The Six Degrees label has shown itself to be a consistently excellent judge of modern Brazilian music, but its best catch so far has proven to be singer and songwriter
CéU. Her self-titled debut album was one of the finest releases of 2006, and this digital-only compilation of remixes serves as a very nice companion volume to that album. Most of the remixers will likely be unfamiliar to most American listeners; of the five, only
Bombay Dub Orchestra has a significant profile in this country. But each brings a uniquely salutary perspective to
CéU's funky Brazilian electro-pop: Zaman 8's take on "Rainha" divides the original song's tracks into discrete-sounding elements and layers the harmony vocals in a manner that recalls
Zap Mama, while
Instituto gives "Malemolência" a slow, simmering funk treatment with nicely cut-up strings, horns, and
Mad Professor-style submarine pings.
Instituto gives that same track a more minimalist funk interpretation, and Michael Snyder deconstructs "Lenda" fairly radically, reducing the music to its skeleton and adding some rather menacing turntablism. But the program's highlight is
Bombay Dub Orchestra's dub version of "Roda," which involves one of the deepest and sweetest reggae basslines heard in recent memory and a slow, wicked one-drop groove -- their mix is included in two forms, a radio edit that clocks in at a mere five minutes, and a full-length version that comes in at nearly nine. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson