Six Degrees do an amazing job highlighting the work of artists who fuze south Asian, Latin and western electronic music and their Traveler series is back to take us to the furthest western reaches of their journeys. It's been three years since the last edition of this popular series came out (Traveler 03), so you don't have to wonder if Six Degrees took extra care in compiling the playlist and packing it full of exclusive mixes. You know they did.

1. Niyaz "Dilruba (Junkie XL remix)"
2. Cheb i Sabbah "Esh 'Dani, Alash Mshit (Summer in Algiers remix Temple of Sound vs. Cheb i Sabbah)"
3. Midival Punditz "Ali (Banco de Gaia remix)"
4. Dierdre "Firefly (Waxhopper's new skool remix)"
5. Issa Bagayogo "Touba (Kabanjak remix)"
6. Karsh Kale "Manifest (Yossi Fine's excentric remix)"
7. Shrift "As Far As I Can See (Da Lata remix)"
8. Bossacucanova "Eu Quiero Um Samba"
9. The Real Tuesday Weld "I Love The Rain (acid rain mix)"
10. Bombay Dub Orchestra "Mumtaz (the ornament of the palace mix)"

Traveler 06 is comprised of work from long-time label favorites Cheb I Sabbah, Karsh Kale, and Issa Bagayogo, who are joined by newcomers Niyaz, Shrift, and Bombay Dub Orchestra among others such as Midival Punditz and Bossacucanova. A wide range of remixers got involved, and included among them are Junkie XL, Banco De Gaia, Kabanjak, and Da Lata. Traveler 06 is Asian fusion to the highest degree.

Junkie XL deliver their well known progressive house style with a remix of Niyaz's "Dilruba". As with a great deal of progressive house tunes, this one is built on uptempo house beats, melodic insturmentation and floating, ethereal female vocals. Cheb i Sabbah's "Esh 'Dani, Alash Mshit" gets a progressive, Middle Eastern downbeat treatment with a mix called Summer In Algiers, pitting Temple of Sound vs. Cheb i Sabbah.

The warbled vocals of Dierdre's "Firefly", as remixed by Waxhopper is another enticing progressive downbeat cut whose syncopation of vocal and percussive elements is both troubling and inexplicably hypnotic to listen to. Kabanjak give a slightly broken, afro beat flavor to Issa Bagayogo's "Touba" that works incredibly well. Yossi Fine's mix of Karsh Kale's "Manifest" steps into a mid-east hip-hop style shared by artists like Cay Taylan and Stereotyp Meets Al'Haca. Da Lata deliver an exceptional mix of Shrift's "As Far As I Can See", mixing Nina Miranda's delicate vocal melodies with south Asian rhythms and dub-styled electronic accents.

Although most of Traveler 06 steps through south Asian territory, Bossacucanova take things into a Latin style, as the Acid Rain remix of The Real Tuesday Weld's "I Love The Rain" sounds like a blend of Variety Lab's "London In The Rain" (see Elemental Chill - Vol. 2) and A3's "Woke Up This Morning" (better known as the opening theme to The Sopranos).

Bombay Dub Orchestra close it all out with a remix of "Mumtaz" called The Ornament Of The Palace. It's a nice combination of laid-back downbeats and striking Indian vocals.

The mixes on Traveler 06 are heavier on the electronic side of Asian and Latin fusion than most of these artists original work, with a number of them truly deserving to be described as progressive downbeat. Don't expect all of the tempos here to lull you into relaxation, as the sound often aims for the dancefloor, albeit a slow-to-mid-tempo floor, but one meant for dancing all the same.

For fans of Asian fusion music who aren't afraid of the western side of that fusion, Traveler 06 is definitely a trip you want to take.

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