SXSW SXSW Day 3: March 20th 2009. Started off Day 3 at the Brooklyn Vegan's "Sweden goes SXSW" day party (which Aurgasm favorite, Theresa Andersson played). My night ended at the Central Presbyterian Chuch with Laura Marling and Lisa Hannigan . Lots of fun music in between! Some bands from Day 3 you might want to put on your radar: Wildbirds & Peacedrums : First brought to my attention by Hanne [...]
SXSW SXSW Day 2: March 19th 2009. The day started off with the " Bloggers Are Now In Charge " panel at the Convention Center. Interesting discussion about the impact of blogging and music today. After that, I got to stop by the KCRW mobile studio, while they broadcasted "Morning Becomes Eclectic" with Jason Bentley live from Austin. We're big fans of KCRW here at Aurgasm, so it was great treat to hang out for a short while! Day [...]
SXSW SXSW Day 1: March 18th 2009. [Editor's note] Michelle is at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin for the next few days. She'll be posting quick updates here as well as keeping the Aurgasm Twitter feed humming. -paul After a flight delay got me into Austin a bit later than I originally planned, I landed only in time to grab my badge and make it to some showcases. SXSW started with a bang, and a [...]
folk-dub // future jazz // downtempo Exquisitely produced by members of Boozoo Bajou and Trio Elétrico, Katharina März 's Rainwatcher elicits a soothing, intimate, laid-back and summerly fun affinity. Her airy voice is fondly wrapped in a spectral muse of endearing sounds; every moment tinged with a wondrous array of instruments that accentuate each feeling, lyric, and breath. Acoustic and steel guitars, vibraphone, piano, organ and accordion are a few of what you'll hear, guiding gracefully as she woos and imbues [...]
swedish folktronica // experimental Fredrik , a six-piece Malmö-based ensemble, embodies some of the finest Scandinavian experimental pop aesthetics: captivating melodies, rich layered arrangements and complicated charming instrumentation evoking the sound of Sigur Ros and Efterklang. Without overloading the compositions, Fredrik builds layer upon layer of atmospheric, melodically overpowering and somewhat mystical soundscapes. The title track of the album "Na Na Ni" ranges from warm waves of melancholy and hypnotic repetitive chanting to haunting harmonies. From quiet to powerful experimental arrangements. Fredrik - Na Na [...]
electronic // hip-hop // downbeat Organic, soulful, electronified and good-feeling vibes, freely shared by Colorado producer Derek Vincent Smith. Nearly four hours of this Pretty Lights sound is available for free on his website . It's a vivid collage of continuity, enriched with robust beats, eloquently laced vocal samples that range from nostalgic to serene, both compelling and entertaining, with a diverse selection of instruments all aimed towards enjoyment. All about the good vibes. Pretty Lights - Solamente [...]
post-rock // cinematic ambient Please click play. Then click full screen. Big headphones are recommended, as well. "Anything You Synthesize" comes with a heavyweight cerebral punch, but it's delivered a on silken aural ether. The American Dollar, a Queens, NY duo, construct experimental ambient sonic explorations with a healthy rock influence. This video, created by the Onesize design studio , turns a cinematic song into an enveloping sensory experience. Mighty sonic expertise meet visual cameracraft. The American Dollar - Anything You Synthesize [...]
jazz // rock Aaron Parks was born in Seattle — though he currently lives in Brooklyn with the rest of his taste-making hipster brethren — and you can almost hear the city in his music. The pitter-patter of rain in the cymbals, the grey swoop of fog in the guitar, and the occasional glimpse of sun in the piano; "Nemesis" is a Mt Rainier in the haze, and "Roadside Distractions" is a fish flying through the air at Pike Place Market. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it all. But either way it's [...]
french vocal // soft soul From the very first track of her debut album Jusqu'aux Oreilles (2008), Quebec native Amylie enchants the listener with her soft-toned and subtle sound. The soulful vibes of "Espace" evoke similarities with critically acclaimed Les Nubiennes' Princesses Nubiennes , while its lush instrumentation and clean hypnotic production reminds the sound of Zero 7. Catchy, uptempo and playful "Mes Oreilles" brings to mind the debut album of French chanteuse Camille. Fresh, sweet-sounding and vibrant. Amylie - Espace [...]
urban // equatorial Una Mas Trio define their irresistible upbeat harmonies as boogaloo, a fusion of Cuban salsa rhythms and American soul. The project was born when a member of the Juju Orchestra teamed up with composer/producer Christian Schilgen. Together with the enigmatic poetess/singer Bajka they fused dancefloor-friendly jazz and contemporary beats. In "Clear As Water", due to be released in March 10th, Una Mas Trio blend urban grooves, catchy up-tempo energy and world music traditions. Bajka's tone and phrasing provides perfect vocal flavor to the track. [...]
electropop // experimental When asked to describe their sound, Highland Park's Fol Chen said, "You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album?" ( Yes ). "Fol Chen sound like that." Cryptic descriptions aside, Fol Chen's recently released Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made , is a dramatic debut. Their complex layers, which include strings, horns, multiple vocals and the requisite drum machine, are captivating. "Cable TV," one of the standout tracks on the record, is a pounding, [...]
punk-pop // dance There's no denying the exhilarating, rambunctious joy set free by Brooklyn darlings Matt & Kim . An old west, saloon piano intro jump-starts this song and never lets go; quickly flurried with rousing synths and a thumping beat that blasts through walls like Mr Kool-Aid. From lazy days in bed to cherished moments found almost anywhere, this is exactly the kind of exuberant grandeur I am oh-so curiously seeking throughout life. Hopefully they make you smile and remind you to hold nothing back, because anything [...]
jazzy downtempo // remixed minimal Sonar Kollectiv is the label-home of about a dozen of Aurgasm's features. Their roster consistently churns out top-notch rhythm and jazz. Recently an ensemble of fifteen musicians got together to cover some of the label's catalog. The result, Guaranteed Niceness , is like the MTV Unplugged of the jazz & downtempo world, turning comprehensive arrangements into organic jazz jams. Âme's minimal techno epic, "Rej" lent itself perfectly to a re-imagining by the group. Thick and [...]
jazzy downtempo // remixed minimal Sonar Kollectiv is the label-home of about a dozen of Aurgasm's features. Their roster consistently churns out top-notch rhythm and jazz. Recently an ensemble of fifteen musicians got together to cover some of the label's catalog. The result, Guaranteed Niceness , is like the MTV Unplugged of the jazz & downtempo world, turning comprehensive arrangements into organic jazz jams. Âme's minimal techno epic, "Rej" lent itself perfectly to a re-imagining by the group. Thick and [...]
jazzy downtempo // remixed minimal Sonar Kollectiv is the label-home of about a dozen of Aurgasm's features. Their roster consistently churns out top-notch rhythm and jazz. Recently an ensemble of fifteen musicians got together to cover some of the label's catalog. The result, Guaranteed Niceness , is like the MTV Unplugged of the jazz & downtempo world, turning comprehensive arrangements into organic jazz jams. Âme's minimal techno epic, "Rej" lent itself perfectly to a re-imagining by the group. Thick and [...]
funk // jam band Among Tel Aviv's alternative music lovers, the Ramirez Brothers trio has made a good name for their outstanding lively performances long before their debut album release. 100% analog, The Ramirez Brothers' recently released album captures that special sound quality, preserving the atmosphere of the live show. "Sizzlin' " featuring Karolina on vocals, delivers stylish rhythmic grooves along with a funky, sunny feeling. From groovy freestyle to tight uptempo funk. The Ramirez Brothers - Sizzlin' + [...]
global // folk // jazz Gaida is one of those (*yawn*) dime-a-dozen singers who also makes a living as a speech pathologist, and has a similarly dull list of cities that she's called home: Damascus, Kuwait, Paris, Detroit, and now, New York. Barely worth mentioning, right? In the meantime, she's received classical voice training, recorded a couple of tracks for Jonathan Demme films, and at the end of last year dropped her first full album, Levantine Indulgence , a spooky mix of traditional Arabic and Syrian sounds, plus her own, jazz-like vocals, and [...]
global // folk // jazz Gaida is one of those (*yawn*) dime-a-dozen singers who also makes a living as a speech pathologist, and has a similarly dull list of cities that she's called home: Damascus, Kuwait, Paris, Detroit, and now, New York. Barely worth mentioning, right? In the meantime, she's received classical voice training, recorded a couple of tracks for Jonathan Demme films, and at the end of last year dropped her first full album, Levantine Indulgence , a spooky mix of traditional Arabic and Syrian sounds, plus her own, jazz-like vocals, and [...]
hypnotic // folk-soul Vocalizing together since middle school choir in Oregon might be part of what gives Emily and Theresa, of L.A.'s Warpaint , a helpful halcyon effect when becoming sound with Jenny and David. Sailing through tiny hairs standing upon your skin, a respite, uplifting pleasure occurs from within celestial bounds of their hymn. While bats with lashes are subdued, a euphonic fountain trails exhales and relics of past revive with splendor. Revealing love with truth and care, held tight then let go as each [...]
jazz // shoegaze This is jazz that eats you up and leaves you wondering in its belly. The drums are clean and whispery, and the bass a comforting thrum — but both take a sensible back seat to Neil Cowley's piano, which is a warm, versatile, and completely bewitching loup-garou . Cowley is a London native when he's not busy being a piano virtuoso, and in the past has lent his hands to the Brand New Heavies and Zero 7, and the varied experience shows: energetic when it needs it, majestic when it [...]
aurgasm
Sleigh Bells - Demons (Official Music Video)
The Rains of Castamere by The National
A-Trak & Dillon Francis - "Money Makin'" (Official Video)
DIIV "How Long Have You Known?" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Nas - Daughters
Bison - Quill
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shinichi Osawa – Big Beach Mix 2012
