Traveler '99: A Planetful Of Groove

A Planet Full of Grooves is the first instalment of Six Degrees' series of annually released compilations featuring remixes that aim to take you "to uncharted territories where a planetful of sounds exists together." (Bob Duskis/Six Degrees).

Opening with soulful Bossanova, Os Cariocas' "Berimbau" begins an ideal listening of this disc in the presence of afternoon sunlight. With your head still nodding, the Rhythmic Remix of Uman's "Bird's Eye View" adds lushness to the mix with soft female vocals used more as instrumentation than to provide discernable lyrics. Indian Electronica pioneers Loop Guru play with Bob Holroyd's "Waking the Spirits" for the third track - this extended Strawberry Mix features Native Indian chants merged with effected female callouts, flute and hand percussion. Nation Records provide track 4, a piano accented number with catchy marching band-esque percussion, which is followed by a youthful sounding Lungiswa Plaatj who offers "Fundal", a soulful jazzy song. Electronica figureheads Fila Brazilia remix Delerium's "Euphoria" for the 6th track, which is an extremely funky breakbeat with acoustic guitar, electric bass and an overall tripped out Wild West atmosphere.

Just past halfway through the compilation Banco de Gaia's now famous remix of A "Loop in Time" by Wally Brill brilliantly dubs early 1900s recordings of Jewish liturgical singers. This track was created for the compilation and is well placed as the seventh title, itself taking the listener to the core of the compilation - a place of texture and high emotion.

Beginning with the sound of water, Cheb I Sabbah offers "Ganga Dev". This piece takes two of its six and a half minutes to provide a delightful merging of sampled western acoustic drumming with tabla, sitar and vocals, ending with as much grace to return the stage to Banco de Gaia for another signature track, the Skippy mix of "I Love Baby Cheesy". The last two tracks are both very dance floor-minded yet feature such clean production that they perfectly end the disc smiling.