, Jerry Gonzales and Randy Brecker)- Awesome!

10/ Best Gigs Seen: Justin Adams and Juldah Camera at chilli fried, Darbucka Club,
Shlomo Beat Box vocal Orchestra at QEH…
Arve Henriksen at London Jazz Festival,
Dr John at the Dome




Top 10 of the year (in no particular order)
Compiled by David Starfire

Bhattacharya, Debashis- Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar- I’ve been getting into Indian Slide guitar these days and this CD has some nice elements to it and is recorded very well. Some parts sound like a blues guy playing a sitar and is very interesting. It probably sounds like how I would sound if I played a sitar. HA!


Santogold-Santogold- She had such a buzz in the underground scene and internet and I only heard a couple of songs at first. I wasn’t sure if the whole CD was going to be consistent, but every song on it is a hit. This is my favorite indie/pop type of album of the year and I'm sure it will be on many charts. The whole CD is solid and two of my favorite tracks are Say Aha, and Creator, which was co-produced by FreQ Nasty.


FreQ Nasty-Fabriclive 43- This just came out and it’s a slammer with tons of hard beats and killer tunes. Lots of dubstep, Baltimore and other crazy beats on here and I'm just lovin it! This is a great mix of what is going on in the underground dance scene in the UK, Baltimore and West Coast.


Cheb I Sabbah-Devotion- His Devotion CD is my favorite chill CD of the year and great to put it on at a dinner party. He has really made a beautiful CD- I'm really digging it!


Goonda-Third World Radio- The NYC crew really did a great job on this CD. They really know what they're doing on the East Coast. The double CD also has great remixes from Radiohiro and Dhruva and killer packaging.

Dehli 2 Dublin-Dehli 2 Dublin-This Vancouver Band is awesome live and has great songs and a sound that is totally unique. I really appreciate what they are doing. I like the song Apples and I love Celtic Dub so much I remixed it for their new Remix project!


Eat Static-Back to Earth- I always loved these guys and Jef Stott played Pharaoh at the Beloved fest and I was stunned by that track. I didn’t even know that they had a new CD out and all the tunes are great. I hope others check it out- it’s very deep.


Jef Stott- Saracen- This CD is a great mix of world music and electronica and he blended them together very well. I especially like the track Faqir, and liked it so much that I remixed it!


Tipper-Wobble Factor- He has the most cutting edge production and bass for days. Snot Rocket is my favorite track. He is a true innovator and his sound has really influenced many producers today. This is available on www.addictech.com


Lynx-Grain of Sand- This upcoming artist from Boulder played some of the festivals that I performed at this year and she is amazing. She performs with Jamie Janover (on Hammer Dulcimer) and loops guitar parts for a live, hi energy show. She has a great voice and a personality that is special. This CD is available on CD baby and iTunes to check out.


There is soooo much music out there and so little time and I always appreciate my friends and DJ’s that recommend music to me. I think this year had some great music and definitely looking forward to next year!

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Maduro- Siege

Maduro - "Dwelled Within" Free Download -Buy Here




I'm always happy when someone adds a fresh twist to a tried and true genre. The Washington DC based producer who calls himself Maduro brings a nice, dark industrial bent to his take on Middle Eastern influenced electronica. If you ever wondered what Trent Reznor might sound like if he incorporated global sounds into his musical palette, you may want to delve deeper into Maduro's repertoire. I find his latest full length Siege as well as the EP, Fin de Siècle very interesting examples of bellydance electronica served up with a unique "edge".



Bio:

Maduro is a Washington D.C. area electronic music artist who records a blend of dark, textured electronica and “Electribal” music catering to the darker and more abstract side of world fusion and period music. Maduro signed with Eventide Music Productions in 2006 and Octofoil Records in 2008. Maduro has appeared on compilations with Venetian Snares, Amon Tobin, Bassnectar, and Muslimgauze, and he has been featured in numerous compilations, performances, DVDs, and documentaries around the world.

In June 2006, Eventide Music Productions released Shimmer Sustain, a collection of dark world fusion electronica mixed with 8 bit video game sounds. Following the success of this release, Juno Wakes, an audio excursion into an underworld of dreaming, decay, ghosts, and processionals, was released in August 2007. In April 2008, Octofoil Records released Maduro's Siege, a dark world fusion release punctuated with Middle Eastern and South Asian progressions, crunched break beats and fragments, and industrial highlights. In October 2008, Octofoil Records released Fin de Siècle (or "end of the century" in French) a short album and a degenerative audio snapshot capturing 100 year-old band sounds, carnival and circus progressions, broken organ grinders, as well as fragmented beats, dubstep, and hip hop accents.

more info:
www.myspace.com/maduro
www.octofoil-records.com
www.myspace.com/octofoil.com -Read the full Post-