Launched two years ago, Aurgasm has developed into a destination of passionate music lovers around the globe. Its audience includes music mavens, critics, journalists, and bloggers—a highly influential audience. It has been profiled in The Boston Globe and mentioned on MSNBC.com, BoingBoing, Kottke, del.icio.us, and digg. Aurgasm specializes in everything not under the American rock umbrella—music such as: downtempo, folk, nu jazz, chanson, scandinavian, jazz, cuban, brazilian, electro, soul, jump blues, bluegrass, film score, and electronica.
A young man of twenty-five years, Paul's interest in music was initiated by his parents' rock band, playing The Standell's 'Dirty Water' in his basement. Since the mp3 format appeared on the internet, Paul has been eager to find his next favorite song.
His interests include: user experience design, emerging web trends, ecommerce, branding, maps, product design, typography, information design/overload, & sustainability.
Paul Irish
email: paul [atsign] aurgasm.us
AIM: Paullll Irish
Myspace: Paul's myspace
I listen to everything I'm sent, but I prefer music that isn't by a 'band'.
Julija is an art student in Vilnius, Lithuania fond of wine and contemporary design. Andrew (blog) is a travelling Scot who writes and currently lives in London.
Three talented German jazz musicians were on tour in Cuba with the Dresden Philharmonic, when they fell in love with the Cuban music. A casual meeting with Compay Segundo led them to two talented Cuban percussions. The group then spontaneously ignited up a fiery session of cross-cultural musical intercourse. It was in this sudden compatiblity when the Klazz Brothers realized how perfect Cuban music complemented the classical pieces they knew so well. The result was their debut CD, Classic Meets Cuba, reinterpreting the masterpieces of composers like Mozart, Brahams, and Bizet into boiling Cuban rhythms.Sorry guys, I love cuban music, i enjoy classic and i appreciate some standarts played in salsa but that does not cut it. I doubt real classic lovers will find some substance either. Let me recommend rather Bebo and Cigala or when a flamenco singer meets an old cuban pianist and revisit the great classics of spanish repertory. A gem!!
All is good. You know, I doubt real classical lovers will find it particularly enthralling either, it's just a clever take on something we know too well.
Speaking of flamenco, I just got my hands on Vicente Amigo's newest record. It might make its way on here.
I'll check up on Bebo y Cigala. Thanks for the tip! :-]
Different. Accomplished. I like it.
I've listened to this piece more times than I'd like to admit. It feels like a filthy appreciation that I should be embarrassed about... regardless, I love it. Thanks for the post!
I grew up with Larry Harlow. We went to Brooklyn College were I started playing timbales for his first sextet. I played and contracted for Chico O Farrell when he did jingle work in New York. I LOVE Latin music and I am a purist having been mentored by Santeria congitos such as Julito Collazo of Mongo Santamaria's band. I think this cut is fantastic! I will buy the CD for sure.
Check me out at Hellhounds and Holyghosts
http://hellhoundsandholyghosts.typepad.com
I intend to link you up my man.
roy
Now if you're from Australia, you're fully aware of this power squad of rockers. But if you're not, don't start thinking The Cat Empire is in the same aussie vein as Silverchair and Savage Garden. No no, TCE packs a hell of a punch – killer guitar riffs coupled with a nasty brass section. All the while, they feel like some neighborhood kids having a hell of a time, but you can't not love the entirely fun grooves they produce. 'Sly' jumps loudly off their newest album, Two Shoes, while 'Hello' is one of the killer singles from their earlier eponymous release. Dig the organ and swing interlude where it duels against a mean turntable scratch.Now this sounds strange but did Cat Empire do a cover of "Hotel California" in a different language ? I found this mp3 labeled as "Cat Empire" but the song sure don't sound like the two tracks posted here. Just curious if someone out there knows what I'm talking about - perhaps the mp3 got mislabeled or something...
Nevermind, turns out it was them...they decided to do a French reggae version of "Hotel California"...nice :)
Yeah. That cover is way hot.
Hot indeed.
the first two seconds of Hello, are enough to make me want to cream myself. this groups is hotness in a bag!
-BigD
Love it :) Big thanks for the recommendation, I'll definitely be checking them out more.
Cool site! And well done on the news article!
Enjoyed the visit here very much.
Eclectic selection
You are welcome to pay a visit to my new blog which covers eclectic genres of afro, jazz, latin, house etc.
http://luxusborg.blogspot.com/
regards
Really liked "Hello". Offbeat and accomplished, and it really swings. Great blog.
The Cat Empire!!! are PIMPS! they freaking rule!! I found out about them when I was Down Under and I introduced them too all my friends and every single one of them likes them alot!!!
These guys are great! Really playful music, just a bunch of Aussie blokes fooling around but you can't help but get caught up in the groove. Thanks, Aurgasm.
I'm not sure what this "killer guitar riffs" bit refers to. TCE don't have a guitar in their lineup, and haven't used one in any of their live shows that I've seen.
... well, except for the flamenco guitar solo (played by a special guest) in "The Rhythm"; which I didn't think of when I posted that last comment. But still, I don't think most people would put flamenco in quite the same category as "killer guitar riffs", somehow...
yep - the Cat Empire have a huge following down here in Australia. They are seriously the BEST band i have ever seen live - the entire crowd is up and pumping, crazily moshing, skanking about! Highly energetic! brilliant! brilliant!
yep - Hotel California was performed by the band on indie/alternative radio station Triple J earlier this year. You can find it, along with a heap of other awesome tracks on the "Like a Version" CD
http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=363666
yeah, just got home from their first american show, to start their american tour. Dudes, if this band is coming to your city, you must go. SO much FUN.
wicked.
good times.
aurgasm is a mind reader. This past weekend I was in Boston and during the car rides, I was loving the hot tracks coming out of the local radio stations.
The cat empire hooked my over critical ear and I was sad to learn that I would be missing their show in beantown that I believe was last night...
Coming home, I was sure to try to find them on The Hype Machine (hypem.com) and what name comes up but the never fail Aurgasm! Thank you paul, for once again picking another great music gem!
*Aurgasm is very appropriately named, seeing as how i am not the only one who has to change my clothes after listening to the tracks...
Bess, it's great to hear from you! I was actually at last night's show in Boston. You did indeed miss a killer time, but they'll be at the Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday in nyc.
I'm glad to have helped complete that loop for you. Cheers, darling
By the way, The Cat Empire has no guitar. This is what makes them unique.
I have been corrected many a time on this, my apologies. The post will not reflect the fact because I don't want my subscribers to get this all over again.
But thank you! :)
my sister got me to listen to these guys when she heard i was going to aus. i am in love with these guys tho my fav song is "The Car Song"
wondering if there is going to be a sydney show soon (before june) so i can go watch
if not, are they coming to canada anytime?
Sadly it doesn't look like you're in luck here.
http://www.thecatempire.com/currenttour.asp
do you know where or who i can e-mail to find out if they will be touring in later of 07?
Your best bet is a contact form on their website or sending them on a message on myspace. Good luck!
I just saw them again two weeks ago and it was exxxcellent.
Yeah, The Cat Empire even play Hotel California ["L'Hotel De Californie" ~ French version sung by Harry] live sometimes. As far as I know, it's the only cover they do!
yeah they did it ifor something on triple j called "like a version"
I really feel so sorry for you guys only just finding them in the last couple years!!! We love them back home in Aus and have been sooooo lucky to have been able to listen to them years ago! They are the best band I've seen live ever...
AusBird
To get an idea, imagine Basement Jaxx in a damp island jungle instead of a nightclub. With Boozoo, the beats are wet, the grooves are deep and the hooks are funky-ass funky – Mike Reinboth of Compost Records aptly called them, "NuDubReggae-meets-Mambo-Bossa". These German blokes have been pumping out LPs and remixes for some time, but have now found their groove with their new record Dust My Broom on K7. "Killer" is the body-moving, hip-shaking stunner on the disc – dancehall vocals on top of a wide tropical bass. "Take It Slow" unfolds a smooth summer reggae ballad of a more intimate feel.Hello Paul Irish.
I really like the music posted on this site - especially the dub, hip hop, DJ, chill-out, and energy-filled mp3s.
Of all of the blog links that you have, which would you say are your favorites? Which ones have the most similar music to your site?
I've checked them out on my own, but I am interested to see what your personal favs are.
Thanks man.
Peter or Florian, I assume? Very cool to see you drop by.
Orchestrated Rise to Fall is a french blog with classy picks. Similar breadth to aurgasm.
Scissorkick covers new shit in the electronica scene well. Steve always finds the most solid tracks.
lemon-red is a fellow Bostonian that keeps it heavy. He's on top of emerging hip hop / pop.
ready rock moe rex picks out some crazy electronica. He needs a damn domain name, though. ;-)
boom selection has the hottest dance and grime action coming out of the UK.
There's a lot more hip hop blogs out there (start with Government Names), but not too many quality sites with the more chill-out dubby stuff.
And hey, if this is Mr. Heider or Seyberth, throw me an email -- I got a question about Juke Joint I gotta ask.. aurgasm AT mac DOT KAHM ;-)
Awesome tracks. And Paul, I've already emailed you about it, but you do a fantastic work with this blog.
Yes, everything the Boozoo guys are involved in is highly recommended. Check out their mix on the Betalounge site. Killer stuff.
The singer on Take It Slow is obviously Joe Dukie. If you love Boozoo and this voice you should check out the new Fat Freddys Drop longplayer. Excellent.
Now I can't wait to hear Dust my Broom for the first time.
As for blogs: nothing beats Soulsides, but this is a great place to visit, too.
Rhineman.
Thanks for dropping the knowledge, Rhineman.
The Boozoo show on Beta Lounge is hot 'n dynamic – check it.
And biggup to O-Dub, he's been pushing mp3 blogs forward in the right direction for some time now.
Do any other readers have other blog recommendations?
Am I allowed to say mine?
That Boozoo is fresh. Good looks.
My current favorite is Razorblade Runner (http://razorbladerunner.cadenceweapon.com)
hey paul ! thanks for the kind words !
that boozoo is killing me - it helps me get up in the morning ... (i still owe you some french tracks, i need to pull my stuff together)
First of all, great blog of yours, and also great music. It's been in my feedreader for quite a time. Keep up the good work!
Take a look at my blog, if you want, I've just written a little entry about the Boozoo Bajou guys and also linked to your blog ;O)
thanks for posting this one, great track.
just played it in a chill out venue at the V festival in Staffordshire this weekend and it went down a treat. nice one boozoo.
Andrea Mangia falls somewhere between a blissful float down a sunset river and snow falling on industrial estates, whatever that means. And yes, he sounds like a breed of Scott Herren (Prefuse 73) and Four Tet, but I mean, so what? I like Four Tet, and frankly the last album wasn't that great – so if there are competent imitators I'm happy to oblige. Especially with tracks like 'Hip Hop Cocotte' that swirls slowly into a great, sticky mass of guitar strings and electronic hisses; or 'The Dixie Saga' which has an eerie darkness to its clicks and twangs.Nicely done drew.
I really like it
most excellent
Hearing a musician inhale is a guilty pleasure of mine. And then hearing that oxygen toke through a reeded harmonica, like an Ashley Judd drag on a cigarette, it's enough to make you squint those eyes in a twisted pleasure. Trina brings her game to rocking out on harmonica and tambourine in "Down To The Hollow". It's a full-force blues number, but the recording makes you feel like she's riding next to you on a roadtrip down to 'bama. oooh yeah, that's great. Love the harmonica opening.
The rhythm... the percussion effects... the voice... the blues... Yes!
Wonderful. Magnificent.
Holy Wow. I'm a big fan of the harmonica, but that voice...
/me runs off to iTunes Music Store... she's there!
Excellent!! She is simply amazing.
THAT is music! Thank you so much for turning me on to this wonderful talent! :-)
mmm- what a hot humid voice... this is good stuff
Anon. put it pretty well - a hot, humid voice. And the way she puts forward that song! can't stop listening.
All the girls you know adore Frou Frou. You've dabbled deeper into Imogen Heap's solo work and you still remember a British duo, Moloko, and their finely tuned house tracks, "Sing It Back" and "The Time Is Now". Well, the vocal siren from that dance-pop duo, Roísín Murphy, is now back with enough energy and spice to heat up your bedroom. Armed with the production mastery of Matthew Herbert, Roísín's debut album, Ruby Blue, is packed with strong, soulful tracks with enveloping beats and complex time signatures. Much of the jazz-laden feeling from the Matthew Herbert Big Band's work is present, save Jaime Lidell's identifiable croon. "Sinking Feeling" emotes a 1950's barstool seductress, teasing her audience's eardrums and tantalizing their senses.Thanks for this track. I've always wanted to hear a solo album by Murphy and I was unaware that this one dropped. Serendipity is a beautiful thing.
Thanks for doing this site. I've actually started buying cds again after hearing a bunch of the stuff you had on here.
this shit is hot.
and how do you recommend hosting your files?
Hosting!
If you pay $99 bucks a year, you get unlimited bandwidth hosting from mac.com.
Alternatively, you can pay ~$120/year for really fucking great site hosting from dreamhost.
At aurgasm, I essentially do a combo of both. Though I consider Dreamhost is a far more solid and robust solution. email if you got any other questions.
Good song! Thanks!
"finger snap, bra strap, electric zap" -- possibly the most appropriate description of a piece of music I've ever read.
and a sexxy song, too.
Mr Scruff got a heap of exposure not too long ago when Lincoln yoinked "Get A Move On" from his album Keep It Unreal for use in one of their commercials. You'd be forgiven for calling KIU his first album, because his actual first album was released in quite limited numbers by a smaller label (Pleasure Records), seven months before Scruff signed to Ninja Tune. That debut album, Mrs Cruff, has just been re-issued, and from it I offer the epic 'Chicken In A Box', a vaguely Asian-sounding bundle of big drums, a flutey riff, and Scruff's trademark warm, stringy goodness. For added protein, enjoy the fun 'Dancing Time' number from Scruff and fellow Brighton mate Quantic.Mr Scruff, as well as most everything on the Ninja Tune roster, is really awesome. Seconding this reccomendation!
MAN. Dancing Time is really ace.
thanx dude!
I'd be interested to know which came first:
The Chicken, "Mr Scruff - Chicken In a Box" (see 3:35 into song).
OR
The Egg, "The Avalanches - Etoh" (see 2:30 into song).
-W
The Chicken was first!
scruff's self titled: released May 12, 1997
avalanches' since i left you: released Nov 27, 2000
dancing time is really the biz. afro funk to the max
Aurgasm brings to you an eclectic menagerie of aural pleasures. I scout out music you've never heard and deliver only the finest. Expect music curiously different, yet simply enjoyable.
Paul Irish is a music-loving, web geek in Boston.
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You can download all the music on aurgasm – right-click the song names and select Save Target As. These files will be removed at some indefinite point.
All files on aurgasm are online with permission of the copyright holder.
This music is here for evaluation purposes ONLY.
That's what I want you to do: eval-u-ate: try on this music for size, see if it fits you. If you enjoy it, learn more. Explore the artist, delve into the genre.
Take an active approach in finding music you love. Only you can find what you love. Immerse yourself in it. Buy the CD. Go to the show and meet your favorite artist afterwards. Tell them their music changed you. Support the artists whose work you adore.
Be passionate about music.
Paul Irish
email: paul [atsign] aurgasm.us
AIM: Paullll Irish
I listen to everything I'm sent, but I prefer music not from a 'band'.
13 Comments:
This is how I read about the site. And I'm very glad I did, I'm already finding a ton of music I like
Nice feature! I caught you in the paper this morning mere weeks after discovering your blog. Keep it up.
Congratulations, Paul.
I"m proud to say that I knew paul when he was a pirate...arrrrrrr
Imagine - one ofour own wiht rock star status! LOL Congrats on the press!
Nice going Paul! Good piece. Congrats on the amazing press lately.
Congratulations, Paul.
--Iris
congrats on the attention.
don't go changing, now....
that photo makes it look like your website is housed in your torso - which is pretty cool.
Paul,
A great site. Glad I discovered you through the Globe article. Have returned again and again.
Even posted a link to your site on VanRamblings.
Congrats Paul! Nice coverage and it couldn't have happened to a nicer Blogger. Jason (Once upon a time Blogalive)
Thanks for coming by Jason. We miss you around these parts.
Wow, a well written article too.
Kickass, Paul!
yea Paul!
~Danielle
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