DOWNTEMPO

Christmas Remixed 2
(Six Degrees Records/Outside Music)
It’s been two years since the first Christmas Remixed album from Six Degrees; and the problem with the last one was the predictable and clichéd songs chosen to remix, whereas ŌM Records released a similar compilation that same Christmas with less commercial and popular songs. This release has yet more predictable Christmas songs that we’re really tired of hearing yet another new rendition of, such as: “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Silent Night” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Some notables that are worth a listen: King Kooba’s remix of Charlie Parker’s version of “White Christmas,” Ohmega Watts remix of Charles Brown’s version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, Patrick Kouchian’s remix of CSSR State Philharmonic performing “Good King Wenceslas” and Red Baron’s remix of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra performing “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies.” —AZ

Bozoo Baju Dust My Broom
(!K7/Outside Music)
Proving that white men do indeed have rhythm and soul, especially a couple of boys from Nuremberg, Germany…geez, it almost seems like some “when-hell-freezes-over” type scenario. But Peter Heider and Florian Seyberth do indeed have the chutzpah, so to speak, to produce roots-style reggae, dub, r ’n’ b and soul. Dust My Broom is a term from blues music, meaning to “make a clean sweep” and begin something new, representing the duo’s new cultured sound. Worth it just for the fascinating vocal contributions from country legend Tony Joe White; roots legend U-Brown (an MC at King Tubby’s Hometown Hi-Fi) from Kingston, Jamaica; Ben Weaver’s smoky and sandy voice à la Tom Waits; and Willie Hutch, the soul vocalist who was the voice of Blaxploitation’s Foxy Brown.—Rusty