Coda.fm

Vol. 6-Cafe Del Mar

by Various Artists

• Buy it at Amazon.com

Eclectic, emotionally smart, and always engaging to the ear, Volume Six won't disappoint followers of the Del Mar series. After a curious slice of Talvin Singh's "Traveller" (Kid Loco's Once upon a Time in the East mix), Afterlife get the slow dusk grooves moving with the seductively vocalized "Dub In Ya Mind (Beach Club Mix)" before A New Funky Generation slip in some grooves as smooth and of-the-'70s as their name suggests with "The Messenger."

However, Volume Six is often more poignant and melancholy than the usual Del mar compilation. dZihan & Kamien's "Homebase," while sporting an uptempo ambience, is spiritually destined for the subsonic bass groove of Deep Dish someday, and Humate's "3.2 Bedrock (Ambient Mix)" is the sort of ennui-filled dance music Madonna would be proud of. The hidden treasure on this volume is Moonrock's "111 Street Blues," a sumptuous downtempo stew of ambience, hip-hop, and ambient dub sensibilities. It helps make Volume Six the perfect destination for those seeking a spirited romantic beach vacation with their significant other in the living room. --Steffan Chirazi