Various Artists / Torch
Album: Torch   Collection:General
Artist:Various Artists   Added:May 2003
Label:Six Degrees Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2003-05-26 Pull Date: 2003-07-28 Charts: Electronic
Week Ending: Jul 20 Jul 13 Jul 6 Jun 29 Jun 15 Jun 8 Jun 1
Airplays: 2 2 2 4 2 2 7

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 19, 2013: Sunshine . . . in the Afternoon
(10:59 a.m.) David Holmes (Featuring Sarah Cracknell)
4. Aug 28, 2010: lost and found
Dzihan & Kamien
2. Nov 30, 2011: Morning Glory
Hawke (And the Lady)
5. Apr 21, 2010: Morning Glory (sittin' in for Bobbi's Public Noize Racket)
Hawke (And the Lady)
3. May 25, 2011: Morning Glory!
Sylk 130
6. Nov 22, 2007: Sunshine ... on a Full Moon Jive Turkey Afternoon
David Holmes (Featuring Sara

Album Review
Jacki-O
Reviewed 2003-05-22
COLL: Torch Label: Six Degrees

Six Degrees is taking a pretty novel approach to the concept of "torch" songs. As described by Six Degrees impresario Bob Duskis, "torch" songs are "named for their slow-burning, sensuous quality". A classic example would be the "Blue Velvet" song as voiced by Isabella Rossellini. Typically, traditional vocal-jazz standards & ballads are used as "torch" songs. However, there are no standards performed here. Most of the tracks are essentially slow downtempo electronica mixed or sampled w/ smoky vocals.

Because most of the artists (Hawke, Sylk 130, Mandalay, Dzihan & Kamien) are electronica artists who produce for Six Degrees, I think this CD ought to be viewed as an electronica attempt to take on traditional torch-song music. The tracks that best encompass the torch-song theme are: 1,4,5,8,9, and I think the best-made songs are 1,8 & 9.

1. Slow & sultry ballad by jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson, sparse instrumental
2. A slow heavy beat w/ breathy female vocals
3. Exotic-sounding trip-hop track w/ chant-y melodic vocals by Sarah Cracknell (St. Etienne)
4. Sultry & smoky vocal-jazz piece, cool jazz-club intro - faux live jazz-club feel
5. Space-y synths, snappy drum breaks, exotic percussive tones, echo-y vocals
6. Lilting female vocal (Bjork-like) set over very chill Drum&Bass percussion
7. Moody vocals & synth ballad - not particularly exciting
8. Starts w/ a '40s-style jazz string intro - drops into a funky and smoky groove
9. A beautiful catchy melody - well-made and beautifully sung
10. Moody vocals & sparse downtempo jazz-lounge stuff
11. Lively piano playing interspersed w/ Elvis Costello's earthy vocals


Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1. Cassandra Wilson Harvest Moon
2. You Might Say Bugge Wesseltoft
3. Gone David Holmes (Featuring Sara
4. Seasons Change Sylk 130
5. Quiet Alone Snooze
6. Deep Love (Nitin Sawhney Remix Mandalay
7. Once (Demo) Shrift
8. Sad and Blue Hawke (And the Lady)
9. Drophere Dzihan & Kamien
10. 22 Carat Tear-Jerker Xploding Plastix
11. Fire Suite Roy Nathanson (Featuring Elv